Illinois hosts many professional conferences that attract industry leaders, researchers, and business professionals. These events offer valuable networking opportunities and exposure to cutting-edge developments across various sectors. The upcoming conferences in Illinois 2025 provide event marketers and managers with prime opportunities to connect with target audiences in diverse industries, from healthcare and education to technology and business.
These conferences vary in size, focus, and attendance, making Illinois a hub for professional gatherings. Event professionals can leverage these gatherings to showcase products, share expertise, or build partnerships in this dynamic state. The largest conferences typically feature renowned speakers, extensive exhibition spaces, and comprehensive programming designed to maximize engagement.
C2E2 ranks as Illinois' premier pop culture convention, taking place at McCormick Place in Chicago. This year's event has already happened in April 2025, with the next edition scheduled for March 27-29, 2026.
The expo draws massive crowds of entertainment enthusiasts, industry professionals, and marketing teams. With over 300 exhibitors and artists, C2E2 offers exceptional brand visibility and networking opportunities.
For event marketers, C2E2 provides prime sponsorship and exhibition options in a high-traffic environment. The 2025 convention featured dedicated spaces for gaming, wrestling, anime, and various pop culture segments.
The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo showcases cosplay competitions, celebrity appearances, and panel discussions that attract targeted audience segments. Celebrity guests represent major entertainment franchises, creating valuable cross-promotion opportunities.
Now in its 15th year, C2E2 has established itself as a cornerstone event in the Midwest convention circuit. Event professionals should note the convention's consistent scheduling in spring months, making it ideal for Q1/Q2 marketing campaigns.
The National Restaurant Show in Chicago will take place May 17-20, 2025 at McCormick Place. As the Western Hemisphere's largest foodservice event, it attracts professionals from across the restaurant industry.
Show hours run from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily from Saturday through Monday, with Tuesday likely following similar hours. The venue address is McCormick Place, Chicago, IL 60616.
Event marketers should note this is considered the world's most influential showcase of foodservice innovation. It provides unmatched opportunities for exhibitors to connect with decision-makers in the restaurant sector.
The event features extensive foodservice innovation and inspiration with the latest trends, solutions, and products in the industry. Attendees represent various segments including restaurant owners, suppliers, and food service professionals.
For companies in the restaurant supply chain, this represents one of the year's best marketing opportunities. The show's reputation as a trusted industry gathering ensures high-quality leads and networking possibilities.
The International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago will run from September 8-13, 2025, at McCormick Place. This event stands as one of the largest industrial trade shows in the Western Hemisphere.
IMTS attracts thousands of exhibitors and attendees from across the globe. The 2024 event featured 1,737 exhibitors and 89,020 registrants in over 1.2 million square feet of show space.
Event marketers should note that IMTS is co-located with HANNOVER MESSE USA, the largest industrial manufacturing gathering in North America. This partnership creates exceptional networking opportunities.
The show connects manufacturers with the latest advancements in manufacturing technologies, automation, and digital solutions. Previous exhibitions featured over 40 million pounds of machinery.
The Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS draws thousands of young people, offering companies a chance to connect with future talent. The 2024 Summit attracted 14,713 students.
Registration typically opens 6-8 months before the event. Companies should secure exhibit space early as premium positions fill quickly.
The NRF Big Show is returning to New York City from January 12-14, 2025. While not in Illinois, this premier retail conference attracts event professionals from across the Midwest, including major Illinois-based retailers and brands.
This conference offers event marketers unmatched exposure to retail decision-makers. The massive retail's largest stage for exhibitors provides exceptional marketing and sales opportunities with over 1,000 solution providers showcasing cutting-edge retail technology.
For 2025, the conference is building on its successful 2024 event with expanded networking opportunities. Event planners can leverage various pass options including an Expo Pass that grants access to the exhibition floor.
Event professionals should note that additional branding opportunities are available to increase visibility at the show. These premium placements can significantly boost engagement with target audiences.
The NRF Big Show consistently attracts top industry leaders from across retail sectors, making it a strategic venue for Illinois-based companies looking to expand their market presence or launch new products to a global audience.
The RSNA Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 30 to December 4, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago. This premier global radiology conference and meeting attracts over 50,000 professionals each year, making it one of Illinois' largest industry gatherings.
The 2025 meeting theme is "Imaging the Individual," focusing on personalized medicine advances in radiology. Event marketers should note this theme when planning exhibitor messaging and promotional materials.
McCormick Place provides extensive exhibition space, perfect for companies showcasing medical imaging equipment, AI solutions, and healthcare technologies. Booth reservations typically open 12 months before the event.
The conference draws radiologists, radiologic technologists, radiation therapists, and healthcare administrators from around the world. This creates exceptional networking and lead generation opportunities for medical technology vendors.
The RSNA Scientific Assembly 2025 includes educational sessions, research presentations, and technical exhibitions. Companies can maximize ROI through sponsored sessions, product demonstrations, and digital advertising packages offered by organizers.
Early-bird registration typically opens in summer 2025, with exhibitor packages available even earlier. Plan accommodation well in advance as Chicago hotels fill quickly during this major event.
The HTEC Annual Conference at Southwest Illinois College will take place from July 21-24, 2025, at the Belleville Campus. This specialized event focuses on CNC education and related manufacturing technologies.
Event marketers should note this conference is hosted by the Gene Haas Foundation and targets educational professionals in manufacturing technology. It stands out as the only conference specifically dedicated to CNC education in the region.
The four-day program includes workshops, training sessions, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities. These components make it ideal for exhibitors in the manufacturing education space.
Attendees typically include both experienced educators and those new to teaching CNC technologies. The conference venue features the Gene Haas Advanced Manufacturing Lab, providing an optimal environment for hands-on demonstrations.
For companies selling educational tools, machinery, or software related to manufacturing, this event offers targeted access to decision-makers from technical education institutions. Registration information is available through the event website.
Chicago Build 2025 is set to be the largest construction and design show in the Midwest. The event will take place on October 29-30, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Event marketers should note this expo will feature over 400 speakers across multiple stages. The two-day event provides exceptional networking opportunities for industry professionals.
Attendees can expect to see 350+ exhibitors showcasing the latest services, products, and innovations in construction and design. The show hours are 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM on Wednesday (Oct 29) and 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM on Thursday (Oct 30).
Chicago Build includes women in construction networking events and diversity initiatives through their Ambassador Program. This makes it valuable for companies looking to connect with diverse talent.
The expo also features Meet the Buyer sessions and a Festival of Construction. These components create multiple touchpoints for exhibitors to engage with decision-makers from leading contractors, developers, architects, and engineers.
Conferences in Illinois generate substantial economic benefits through direct spending, tax revenue, and employment opportunities in various sectors.
Illinois conferences create significant revenue streams for local businesses. In 2023 alone, Chicago hosted 1,900 meetings and conventions that attracted over 2 million attendees and generated $2.6 billion in economic impact. These events filled 3.2 million hotel rooms, marking a 7% increase from 2022.
McCormick Place, one of Illinois' premier venues, serves as a major economic engine for the state. After experiencing an estimated $3 billion loss during pandemic restrictions, the venue has rebounded strongly with over one hundred conventions and events returning.
Restaurants, retail shops, and transportation services also benefit substantially. Visitor spending extends beyond conference venues into downtown areas and neighborhoods, creating a ripple effect across the local economy.
The conference industry sustains thousands of jobs across Illinois. These positions range from event staff and venue operations to hospitality workers and security personnel.
For 2025, major events like the Midwest International Economic Development Conference at the University of Illinois (March 28-29) will create temporary employment spikes in Urbana-Champaign. Chicago Build, recognized as the largest construction and design show in the Midwest, will similarly boost employment in Chicago.
Event-related employment includes:
These jobs provide valuable income to Illinois residents while enhancing the state's reputation as a premier destination for business events and professional gatherings.
Illinois offers world-class venue infrastructure to support major conferences in 2025. The state's facilities combine cutting-edge technology with strategic locations that make event planning and execution seamless.
Chicago's McCormick Place stands as North America's largest convention center with 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. The facility hosts ProMat 2025 with 50,000+ attendees and features state-of-the-art digital signage and 5G connectivity.
The I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center in Champaign provides premium spaces for academic gatherings, including the upcoming Supply Chain Management Conference. Their Chancellor Ballroom accommodates up to 600 attendees theater-style.
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont offers 840,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with upgraded audiovisual capabilities for 2025 events.
All major venues provide:
O'Hare International Airport serves as the primary gateway for conference attendees, operating direct flights from 260+ destinations worldwide. The Chicago Transit Authority connects the airport to downtown venues in under 45 minutes.
The Illinois Conference Center benefits from its university location with dedicated parking facilities and shuttle services from nearby hotels.
For urban conference venues, Chicago's comprehensive transportation network includes:
Event planners should note that many venues offer transportation coordination services, including group transit passes and private shuttle arrangements for VIP attendees.
Illinois hosts several major conferences throughout 2025, with specific dates and locations already confirmed. Many attendees have common questions about these events.
The C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) runs March 21-23, 2025 at McCormick Place.
The National Restaurant Association Show is scheduled for May 17-20, 2025 at McCormick Place.
IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show) will take place September 8-13, 2025 at McCormick Place.
The RSNA Annual Meeting is set for November 30-December 5, 2025 at McCormick Place.
Farm Agents Council Annual Meeting will be held June 12-13, 2025 in Bloomington, IL.
The NRF Big Show (National Retail Federation) will be held January 12-14, 2025 at McCormick Place.
The Chicago Business Leadership Summit is scheduled for April 5-7, 2025 downtown.
The Midwest Marketing Conference will run May 8-10, 2025 at Navy Pier.
Several Illinois conferences and exhibitions will feature networking opportunities and industry speakers throughout the year.
The RSNA Annual Meeting (Radiological Society of North America) takes place November 30-December 5, 2025 at McCormick Place.
The Chicago Medical Innovations Summit is scheduled for April 15-17, 2025.
The Midwest Healthcare Symposium will run September 22-24, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) will be held March 21-23, 2025 at McCormick Place.
The Chicago Education Technology Conference is set for March 5-7, 2025.
The Midwest Marketing Directors Summit will take place March 12-14, 2025 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.
Note: As of June 11, 2025, the current week's conferences include:
The Chicago Financial Technology Expo runs June 10-12, 2025 at Navy Pier.
The Midwest Digital Marketing Conference is happening June 9-11, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency.
The Food Innovation Summit concludes today, June 11, 2025, at McCormick Place.
The Chicago Architecture and Design Summit will run June 15-17, 2025 at the Chicago Cultural Center.
The Midwest Hospitality Expo takes place June 22-24, 2025 at McCormick Place.
Several Illinois conferences and workshops in June feature specialized tracks for different industry segments, with early registration discounts available.
