Top 10 Chicago Trade Shows

Events, selecting shows, trade shows, Skyline Entourage

Home of the largest exhibit hall in North America, the Windy City holds a place on the calendars of most national exhibitors. The following list of top upcoming Chicago trade shows was compiled primarily from data of recent attendance and number of exhibitors, with some special consideration for square footage and recent growth.

1. Chicago Dental Midwinter
Dates: February 21-23, 2019
Dental manufacturers and services companies know the Midwinter Meeting is an essential opportunity to show off their latest offerings. Don’t miss this opportunity to show off your goods and services at the leading dental trade show in North America.

2. International Home + Housewares Show
Dates: March 2-5, 2019
The 2019 International Home + Housewares Show is your opportunity to join the world’s largest audience of home goods and housewares professionals. Every year thousands of the world’s most important professionals gather to do business at Chicago’s state-of-the-art McCormick Place Exposition Center.

3. Promat – MHIA
Dates: April 8-11, 2019
ProMat is the material handling and logistics industry’s premier global event. It’s where 45,000 manufacturing and supply chain buyers from 115 countries come to see what’s new, what’s next and what’s wow. It’s where $50 billion of purchasing power comes to learn, engage and see the best equipment and IT solutions the industry has to offer.

4. National Restaurant Association
Dates: May 18-21, 2019
There’s no better place to reach the entire foodservice industry ecosystem & capitalize on a $799 billion industry. This year’s crop of buyers are on the hunt for the latest innovative and creative foodservice products. Where better to showcase your brand?

5. Sweets and Snacks Expo
Dates: May 21-23, 2019
The Expo is the largest, most comprehensive global event that attracts highly vetted retailers from all channels of trade. Connect with more than 18,000 industry professionals who represent 90% of the candy & 75% of the snack category buying power. Buyers, category managers, merchandisers, operations, executives and store owners attend this important event.

6. NeoCon and Buildex Chicago
Dates: June 10-12, 2019
NeoCon is the world’s leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry, connecting buyers and sellers for 50 years. Four full floors of showrooms, an exhibit hall, and thousands of new product launches attract more than 50,000 highly qualified design professionals to The Mart.

7. Global Shop
Dates: June 25-27, 2019
With the blurring of the lines of digital and physical stores, it’s never been more important to get your products and ideas into the hands of multiple channels in retail. While brick-and-mortar retail still dominates (91% of total retail sales in 2017), e-commerce is driving new in-store formats to accommodate for the on-the-go shopper, like BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick Up In Store). Retailers are radically altering their infrastructure, and the form and function of their businesses. Global Shop at RetailX creates an environment where retailers of all types can see the “big picture” of today’s retail realities—with the strong, consistent core you’ve come to know GlobalShop as over the past quarter century.

8. Process Expo
Dates: October 8-11, 2019
Produced by FPSA, PROCESS EXPO is the nation’s largest trade show dedicated to bringing the latest technology and integrated solutions to all segments of the food and beverage industry. Processors gain a competitive advantage with the innovative technology on the show floor, where food processing and packaging experts demonstrate their machines and products. Both veterans and those new to food and beverage processing get training on food safety, trends, leadership, and more.

9. Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition – IRCE
Dates: June 25-28, 2019
RCE is your one-stop-shop for all your e-commerce needs. This conference and trade show offers you everything your business needs to stay ahead of your competition, in one simple location. The exhibit hall at IRCE features nearly 600 top solution and technology vendors, ready to help e-commerce.

10. IEEE/PES Transmission & Distribution Conference
Dates: April 20-23, 2020
The biggest and most comprehensive T&D conference in the industry comes to Chicago in 2019. Groundbreaking new technologies such as automation, data analytics and unmanned aerial vehicles were showcased in 2018, along with the latest advances to the power equipment such as conductors, breakers, switches and transformers that have long been the building blocks of the electric grid. The 2020 shows promises to be even more comprehensive.