PACK EXPO International 2026
About This Show
PACK EXPO International is the largest packaging and processing trade show in the Americas, produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and held every two years in even-numbered years at McCormick Place in Chicago. The 2026 edition runs October 18-21 and occupies all four McCormick Place buildings - North, South, West and Lakeside Center - with roughly 1.3 million net square feet of exhibits.
The 2024 edition was the largest in the show's history: 48,000 registered attendees plus 29,500 exhibitor personnel for 77,500 total attendance, and a record 2,700 exhibitors across 1.32 million net square feet. International attendance rose 19 percent over 2022. PMMI reports the attendee and exhibitor-personnel figures separately and does not break the 48,000 down by role, so it should be read as the non-exhibitor attendee base rather than a count of buyers.
The floor is organized into seven themed pavilions. The Containers and Materials Pavilion, the Healthcare Packaging Pavilion and the PACKage Printing Pavilion are in the West Building; the Food and Beverage Processing Zone and the Reusable Packaging Pavilion are in Lakeside Center Upper; the Logistics Pavilion is in the North Building; and the Confectionery Pavilion is in the South Building. More than 40 vertical markets are represented, with over half of attendees coming from food and beverage, and the remainder from life sciences and pharma, cosmetics and personal care, pet food, household and automotive products, chemicals, cannabis, and e-commerce and warehouse distribution.
Attendees get more than 150 free educational sessions across five on-floor stages, plus the free Metra Electric ride and complimentary hotel shuttle buses. New for 2026 are the SMB FastTrack program for small and medium businesses, expert-led PACK EXPO Discovery Tours at USD 49 each, and the CPG NexGen Awards. Registration is USD 30 through September 25, 2026 and USD 130 afterwards. The next edition is PACK EXPO International 2028, again at McCormick Place.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is PACK EXPO International 2026?+
PACK EXPO International 2026 runs Sunday October 18 to Wednesday October 21, 2026 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Drive, Chicago, Illinois. Show floor hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday through Tuesday and 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Wednesday. Exhibits fill all four buildings: North, South, West and Lakeside Center.
How much does PACK EXPO International 2026 registration cost?+
USD 30 if you register by Friday September 25, 2026, and USD 130 after that. The badge covers the entire show floor, all 150-plus free educational sessions on the show floor, the complimentary hotel shuttle buses and a free ride on the Metra Electric commuter line.
Can I get into PACK EXPO International for free?+
There is no published free tier, but two routes exist. Most exhibitors can send complimentary registrations through PMMI's Customer Invite Program, so ask a supplier or prospect who is exhibiting before you pay. Qualified national and multinational CPG buying teams can also apply to the invitation-only Insider Advantage Program, which includes complimentary registration codes plus lounge and meeting-room access.
How big is PACK EXPO International?+
The 2024 edition drew 48,000 registered attendees and a record 2,700 exhibitors across 1.32 million net square feet, the largest in the show's history. PMMI projects approximately 48,000 professionals and more than 2,600 exhibitors across 1.3 million net square feet for 2026.
Did 77,500 people attend PACK EXPO International 2024?+
Not as attendees. PMMI reports 48,000 registered attendees and 29,500 exhibitor personnel for 2024, which together give 77,500 total attendance. The 48,000 figure is the non-exhibitor attendee base; aggregators frequently quote the combined number as if it were all attendees. PMMI does not break the 48,000 down by role, so it includes consultants, students, media and non-exhibiting suppliers as well as buyers.
Which building is each PACK EXPO pavilion in?+
The Containers and Materials Pavilion, the Healthcare Packaging Pavilion and the PACKage Printing Pavilion are all in the West Building. The Food and Beverage Processing Zone and the Reusable Packaging Pavilion are in Lakeside Center Upper. The Logistics Pavilion is in the North Building and the Confectionery Pavilion is in the South Building.
Are children allowed at PACK EXPO International?+
No. Nobody under 14 years of age is permitted on the show floor before, during or after the show, and strollers and carried infants are not allowed either. This is enforced because of the live machinery running throughout the halls.
What does it cost to exhibit at PACK EXPO International?+
The standard space rate is USD 34.25 per square foot, and unusually for a US trade show it includes drayage and material handling, provided your truck checks in at McCormick Place by 2:00 pm on your assigned target move-in date. PMMI member rates vary and are quoted individually. The final payment deadline for the 2026 edition was June 22, 2026, so a late applicant should confirm current availability with the exhibit sales team and expect the full booth balance to be due immediately and non-refundable.
How often is PACK EXPO International held?+
Every two years, in even-numbered years, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The next edition after 2026 is PACK EXPO International 2028. PMMI runs other PACK EXPO shows in the intervening period, including PACK EXPO Southeast in Atlanta (April 12-14, 2027), EXPO PACK Guadalajara (June 8-10, 2027) and PACK EXPO Las Vegas (September 27-29, 2027).