How We Selected These Shows
This selection covers Chicago city venues and two events in nearby Rosemont. Shows were chosen for industry relevance and buyer fit, rather than ranked by attendance.
Entries run chronologically by their first listed date. Dates and venues were checked on November 9, 2026. The calendar uses exhibit dates where confirmed; broader event windows are labeled when the separate exhibit schedule still needs confirmation.
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20x20 Custom Trade Show Booth at AHR Expo 2027, Chicago, IL
Chicago Trade Show Calendar for 2027
2027 dates | Trade show | Venue | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
January 25–27 | AHR Expo | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | HVACR |
February 25–27 | Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting | McCormick Place West Building, Chicago, IL | Dental practice and equipment |
March 9–11 | The Inspired Home Show | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Home and housewares |
April 6–8 | HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Healthcare technology |
April 19–21 | ProMat | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Supply chain and material handling |
April 27–29 | International Powder & Bulk Solids | Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL | Powder and bulk processing |
May 22–25 | National Restaurant Association Show | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Foodservice |
June 5–7 | ASCO Annual Meeting | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Oncology |
June 13–16 | NeoCon | THE MART, Chicago, IL | Commercial interiors |
July 11–14 — event dates; exhibit dates to be confirmed | IFT FIRST | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Food science and ingredients |
July 27–29 | ADLM Clinical Lab Expo | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Laboratory medicine |
September 13–16 | FABTECH | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Metal forming and fabrication |
September 25–29 — event dates; exhibit dates to be confirmed | WEFTEC | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Water and wastewater |
October 27–28 | Chicago Build | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Construction and building |
November 14–17 | RSNA Annual Meeting | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL | Medical imaging |
November 15–16 | PLMA Private Label Trade Show | Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL | Private label consumer products |
Explore the 16 Selected Shows
1. AHR Expo
Exhibit dates: January 25–27, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
AHR Expo is a focused choice for heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration suppliers. Contractors, engineers and distributors need to understand how a product performs within a building or system. Bring technical information that supports selection, installation and maintenance discussions. For a controls or software business, define the equipment and operating conditions your solution supports. A working demonstration should answer one useful question before introducing the wider product range.
Explore AHR Expo booth planning →
2. Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting
Exhibit dates: February 25–27, 2027
Location: McCormick Place West Building, Chicago, IL
The Midwinter Meeting brings dental education and product evaluation into the same trip. Equipment, instruments, materials and practice technology suppliers can speak with dentists and their teams about clinical use and daily operations. Make hands-on inspection easy, with technical staff available for questions that a brochure cannot resolve. Separate a short product introduction from a longer evaluation. This event suits businesses targeting dental practices and their specific purchasing needs.
Explore Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting booth planning →
3. The Inspired Home Show
Exhibit dates: March 9–11, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
The Inspired Home Show suits home and housewares suppliers building retail and distribution relationships. Buyers need to see how a range fits their assortment, price position and customers’ routines. Organize products by use or collection, with packaging, order quantities and delivery timing available when the conversation moves toward an order. A clear demonstration can explain a practical benefit quickly. The show focuses on consumer housewares sourcing, with a different purchasing audience from commercial foodservice or hospitality interiors events.
Explore The Inspired Home Show booth planning →
4. HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition
Exhibit dates: April 6–8, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
HIMSS is relevant to health IT and digital health companies selling into healthcare organizations. Buyers may need to understand security, interoperability, implementation and the people who will use the system. A concise workflow demonstration should connect the technology to a specific clinical or operational task, with deeper discussions handled by the right specialist. Preconference activities take place April 5, while the conference and exhibition run April 6–8. Use the latter dates for exhibit staffing.
Explore HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition booth planning →
5. ProMat
Exhibit dates: April 19–21, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
ProMat brings manufacturing, distribution and supply chain buyers together around the movement and storage of goods. Consider it for warehouse automation, robotics, material handling equipment and supporting software. An effective presentation makes the process visible: what enters the system, what happens next and what an operator must do. Establish the demonstration footprint before selecting booth furniture. The published 2027 exhibit schedule runs for three days, April 19–21, so avoid carrying a longer schedule forward from another edition.
Explore ProMat booth planning →
6. International Powder & Bulk Solids
Exhibit dates: April 27–29, 2027
Location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
International Powder & Bulk Solids, often called The Powder Show, is a specialized option for businesses handling dry materials. Conveying, mixing, separation, storage and dust-management applications need conversations about the actual material and process. Prepare to discuss product characteristics and operating conditions. The show takes place in Rosemont, near O’Hare, outside Chicago city limits. Treat its delivery address and travel plan separately from any McCormick Place event on your calendar.
Explore International Powder & Bulk Solids booth planning →
7. National Restaurant Association Show
Exhibit dates: May 22–25, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
The National Restaurant Association Show serves the people who purchase and operate foodservice products, equipment and technology. Restaurant operators may approach the same item differently from distributors or multi-unit purchasing teams, so decide which conversations matter most. Food and beverage samples need a practical explanation of preparation, consistency and supply. Equipment demonstrations should show the task they solve in a working kitchen. Compared with IFT FIRST, the emphasis is closer to foodservice operation than ingredient formulation.
Explore National Restaurant Association Show booth planning →
8. ASCO Annual Meeting
Exhibit dates: June 5–7, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
The ASCO Annual Meeting is an oncology-focused opportunity for organizations presenting therapies, diagnostics, research services and related technologies. The audience calls for a precise scientific or clinical message, with supporting materials appropriate to the product and its status. Plan who handles an introductory discussion and who can answer a detailed question. The meeting runs June 4–8, but exhibits open June 5–7. That shorter floor schedule should guide staffing, appointments and specialist availability.
Explore ASCO Annual Meeting booth planning →
9. NeoCon
Exhibit dates: June 13–16, 2027
Location: THE MART, Chicago, IL
NeoCon brings commercial interiors products to designers, specifiers and other built-environment professionals. Furniture, fabrics, finishes and architectural products benefit from close inspection and a clear explanation of available options. The event takes place at THE MART, which combines showrooms and exhibition spaces. Confirm your participation format before assuming the requirements of a temporary convention-center booth. The published 2027 schedule includes Sunday, June 13, followed by June 14–16. Check the hours for your assigned space.
Explore NeoCon booth planning →
10. IFT FIRST
Exhibit dates: To be confirmed
Event dates: July 11–14, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
IFT FIRST is a focused option for ingredient, food science and product-development suppliers. Its value depends on the formulation questions your team can help solve: functionality, taste, processing, stability or an application-specific requirement. Connect samples to a clear technical explanation and have relevant documentation available. The organizer has announced July 11–14 for the overall 2027 event. Separate exhibit-floor dates still need confirmation before those dates are used for staffing or travel plans.
Explore IFT FIRST booth planning →
20x30 Custom Trade Show Booth at ProMat 2027, Chicago, IL
11. ADLM Clinical Lab Expo
Exhibit dates: July 27–29, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
The ADLM Clinical Lab Expo serves laboratory medicine, making it relevant to diagnostic instruments, reagents, laboratory automation and supporting systems. Buyers need to assess how an offering fits a laboratory workflow, including the steps before and after the instrument itself. Demonstrations should make the application and operating requirements clear. The broader annual meeting runs July 25–29, while the expo is July 27–29. Select staff who can address both technical questions and the practical requirements of adoption.
Explore ADLM Clinical Lab Expo booth planning →
12. FABTECH
Exhibit dates: September 13–16, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
FABTECH is a strong candidate for metal forming, fabrication, welding and finishing suppliers. Buyers often need to evaluate a process, a finished part or a production limitation. Explain the material, operation and result your demonstration represents. Large machines also affect the space and services you must book. The 2027 edition is at McCormick Place in Chicago; planning documents from the 2026 Las Vegas edition should not be used as its venue instructions.
13. WEFTEC
Exhibit dates: To be confirmed
Event dates: September 25–29, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
WEFTEC connects suppliers with water and wastewater professionals evaluating treatment processes, equipment and operating systems. Plant and utility discussions can involve engineering, operations and procurement, each with different questions. Present the application and operating conditions before introducing a broad product portfolio. The overall Chicago event is announced for September 25–29. Separate 2027 exhibit dates remain to be confirmed in this guide, so use the published event window for initial planning rather than a finalized floor-staff schedule.
Explore WEFTEC booth planning →
14. Chicago Build
Exhibit dates: October 27–28, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Chicago Build suits construction products, building technology and services aimed at the architecture, engineering and construction market. Its cross-disciplinary audience makes it useful to identify whether a visitor specifies, purchases, installs or operates what you sell. A material sample, project application or focused software demonstration should help establish that quickly. This is a broader construction conversation than AHR’s HVACR focus or FABTECH’s manufacturing focus. The organizer lists October 27–28 for the 2027 edition.
15. RSNA Annual Meeting
Exhibit dates: November 14–17, 2027
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
RSNA’s technical exhibition is relevant to medical imaging equipment, radiology software and related clinical technologies. Visitors need to assess how a solution supports a specific imaging or reporting workflow, with qualified staff available for detailed questions. Keep performance claims tied to appropriate evidence. The 2027 meeting takes place November 14–18, with technical exhibits closing November 17. This is an earlier November schedule than the familiar post-Thanksgiving pattern, so check travel and staffing assumptions carefully.
16. PLMA Private Label Trade Show
Exhibit dates: November 15–16, 2027
Location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
PLMA’s U.S. show is aimed at manufacturers supplying retailer and wholesaler private label programs. Buyers need to compare production capability, packaging, specifications, minimum orders and the commercial terms behind the sample. Prepare for discussions about supplying a retailer’s brand, rather than only promoting your own. The venue calendar lists November 15–16, 2027, at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Keep that location explicit when coordinating hotels and deliveries.
Which Shows Fit Your Business?
Shortlist the shows where the visitor’s purchasing task matches your offer. Use these comparisons to decide which products, samples and specialists belong at each event.
Your sales focus | Shows to compare | How to choose |
|---|---|---|
Industrial systems | AHR Expo, ProMat, The Powder Show, FABTECH | Match the application: building HVACR, warehouse movement, dry-material processing or metal fabrication. |
Healthcare technology | HIMSS, ASCO, ADLM, RSNA | Separate enterprise health IT, oncology, clinical laboratory workflows and medical imaging. |
Food and consumer products | National Restaurant Association Show, IFT FIRST, PLMA | Foodservice operations, formulation and private label supply require different samples, documentation and commercial discussions. |
Home and interiors | The Inspired Home Show, NeoCon | Compare consumer housewares purchasing with commercial interior specification. |
Construction and building services | Chicago Build, AHR Expo | Chicago Build covers the wider AEC market; AHR provides a more focused HVACR setting. |
Water and process applications | WEFTEC, The Powder Show | Choose according to the process and material. Wastewater treatment and dry-bulk handling involve different operating requirements. |
Plan Your Chicago Exhibit Around the Shortlist
Confirm the venue before booking travel or freight. McCormick Place, THE MART and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont have different access arrangements. Keep the venue name, booked space and current exhibitor manual together in the event brief.
Start with the products, demonstration needs and meeting capacity your chosen audience requires. Then compare Chicago trade show booth design, build and rental options. Once the show is selected, our Chicago exhibitor planning guide covers design, freight and installation dependencies in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all of these shows within Chicago city limits?
No. The Powder Show and PLMA take place in Rosemont, near O’Hare. They are included as Chicago-area events and their actual city is shown in each location. The other listed venues are in Chicago.
Why are IMTS and PACK EXPO International missing?
Their next Chicago editions are scheduled for 2028, so they do not belong in a 2027 calendar. Do not assume that a recurring Chicago trade show runs there every year.
Can I use every date in the calendar to book exhibit staff?
Use dates explicitly labeled as exhibit dates. IFT FIRST and WEFTEC currently have confirmed overall event windows in this guide, with separate exhibit dates still requiring confirmation. Move-in and move-out dates must also be checked separately.
