If your company is based in any of the following industries, you need to attend PACK EXPO International if you want to grow your business this year:
- Food and beverage
- Life sciences, i.e., pharmaceutical, medical devices
- Personal care and cosmetics
- Household and chemical products
- Automotive
- Pet food and pet care
- eCommerce and warehouse distribution
And that’s just a flavor of the types of businesses that are due to exhibit at this event.
Our article gives you the complete lowdown on PACK EXPO International 2026, explaining what to expect and how you can start preparing for it today.
What is PACK EXPO International?
A biennial packaging and processing industry trade show, PACK EXPO International the biggest event of its kind on the planet, based on the number of exhibitors and attendees it attracts.
It takes place in Chicago and showcases the latest machinery, materials, containers, automation, robotics, and supply chain solutions across more than 40 verticals.
As stated on its website, PACK EXPO International helps you:
- Get your brand in front of industry leaders and innovators.
- Create endless possibilities for connection, innovation and sales.
- Play a key role in shaping the future of the industry.
Who attends PACK EXPO International?
As you can imagine, the packaging and processing industry’s dominant stakeholders attend PACK EXPO International.
Exhibitors include manufacturers and suppliers of:
- Automation, controls, and related components.
- Packaging equipment and machinery.
- Packaging materials and containers.
- Food and beverage processing equipment and machinery.
- Packaging services and supplies.
- Life sciences processing equipment and machinery.
- Chemicals.
PACK EXPO International 2024 brought together an incredible 77,500 people over four days (48,000 attendees, plus 29,500 exhibitor personnel). You can check out the full list of brands that were represented here and conduct a detailed exhibitor search here.
Better yet, two-thirds of attendees have significant influence or final say on purchasing decisions.
If these figures don’t whet your appetite, we’re not sure what will.
You have an unprecedented opportunity to talk to your ideal clients, close deals, and accelerate your bottom line.
Key information about PACK EXPO International 2026
Here are all the important details you need in order to start making preparations.
When and where is PACK EXPO International 2026 taking place?
PACK EXPO International takes place from October 18-21, 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. For advice on driving directions, parking and rates, and public transportation access, check out this helpful guide.
To book a hotel in the show’s official hotel block, visit the Travel & Hotel page of this website.
For maximum impact at the show, you should ideally let your exhibit house know that you’re planning to attend six months in advance, so around April 2026.
What are the registration and trade show floor hours at PACK EXPO International 2026?
The exhibit hall hours are as follows:
- Sunday, October 18, 2026: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Monday, October 19, 2026: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
At the time of writing (January 2026), registration has yet to open. Attendee registration is set to open in February 2026, and badges will be available for on-site pickup.
To sign up for show updates and be the first to know when registration goes live, click here and fill out the form.
Where can I apply for space?
You can apply for exhibiting space here.
What happened at PACK EXPO International 2024?
As we mentioned above (in case you missed it), PACK EXPO International brought together 48,000 attendees and 29,500 exhibitor personnel, reaching 77,500 in total attendance. International attendance increased by 19% compared to the previous show in 2022.
A record number of 2,700 exhibitors occupied 1.32 million net square feet of space, making PACK EXPO International the largest show in its history and the biggest event at McCormick Place in 2024.
The show highlighted automation and robotics, sustainability in packaging, and artificial intelligence in the form of predictive maintenance and intelligent quality control. It also featured extensive conference sessions and awards recognizing breakthrough technologies.
You can get a firsthand feel for this event by watching the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFzq1QebKrg
How we’ll help you stand out at PACK EXPO International 2026
When you’re ready to get started, we’re ready to take your call.
The Trade Group is a strategic trade show partner that’s helped businesses like yours bring their products and services to life since 1986.
We know that the stakes are high when you attend a trade show, and you can’t afford to spend big bucks just to blend in with the crowd.
That’s why we don’t just create booths—we create immersive, engaging, storytelling assets that bring your business to life.
Call us today at 800-343-2005 to get the ball rolling.
