City guides
Business events in Chicago: the conventions and trade shows worth attending in 2026 and 2027
Chicago's convention calendar at McCormick Place: RSNA, AHR Expo, HIMSS27, ProMat, the Restaurant Show, ASCO and NeoCon, with getting-there tips.
By the atndr teamPublished 6 min read
The short answer
Chicago's business events are mostly large association conventions and trade shows at McCormick Place, which its operator calls the largest convention facility on the continent. The best known are RSNA (29 November–3 December 2026), AHR Expo (25–27 January 2027), HIMSS27 (5–8 April 2027), ProMat (19–21 April 2027), the National Restaurant Association Show (22–25 May 2027) and the ASCO Annual Meeting (4–8 June 2027). Healthcare and medicine have the strongest presence.
Key takeaways
- Almost every event atndr lists in Chicago is at McCormick Place. The exception is NeoCon, which is held at THE MART (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza).
- Medicine leads the calendar, with AHA Scientific Sessions, RSNA, the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, HIMSS27, ASCO and ADLM.
- Trade shows are often free if you register early. ProMat 2027 is free, and AHR Expo 2027 is free until 23 January 2027, then USD 30.
- Medical congresses charge professional registration fees, and several do not admit children under 16. RSNA, ProMat and the Restaurant Show all set that limit.
- McCormick Place has its own Metra Electric station, about seven minutes from downtown, and is a short walk from the CTA Green Line's Cermak-McCormick Place stop.
On this page
When is the convention season in Chicago?
Chicago hosts major conventions almost every month. Two periods stand out: late autumn, with the big medical meetings, and April to July, when most trade shows fall. The 2027 calendar runs through to WEFTEC in late September. Autumn 2027 dates are added as organizers confirm them.
| Month | Notable events on atndr | Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Nov–Dec 2026 | AHA Scientific Sessions, RSNA | Cardiology, radiology |
| Jan 2027 | AHR Expo | HVACR |
| Feb–Mar 2027 | Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, The Inspired Home Show | Dentistry, housewares |
| Apr 2027 | HIMSS27, ProMat | Health IT, supply chain |
| May 2027 | The Future of Insurance USA, National Restaurant Association Show | Insurance, foodservice |
| Jun 2027 | ASCO Annual Meeting, NeoCon, SHRM HR-X Live! | Oncology, commercial interiors, HR |
| Jul 2027 | IFT FIRST, ADLM 2027 | Food science, laboratory medicine |
| Sep 2027 | WEFTEC | Water quality |
For the full live list, see business events in Chicago.
Which Chicago events are the best known?
Chicago's best-known events are the annual meetings of large US professional associations. Each is the main event of its field and draws an international audience.
| Event | Dates | Who it's for | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSNA 2026 | 29 Nov–3 Dec 2026 | Radiologists, physicists, imaging industry | Paid; no under-16s |
| AHR Expo 2027 | 25–27 Jan 2027 | HVACR engineers, contractors, OEMs | Free until 23 Jan, then USD 30 |
| HIMSS27 | 5–8 Apr 2027 | Health IT leaders, clinicians, vendors | Paid passes, exhibit-hall-only option |
| ProMat 2027 | 19–21 Apr 2027 | Manufacturing and supply chain teams | Free registration |
| National Restaurant Association Show 2027 | 22–25 May 2027 | Restaurant operators, chefs, buyers | Expo, Essential and Premium badges |
| ASCO Annual Meeting 2027 | 4–8 Jun 2027 | Oncologists, researchers, industry | Paid; registration opens Dec 2026 |
| NeoCon 2027 | 13–16 Jun 2027 | Architects, interior designers | Registration opens Feb 2027 |
Healthcare and medicine
RSNA is radiology's largest yearly gathering, and its 2026 theme is "At the Center of Care". ASCO is where new cancer trial results are presented each June. Its abstract submission window is open from 4 November 2026 to 26 January 2027. HIMSS27 covers health IT, and HIMSS says more than 24,000 people attended HIMSS26. AHA Scientific Sessions, the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting and ADLM complete the medical calendar.
Industry and supply chain
ProMat, run by MHI, expects more than 1,200 exhibits and 200 education sessions in 2027. AHR Expo has been held since 1930 and expects more than 1,900 exhibitors in 2027. The ASHRAE Winter Conference runs at the same time. WEFTEC covers water quality.
Food, home and design
The National Restaurant Association Show, IFT FIRST (food science) and The Inspired Home Show (housewares) serve consumer industries. NeoCon has been held at THE MART since 1969. Manufacturers launch commercial furniture and finishes there in permanent showrooms.
Business and finance
SHRM HR-X Live! is SHRM's flagship HR conference. The Future of Insurance USA (Reuters Events) is for insurance executives and is held at the Marriott Marquis Chicago.
What is McCormick Place and how do I get there?
McCormick Place is Chicago's convention centre, on the lakefront a few minutes from downtown. It has four buildings (North, South, West and Lakeside Center) and lists 2.6 million sq ft of exhibit halls, 1.2 million of them on one level.
| Route | How | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown → McCormick Place | Metra Electric to the station inside the Grand Concourse (South Building, Level 2.5) | About 7 minutes |
| The Loop → McCormick Place | CTA Green Line south to Cermak-McCormick Place | About 0.15 miles' walk to the West Building, USD 2.50 |
| O'Hare → McCormick Place | CTA Blue Line to Clark/Lake, free transfer to the Green Line south | — |
| Midway → McCormick Place | CTA Orange Line to Roosevelt, Green Line one stop south | — |
| Rideshare | Gate 40, west side of the West Building on S. Indiana Ave | Faster pick-up at busy shows |
Each building has its own entrance address. The North and South Buildings are at 2301 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the West Building at 2301 S. Indiana Ave, and Lakeside Center at 2301 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Check which building your show uses. Large shows often add their own transport. ProMat, for example, runs free shuttles from its official hotels and makes the Metra Electric free with its registration ticket.
How do registration and costs work for Chicago conventions?
Trade shows in Chicago are usually free or cheap if you register early. Medical and scientific meetings charge professional fees that differ for members and non-members.
- Free trade shows: ProMat 2027 registration is free and includes exhibits, keynotes and show-floor education. AHR Expo 2027 is free until 23 January 2027, then USD 30. Its Education Program is free, while the ASHRAE Winter Conference needs separate registration.
- Tiered badges: The 2027 Restaurant Show sells Expo (four days of show floor and theatres), Essential (adds classroom sessions) and Premium badges.
- Association meetings: RSNA, ASCO and HIMSS charge registration fees. Members pay less, and prices rise after early deadlines. ASCO's early registration and hotel deadline is 14 April 2027.
- Age limits: RSNA, ProMat and the Restaurant Show do not admit children under 16. At the Restaurant Show, 16–18 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.
- ID: HIMSS requires government-issued photo ID to collect a badge on site.
How do I make the most of a Chicago convention?
Book housing through the official block, register before the early deadline, and plan your days around the exhibit-hall hours.
- Use the official housing bureau. Associations such as ASCO open hotel reservations at the same time as registration. Booking inside the official block early gives the widest choice of hotels near the venue.
- Check exhibit-hall hours. They are usually shorter than the conference. RSNA's technical exhibits close on 2 December, a day before the meeting ends. HIMSS27's exhibition closes at 2:00 pm on 8 April.
- Submit or watch abstracts. For ASCO, most sessions stay on demand for registered attendees for at least three years, so you can skip clashes and catch up later.
- Combine trips by industry. Healthcare professionals can plan around RSNA in December, HIMSS in April and ASCO in June.
- Allow for distance. McCormick Place is large. Plan meetings by building, and use the show's hotel shuttles where they run.
To see new conventions as they are added, follow Chicago on atndr.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest convention centre in Chicago?
- McCormick Place, which has four buildings and 2.6 million sq ft of exhibit halls. Its operator describes it as the largest convention facility on the continent.
- What are the biggest conventions in Chicago?
- Among the best known are RSNA (radiology), the ASCO Annual Meeting (oncology), HIMSS (health IT), the National Restaurant Association Show, ProMat (supply chain) and AHR Expo (HVACR). All are held at McCormick Place.
- How do I get from downtown Chicago to McCormick Place?
- Take the Metra Electric to the station inside the Grand Concourse, about seven minutes from downtown. You can also ride the CTA Green Line south to Cermak-McCormick Place, which is a short walk from the West Building.
- Are Chicago trade shows free to attend?
- Some are. ProMat 2027 registration is free, and AHR Expo 2027 is free if you register by 23 January 2027. Medical meetings such as RSNA and ASCO charge registration fees.
- Where is NeoCon held?
- At THE MART, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, in Chicago. NeoCon 2027 runs 13–16 June 2027, and registration opens in February 2027.
Sources
Written and fact-checked by the atndr team. Dates, venues and organizers are checked against each event’s official website; the figures in “At a glance” come live from the atndr calendar. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
