NeoCon 2026
About This Show
NeoCon, the National Exposition of Contract Furnishings, is the commercial interior design industry's flagship trade show, held across seven floors of The Mart (Merchandise Mart) in Chicago. The 57th edition ran June 8-10, 2026 (with a Preview Day on June 7) under the theme "Where Design Connects", reporting show traffic of 55,000, up 9% on 2025, with design professionals from 88 countries and 450 exhibiting brands. Highlights included the debut of Illuminate at NeoCon, a dedicated seventh-floor lighting pavilion of 60+ brands, and the 36th Best of NeoCon awards, where KI's Cognetic Technology won Best of Competition among 71 products recognized across 42 categories. NeoCon 2027 returns to The Mart June 13-16, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people attended NeoCon 2026?+
NeoCon 2026 reported show traffic of 55,000, up 9% from 2025, with design professionals attending from 88 countries. NeoCon reports traffic rather than unique attendees; industry coverage described the edition as a record turnout.
When and where was NeoCon 2026?+
NeoCon 2026 ran June 8-10, 2026, with a Preview Day on June 7, at The Mart (Merchandise Mart) in Chicago, across seven exhibition floors.
What were the main design trends at NeoCon 2026?+
The dominant trend was a color reset toward rich burgundy, lavender, and plum, paired with softer, curvier furniture forms, pleated and fluted detailing, and tactile materials like velvet. Underneath the aesthetics, human-centered and wellness-driven design - movement-responsive seating, circadian lighting, and acoustic comfort - ran as the connective theme.
What is Illuminate at NeoCon?+
Illuminate at NeoCon is a dedicated lighting pavilion that debuted at NeoCon 2026 on the Mart's seventh floor. It brought together more than 60 architectural, decorative, and technical lighting brands with its own programming (five educational vignettes, 14 Spotlight Sessions, a featured panel, and lighting-focused CEUs), reframing lighting as a core design material rather than a finishing touch.
Who won Best of Competition at NeoCon 2026?+
KI won Best of Competition for its Cognetic Technology, a gravity-powered, multi-axis seating system that continuously responds to natural body movement. It also earned Gold and an Innovation award. In total, the 36th Best of NeoCon recognized 71 products across 42 categories from 274 entries.
Who won People's Choice awards at NeoCon 2026?+
The 2026 People's Choice winners were Mohawk Group's Hero Rubber (made with Nike Grind), SurfaceWorks' Newton, BIOS Lighting's SkyView Tile, Andreu World's Patin Chair, Haskell Education's Pathmaker Table Series, and HALCON Furniture's VESPER.
Who were the keynote speakers at NeoCon 2026?+
Headline keynotes included innovator and entrepreneur Jessica O. Matthews, designer and futurist Nick Foster, and digital-culture speaker David "Shingy" Shing, alongside a deep education program and special activations such as NeoCon Collab: Half-Light and Art on The Mart's "Love Language" projection.
When and where is NeoCon 2027?+
NeoCon 2027 takes place June 13-16, 2027 at The Mart in Chicago, the show's 58th edition. See neocon.com for details.