In our book, The Invisible Industry, Bob McGlincy and I set out to tell the stories of how tradeshows have evolved to their present state in the USA.
So, where did exhibit designers learn to design a tradeshow exhibit?
Chicago opened 2026 with a mix of large-scale tradeshows, fan events, and hospitality updates across the city and nearby suburbs. February brings major draws at McCormick Place and downtown hotels, led by automotive and dental meetings.
The real risk isn’t that AI replaces your people. It’s that it replaces your organization’s thinking discipline—and you don’t notice until the bad calls compound.
Orlando entered late January with steady convention activity and a growing pipeline of consumer, trade, and fan-focused events across the Orange County Convention Center and resort-area venues. Recent shows underscored the market’s draw for large-scale exhibitions, while ticket demand signaled strong consumer interest heading into spring.
Las Vegas entered February with a full tradeshow calendar, building on a strong start to 2026. Activity spans fashion, automotive, veterinary, petroleum, and franchise events across the Las Vegas Convention Center and Strip-area resorts.
The Computer Dealers’ Exhibition (COMDEX) delivered the future to millions of people. As a brand, it became the largest tradeshow in the world, with 185 separate tech events between 1979 and 2006. The shows appeared in 24 countries on six continents, and in eight different U.S. cities.
If you are reading this column, chances are you’ve been involved with more than a few tradeshows. Whether that involvement’s direct, or indirect, how do you define a tradeshow?
For exhibitors planning 2026 shows, the math no longer adds up. The booth program that cost $100,000 before the pandemic can now run nearly twice as much, and every part of the tradeshow budget, from drayage to rigging, feels heavier on the balance sheet.
In the quiet moments before a trade show floor awakens, before the lights hum on and before the carpet gathers its first footprint, a newly built exhibit waits in perfect stillness. Every detail is intentional. Graphics are crisp, finishes precise, and the space feels ready for curiosity, excitement, recognition, and connection.
Installation and dismantle labor will be the focus of expanded coverage from Exhibit City News (ECN) in 2026, with a multi-part editorial series examining the people, practices, and pressures behind exhibit installation and teardown work.
My caffeine habit takes about $6 out of my pocket most mornings, bumped up to $8 when my student interns are working in the office. Gas for the commute to meet them face-to-face is another $12 or so, round-trip. There is the extra time spent catching up on client work, planning the next project phase, and doing assessments.
Concerns about cost are nothing new, but the current economic uncertainty leads event marketers to prioritize their expectations with cost-cutting tactics. Instead of panicking about the expense of a new exhibit, first consider:
