Save the date for NeoCon 2027, June 13–16 at The Mart in Chicago
NeoCon wrapped its 57th edition with traffic up 9% over 2025, reinforcing its position as the premier gathering for the commercial interiors industry. Centered on the theme “Where Design Connects,” the 2026 edition welcomed 55,000 design professionals from 88 countries for four dynamic days of product discovery, thought-provoking programming, networking, and business development.
Bringing together 450 brands—from longtime exhibitors and established industry leaders to first-time participants, returning veterans, and emerging companies—NeoCon 2026 showcased the breadth of innovation shaping the future of commercial environments, while providing the face-to-face interactions that continue to drive specification, partnerships, and market growth.
“NeoCon has always been a reflection of where the commercial design industry is headed, and this year there was a real sense of momentum that was felt across every floor,” said Byron Morton, Vice President and Co-Head of Leasing at The Mart, where the show is held. “It was evident in the conversations taking place between exhibitors and specifiers, in the investments brands are making in their presence at The Mart, and in the enthusiasm around new ideas and introductions.”
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. This expansive landscape—from permanent showrooms on floors 1, 3, 6, 10, 11, and 14 to the 7th Floor Exhibit Hall and its specialty areas—showcased introductions designed to address the changing needs of commercial environments and the people who use them. The Best of NeoCon Awards highlighted standouts from this year’s show.
Emerging design themes
Burgundy, lavender, and plum tones emerged as a dominant color story. Furniture silhouettes shifted away from rigid geometry, favoring plump curves, cocooning lounge pieces, serpentine seating, and elongated communal tables designed to foster flexibility and ease. Fluted and pleated detailing migrated from architectural elements to table bases, upholstery, and casegoods, while velvet-like textures and layered materials brought a heightened sense of tactility to the floors.
Against these softer material cues, bold color blocking and playful tubular accents injected moments of energy and individuality. Collectively, the introductions pointed toward universally designed environments that pair residential comfort with inclusivity, while remaining purpose-built for the evolving demands of commercial settings—spaces that invite people to gather, focus, restore, and engage.
“That rich mauve; the muted, almost-exhaled palettes appearing independently across showrooms who never compared notes—that’s not a color trend, that’s the industry taking the emotional pulse of the culture,” said Meena Krenek, Global Sector Director, Interiors, at HKS. “Overstimulated people need color that is an act of care, and the floor knew it before anyone wrote the brief.”
“Cognitive research is reshaping design at every scale: seating that invites movement, lighting calibrated to circadian rhythms, natural materials that carry the restorative quality of the outdoors inside, acoustic and sensory elements working together rather than in isolation,” added Janet Simpson, ASID, IIDA Associate AIA, President, CEO of TVS.
NeoCon’s future-focused programming convened visionary thinkers, cross-disciplinary leaders, and cultural outliers for dynamic conversations and experiences exploring the future of the built environment. Both globally relevant and hyper-local, intergenerational and culturally attuned, the program forged unexpected connections and delivered cutting-edge perspectives. Recordings of select programming sessions are available at neocon.com.
Business activity
The show also reflected continued leasing activity across The Mart, with 22 long-term agreements, new permanent showrooms, significant expansions, and specialty showcases. New spaces from Formica Group, Haskell Education, Nevers Industries, Slalom, and Workrite joined substantial reinvestments from companies including Keilhauer, Division Twelve, and Calyx by Claridge, while longtime exhibitors such as Emeco, Schiavello, and Stance Healthcare reaffirmed their presence through renewed commitments. Together, these moves underscored NeoCon’s enduring value as both a launchpad for innovation and a destination for year-round business.
“The business momentum and engagement this year were unmistakable,” said Tim Penczar, Principal at Martin Brattrud. “We saw an influx of active buyers and designers arriving with projects in hand, turning our showroom into a destination for collaborative planning rather than ‘look-and-see appointments.’”
Meghan Howell, North American Design & Creative Director at Formica Corporation, said this year was especially meaningful as the company debuted its new showroom. “Opening our new showroom in The Mart gives us a permanent home at the center of the design community and creates new opportunities to engage with architects, designers, and customers throughout the year,” she explained. “We are grateful for the incredible response and excited about what this new chapter means for Formica Group and the customers we serve.”
About NeoCon
Since launching in 1969, NeoCon has served as the annual gathering place for the commercial design world’s manufacturers, dealers, architects, designers, end users, design organizations, and media. The four-day event showcases game-changing products and services, providing unparalleled access to the latest and most innovative solutions. A robust educational program of keynote presentations, CEU sessions, workshops, and tours offers world-class expertise and insight into today’s most relevant topics as well as the future of commercial design.
