Chicago’s March docket brings a full mix of buyer-driven tradeshows, venue positioning, and big-ticket planning. McCormick Place anchors the month with The Inspired Home Show and a late-March run of healthcare and pop-culture events, while the Chicago Auto Show added an overlanding campout and its First Look for Charity gala raised $2.03 million. Outside the halls, Illinois backed a $100 million plan to reopen Pullman’s Hotel Florence, Ravinia teased its 2026 lineup ahead of a March 12 release, and Soldier Field planning shifted as stadium talks continue. Tourism metrics also moved up in 2025, with hotel revenue nearing $3 billion and convention dates increasing to 65.
TRADESHOWS & CONVENTIONS
Chicago March Tradeshows Span Critical Care, Foot and Ankle, Pop Culture, and Nurse Leadership
Chicago’s March 2026 tradeshow calendar spans housewares, healthcare, pop culture, and association meetings.
The Inspired Home Show runs March 10–12 at McCormick Place. Exhibit hours are 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Critical Care Congress runs March 22–24 at McCormick Place. It lists 6,500 attendees and 160 exhibitors.
Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) runs March 27–29 at McCormick Place. It lists 34,000 attendees and 453 exhibitors.
American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Inspiring Leaders runs March 29–April 1. It lists 5,133 attendees and 343 exhibitors.
The Midwest Foot and Ankle Conference runs March 26–29. It lists 2,200 attendees and 275 exhibitors.
Chicago Auto Show Added Overlanding Campout, Charity Gala Raised $2.03M
First Look for Charity raised $2,029,471.22 for 18 area nonprofits at McCormick Place on February 6, the night before the 2026 Chicago Auto Show opened to the public. The fundraiser marked its 34th year and has generated more than $67 million for participating charities since it launched. The show’s final weekend also included an overnight activation tied to Overlanding Chicago. About 30 participants, including children, camped Saturday into Sunday on the show floor in the Overlanding Chicago area, which featured specialty vehicles and off-road accessories.
McCormick Place Highlights 2026 Venue Awards, Catering Updates, and Sustainability Programs
McCormick Place promoted two 2026 EXHIBITOR Centers of Excellence recognitions: a Top 25 Worldwide convention center designation and Best Facility in the over 1 million square feet category. The venue also cited 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space and referenced GBAC STAR accreditation. On food and beverages, it outlined updated menus tied to local sourcing and plant-forward options, including items sourced within 100 miles and produce from a rooftop garden. On sustainability, it cited Events Industry Council Gold Level certification to the Sustainable Event Standards, 100 percent electricity offsets using certified wind renewable energy certificates, campus composting, and AI-guided waste sorting. It also referred to on-site food rescue and community partner programs.
Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting Ran Feb. 19–21 at McCormick Place West
The Chicago Dental Society (CDS) Midwinter Meeting ran February 19–21 at McCormick Place West. Organizers listed more than 230 continuing education courses, including 45 hands-on workshops and 26 free sessions. They also projected more than 400 exhibitors and noted a refreshed exhibit hall layout and upgraded digital services for 2026. Exhibit hours ran 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Saturday.
HOTELS
Illinois Backs $100M Plan to Reopen Pullman’s Hotel Florence as Boutique Property
Illinois announced a roughly $100 million project to redevelop the state-owned Hotel Florence in Pullman National Historic Park into a boutique hotel with new restaurants. Plans also call for a concert hall in the former Pullman Factory across the street and rehabilitation of the hotel’s 1914 annex. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources committed $21 million and described the deal as its largest public-private partnership. Celadon Partners is the development group, and Farr Associates is the project architect. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2027, with completion expected in late 2028.
ENTERTAINMENT
Ravinia Festival Teases Five Artists Ahead of March 12 Lineup Release
Ravinia Festival in Highland Park previewed five artists for its 2026 season in a February 19 social media post. The teaser included Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Ray LaMontagne, and Alison Krauss, along with a fifth act not specified in the item. The venue said it will announce the full 2026 season March 12. Ravinia also listed April 23 as the date tickets go on sale to the general public. Organizers described the summer season as running from early June through late September and typically exceeding 100 concerts.
Indiana House Passes Stadium Bill Tied to Potential Bears Move to Hammond
Indiana House Democrats said Senate Bill 27 passed the Indiana House on a 95–4 vote. The bill would create funding mechanisms for a new stadium site near Wolf Lake in Hammond, framed as an effort to attract the Chicago Bears. Because the bill was amended in the House Ways and Means Committee, it now returns to the Indiana Senate for review before it can move to Gov. Mike Braun for signature.
Chicago Park District Floats $630M Soldier Field Plan If Bears Leave
Chicago Park District outlined a $630 million renovation concept for Soldier Field tied to a potential Bears departure. The plan includes $130 million in stadium upgrades and about $500 million in surrounding infrastructure, positioning the lakefront site for year-round concerts and events. The Park District said more than 80 percent of Soldier Field revenue already comes from non-Bears events. It cited hotel revenue impacts of $39 million tied to Taylor Swift’s June 2023 dates and $85 million tied to Beyoncé’s May 2025 dates. The Park District did not name a funding plan and noted the Bears could owe about $90 million if they leave before 2033 under the current lease.
TOURISM
Chicago Reported 55M Visitors and Nearly $3B in Hotel Revenue in 2025
Chicago logged more than 55 million visitors in 2025 and nearly $3 billion in hotel stay revenue, according to figures cited by the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association. The same report pegged Chicago at 65 convention dates for the year, with room-night stays and convention bookings both up. Choose Chicago is also backing a proposed tourism improvement district that would add a 1.5 percent fee on downtown hotel stays to fund destination marketing. The story also cited future event wins, including the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, and the 2027 MLB All-Star Game.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Jibarito Stop Plans Loop Opening After Fire Closed Pilsen Location
The Jibarito Stop filed a liquor license application for 174 N. Wabash Avenue in The Loop after a fire closed its Pilsen location at 1646 W. 18th Street in 2025. Co-owner Ana Rodriguez said the restaurant is targeting a spring opening, with April discussed as a possibility. The new site sits at Wabash and E. Benton Place and is attached to the Chicago Theatre building. The owners also indicated the downtown location will add a breakfast menu.
Caché 310 Opens as 50-Seat Cocktail Lounge Near Union Station
Caché 310 opened in the West Loop as a cocktail lounge at 310 S. Canal St., replacing Afterbar, which operated in the space until December 2025. The venue lists 57 seats, including 15 at the bar, in a 1,000-square-foot footprint. The cocktail menu runs about a dozen drinks priced at $16, with French-influenced naming and tableside service elements, including a French press pour for a coffee cocktail. The bar also runs a separate small-plates menu from neighboring Canal Street Eatery. Hours are 4–10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m.–midnight Friday, 5 p.m.–midnight Saturday, and closed Sundays.
Image Caption: Attendees move through McCormick Place during Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), which returns March 27–29. Image by Marc Buehler via Flickr.
