PACK EXPO International 2026

PACK EXPO International 2026 ran Sunday October 18 to Wednesday October 21, 2026 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Drive, Chicago, Illinois. Show floor hours were 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday through Tuesday and 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Wednesday. Exhibits filled all four buildings: North, South, West and Lakeside Center.

USD 30 if registered by Friday September 25, 2026, and USD 130 after that. The badge covered 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.

There was no published free tier, but two routes existed. Most exhibitors could send complimentary registrations through PMMI's Customer Invite Program. Qualified national and multinational CPG buying teams could also apply to the invitation-only Insider Advantage Program, which included complimentary registration codes plus lounge and meeting-room access.

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's post-show release for 2026 reports 72,000 total attendees (more than 43,000 attendees plus 29,000 exhibitor personnel) and more than 2,700 exhibitors across over 1.3 million net square feet.

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.

The Containers and Materials Pavilion, the Healthcare Packaging Pavilion and the PACKage Printing Pavilion were all in the West Building. The Food and Beverage Processing Zone and the Reusable Packaging Pavilion were in Lakeside Center Upper. The Logistics Pavilion was in the North Building and the Confectionery Pavilion was in the South Building.

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.

For the 2026 edition the standard space rate was USD 34.25 per square foot, and unusually for a US trade show it included drayage and material handling, provided the truck checked in at McCormick Place by 2:00 pm on the assigned target move-in date. PMMI member rates varied and were quoted individually. The final payment deadline was June 22, 2026. For the 2028 edition, check current rates and deadlines with PMMI's exhibit sales team.

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).

PMMI reports 72,000 total attendees: more than 43,000 attendees plus 29,000 exhibitor personnel, with more than 2,700 exhibitors. Exhibitor personnel are counted separately from attendees.

PMMI's trade show calendar lists PACK EXPO International for 5 to 8 November 2028 in Chicago. PACK EXPO Las Vegas, a separate show, is listed for 27 to 29 September 2027.