NeoCon wrapped its 57th edition with attendance up nine per cent over 2025, drawing commercial interiors professionals from around the world.
Centered on the theme “Where Design Connects,” the 2026 edition welcomed design professionals from 88 countries for four days of product discovery, programming, networking, and business development.
Bringing together 450 brands from longtime exhibitors and returning and first-time participants, NeoCon 2026 showcased innovation across commercial interiors, while supporting in-person engagement.
The event introduced several new initiatives including Illuminate at NeoCon, a dedicated lighting pavilion on the 7th floor that welcomed more than 60 lighting exhibitors, exceeding initial projections.
NeoCon Collab: Half-Light, an immersive installation by Charlie Greene Studio, also debuted on the 7th floor. An early Sunday opening day provided additional access ahead of the official launch.
Across nearly one million square feet of exhibition space, attendees encountered design-forward solutions spanning workplace, healthcare, hospitality, education, public space, materials, technology, lighting, acoustics, and furnishings.
Design trends included burgundy, lavender, and plum tones, alongside softer furniture forms, curved silhouettes, and increased use of tactile materials. Fluted and pleated detailing appeared across furnishings, while bold colour blocking and tubular accents added a contrast.
The show also reflected continued leasing activity at The Mart, with 22 long-term agreements, new showrooms, expansions, and renewals from companies including Formica Group, Haskell Education, Keilhauer, and Emeco, underscoring NeoCon’s role as a year-round business platform.
The 36th annual Best of NeoCon Awards received 274 entries from 97 exhibitors, recognizing 71 products across 42 categories for design, innovation, and performance. KI received Best of Competition for Cognetic Technology. People’s Choice Awards recognized products from Mohawk Group, SurfaceWorks, BIOS Lighting, Haskell Education, Andreu World, and HALCON Furniture.
Keynote speakers included Jessica O. Matthews, Nick Foster, and David “Shingy” Shing, alongside programming focused on artificial intelligence (AI), neuroinclusive design, workplace transformation, and sustainability.
Additional lighting-focused programming included educational vignettes, 14 Spotlight Sessions in partnership with Lytei, a panel discussion on lighting and spatial experience, and CEUs covering specification, wellness, technology, and design strategy. Interactive sessions, networking spaces, and Inside Design tours, in partnership with the Design Museum of Chicago and including a visit to the Obama Presidential Center, expanded engagement beyond the show floor.
Installations across the event included Paved States x DesignLab, Material Intelligence: Destination NeoCon, and Neuroaesthetic Art: A Healing Journey to Self-Reflection. Art on the Mart projection “Love Language” illuminated the building’s riverfront facade during the show.
NeoCon will return for its 58th edition from June 13 to 16, 2027.
