Chicago, IL, United States — July 17, 2026 — The North American promotional products industry, valued at $27.7 billion, will see a significant mid-year gathering in Chicago. The ASI Show! Chicago, opening on July 21, 2026, is set to convene thousands of professionals. The 2025 Chicago edition attracted nearly 5,000 professionals and featured 466 exhibitors, drawing attendees from 47 states and 14 countries. This scale highlights its significance for market participants.
Industry Convergence and Organizational Mandate
Positioned as the largest promotional products trade show in the Midwest, The ASI Show! Chicago serves as a critical nexus for the industry. It will bring together a comprehensive ecosystem of promotional product suppliers, distributors, decorators, apparel companies, print providers, and corporate buyers. The primary organizing entity, the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), functions as a leading global resource for the sector. As a membership organization, ASI is dedicated to fostering connections and business solutions within this cross-border industry.
Core exhibit sectors will include Promotional Products & Corporate Gifts, showcasing items from sustainable merchandise to corporate incentive items. The Branded Apparel & Decoration Technologies segment will feature custom apparel collections and advancements in screen printing, embroidery, and digital printing solutions.
Market Performance and Strategic Positioning
The event's historical performance underscores its market impact. The 2025 Chicago edition saw nearly 5,000 professionals in attendance and 466 exhibitors, with participants from 47 states and 14 countries. Notably, the 2025 show included 326 women-owned and 155 minority-owned companies among its exhibitors. Post-show surveys from 2025 indicated high utility: 98% of attendees reported the show was critical for product and supplier sourcing, 90% were more likely to present discovered products to customers, and 99% found products and services to meet client needs. Furthermore, 85% of attendees were decision-makers, and 40% were first-time attendees. A significant 90% of attending distributors do not attend other shows, emphasizing the unique value of The ASI Show! Chicago. An earlier 2021 Chicago show, marking the first large-scale in-person event at McCormick Place post-shutdown, attracted over 3,500 professionals and 290 exhibiting companies.
Programmatic Focus and Capital Mobilization
The 2026 event is strategically timed to drive Q3 and Q4 sales, positioning products for the crucial back-to-school and holiday selling seasons, thereby facilitating significant capital movement within the supply chain. The program will feature an extensive Education Day with power sessions and general sessions. Attendees, including promotional product suppliers, distributors, decorators, and procurement managers, will have opportunities for networking and one-on-one meetings. Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun will deliver a keynote address. Specialized zones will showcase trending promotional products, custom apparel collections, sustainable merchandise, and emerging supplier launches. The ASI Passport program will encourage engagement with participating exhibitors.
Further details and registration information are available at https://www.asishow.com/trade-shows.