Woman in a beret and leather jacket in a car under red light, looking at the camera

auto show, powersports, RV and marine · Chicago

Chicago Auto Show 2027Chicago exhibitor guide: booth costs, dates and deadlines

Nine February days at 72 degrees: Chicago Auto Show 2027 booths in Chicago

Event dates
February 13–21, 2027
Exhibit hall
February 13–21, 2027 (public show), after the February 11–12 Media Preview
Venue
McCormick Place, Chicago

4.9 client ratingSince 201510,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors

Barantech booth by Purple Exhibits: four staff posing in a white Barantech marine electronics booth, an example for Chicago Auto Show exhibitors in Chicago
Built by PurpleBarantech inline booth
Prime Video booth by Purple Exhibits: open Prime Video experiential space with a pink-to-blue gradient back wall, an example for Chicago Auto Show exhibitors in Chicago
Built by PurplePrime Video island
  • 119thedition of the show in 2027 source
  • 9daysof public show, February 13–21, 2027 source
  • $2M+a year for 18 charities from First Look gala source
  • 674stories on Overlanding Chicago in 2026 source

Quick answers

Chicago Auto Show 2027 in 30 seconds

The Chicago Auto Show is a public auto show produced by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association at McCormick Place in Chicago. The 119th edition runs February 13–21, 2027, after a Media Preview on February 11–12 and the First Look for Charity gala on February 12. Automakers build their own displays; hundreds of thousands of consumers attend, per the show. Other companies buy in through Star, Official or Premier sponsor tiers from $35,000, or as vendors in Overlanding Chicago, Chi-Town Alley and the Family Zone. Purple builds sponsor lounges, Overlanding displays and graphics for it.

When is Chicago Auto Show 2027?
February 13–21, 2027, at McCormick Place, Chicago.
When is the Chicago Auto Show exhibit hall open?
February 13–21, 2027 (public show), after the February 11–12 Media Preview.
How big is Chicago Auto Show?
Hundreds of thousands, per the show attendees, More than two dozen manufacturers exhibitors (2026 edition).
What does booth space cost?
1,000 sq ft minimum; $9 per sq ft auto OEM, $12 per sq ft non-auto, with carpet, paid to the organizer.
What is the all-in cost of a 10×20 booth at Chicago Auto Show?
$7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental in Chicago: design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. Chicago Auto Show bills space and show services separately.
For Chicago Auto Show, what is the next exhibitor deadline?
Media Preview opens at McCormick Place (through February 12): February 11, 2027.

Auto shows · Chicago · 2027

119th

edition of the show in 2027 source

The lookMcCormick Place 2027

Chicago in February. Seventy-two degrees inside.

The 119th Chicago Auto Show opens to the public February 13–21, 2027, after a February 11–12 Media Preview. Overlanding Chicago, Chi-Town Alley and the Family Zone sell space to brands that are not automakers.

Woman at the wheel looking out the open window of a dark car at night
01Window down, night drive
Off-road SUV with a rooftop tent open and hood up at sunset
02Tent up, hood up
Chicago skyline behind broken ice on Lake Michigan under heavy winter clouds
03Lake ice, Chicago towers
Frozen Chicago River with lit towers and bridges on a winter night
04Frozen river, lit towers
Off-road truck with a rooftop tent under the moon in a night camp
05Moonlit rooftop camp

Everything about Chicago Auto Show 2027 in one place

Chicago Auto Show 2027 fact sheet

Chicago Auto Show 2027 key facts
Official nameChicago Auto Show 2027
Event datesFebruary 13–21, 2027
Exhibit hall datesFebruary 13–21, 2027 (public show), after the February 11–12 Media Preview source
VenueMcCormick Place
2301 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616
OrganizerChicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA)
Size (2026)Hundreds of thousands, per the show attendees · More than two dozen manufacturers exhibitors source
Who attendsConsumers, families and car enthusiasts; hundreds of thousands attend, per the show
Next deadlineMedia Preview opens at McCormick Place (through February 12): February 11, 2027 source
Nearest airportChicago Midway (MDW) and O'Hare (ORD)
Midway is about 20 minutes and O'Hare 30 to 45, per Purple's McCormick Place guide
HotelsHyatt Regency McCormick Place and Marriott Marquis Chicago, both connected by skywalk
Official hotel page →
Official websitechicagoautoshow.com

Official Chicago Auto Show resources

Chicago Auto Show 2027 calendar

Chicago Auto Show 2027 dates and deadlines

In order: the dates the Chicago Auto Show organizer has published, each linked to the page that states it. We highlight the next one.

  1. Media Preview opens at McCormick Place (through February 12) source
  2. First Look for Charity black-tie gala source
  3. Public show opens source
  4. Final day of the 2027 public show source

01 Purple at Chicago Auto Show 2027

Nine February days at 72 degrees: Chicago Auto Show 2027 booths in Chicago

The automakers build their own stands here. The space open to everyone else is sponsor and vendor space beside them, from a 200 sq ft Overlanding Chicago spot to a 4,000 sq ft Premier footprint, and we build the displays, lounges and graphics that fill it.

  • Feb 13–21 · McCormick
  • 119th edition in 2027
  • Sponsor tiers from $35,000

What makes Chicago Auto Show different, and how we build for it

The Chicago Auto Show is the longest-running auto exposition in North America, now in its 119th edition, and it is a public show: families, commuters and enthusiasts walk McCormick Place for nine February days, and the show says engaged consumers spend over five hours inside. Automakers build their own displays. Everyone else comes in through the sponsor program or one of the themed areas: Overlanding Chicago for upfitters and camping gear, Chi-Town Alley for custom and performance cars, the Family Zone, and the First Look for Charity gala on February 12. A booth here sells to shoppers, not buyers, for ten to twelve days.

Car shoppers and their families

Something to touch or sit in, a reason to stop for two minutes between automaker stands, and a sign-up or offer they can act on after the show.

Overlanders and off-road owners

Upfitted vehicles, rooftop tents, lights and wheels they can climb on, plus the person who built the rig standing next to it.

Media at the February 11–12 preview

A clean backdrop for interviews and a story that photographs well before the doors open to the public.

Your team in Chicago

How Purple runs the Chicago Auto Show 2027

We build in Fishkill, NY or our Las Vegas shop, crate it and send one consolidated load to McCormick Place on the schedule in the Exhibitor Resource Hub. A Purple project manager runs the install before the February 11 Media Preview with the labor McCormick Place requires, stays on call through the gala, and handles strike after February 21.

Inside Chicago Auto Show 2027

119th edition of the show in 2027 source9 days of public show, February 13–21, 2027 source$2M+ a year for 18 charities from First Look gala source674 stories on Overlanding Chicago in 2026 source

Rules that shape your Chicago Auto Show booth

Space through sponsorship or themed areas

Companies other than automakers buy in as sponsors or as vendors in Overlanding Chicago, the Family Zone or Chi-Town Alley, through the show's inquiry form. We design to the square footage your tier or level names.

Organizer rule

Carpet and one 10 amp outlet included

Each 2027 sponsor tier and Overlanding level includes carpet and one 10 amp outlet. We count screens, light boxes and charging stations against that outlet and order extra power where the plan needs it.

Organizer rule

One vehicle per Overlanding level for $500

Overlanding Chicago vendors may add one vehicle to any level for $500 in 2027. We draw the rig in first and keep a clear path around it so visitors can see the full build.

Organizer rule

Resource Hub for approved exhibitors only

Deadlines, credentialing and 2027 show information sit in the Exhibitor Resource Hub, which opens to approved exhibitors. We file our forms there as soon as your approval comes through.

Organizer rule

Programs worth planning for

Overlanding Chicago

The show-floor area for upfitted vehicles, rooftop tents, off-road accessories, camping gear and travel parks, with an education stage; vendor levels from $3,000 and a $100,000 presenting sponsorship in 2027.

Official details

First Look for Charity

The black-tie gala on February 12, 2027, before the public opening; sponsorship is limited and first come, first served, and it raises more than $2 million a year for 18 nonprofits, per the show.

Official details

Chi-Town Alley

A returning car-culture area of performance vehicles, custom builds and exotics, with sponsor packages in a 2027 sheet on the sponsor page.

Official details

Family Zone

Presenting sponsorships, exhibit spaces and activations for families, sold for a single day or the full show.

Official details

The Chicago Auto Show is the Midwest's consumer auto show with a priced menu for non-automakers; choose it over the Detroit Auto Show when you want nine February days of family traffic and an Overlanding Chicago vendor spot. Compare every automotive and transportation show we build for →

automotive and transportation at Chicago Auto Show

The industry behind Chicago Auto Show, in pictures

City lights blurred through a windshield beyond a dark dashboard
City bokeh past the windshield
Dried mud packed into deep off-road tire tread
Dried mud, deep tread
Snowy Lincoln Park with the Chicago skyline beyond on a winter day
Lincoln Park in snow

02 Booths & pricing for Chicago Auto Show 2027

What does a Chicago Auto Show 2027 sponsor or vendor space cost?

Space for non-automakers is sold as sponsor tiers and themed-area levels, not by an open price per square foot. Overlanding Chicago vendor spaces run from 10×20 to 40×20, and sponsor tiers start at 1,000 sq ft. We recommend a 20×20 Overlanding spot or a Star tier lounge for a first Chicago Auto Show.

Sedemac booth by Purple Exhibits: white inline booth for Sedemac innovative controls, like the booths we plan for Chicago Auto Show
Inline10×20$7,500 – $15,000all-in rental

An Overlanding Chicago Level 1 spot: one upfitted vehicle, a gear wall and a counter where visitors book an install or join a trail day.

Shown: a Purple inline booth for Sedemac

See 10×20 rental booths →
S.S.Tools booth by Purple Exhibits: white inline booth for S.S.Tools precision gear cutting tools, a reference for planning a Chicago Auto Show booth
Inline10×30$12,000 – $22,000all-in rental

Multiple product lines, a small meeting nook

Shown: a Purple inline booth for S.S.Tools

See 10×30 rental booths →
LeadSquared booth by Purple Exhibits: leadSquared island booth on the show floor, the kind of booth we build for Chicago Auto Show
Island20×20$16,000 – $40,000all-in rental

Two vehicles or one vehicle with a full camp setup, a lit header and a demo table for lights, racks or recovery gear.

Shown: LeadSquared, a Purple island exhibit

See 20×20 rental booths →
Bonomi booth by Purple Exhibits: two-storey white Bonomi booth with a huge LED wall showing a train image, Purple work to compare for your Chicago Auto Show booth
Island20×30+$25,000 – $55,000all-in rental

A Star or Official sponsor lounge with seating, a photo moment and product stations sized for ten to twelve days of family traffic.

Shown: Bonomi, a Purple large-format exhibit

See 20×30 rental booths →

Included in Purple's price

  • Design work and a 3D rendering, with revisions until the Chicago Auto Show layout is right
  • The structure, printed graphics, counters and storage your Chicago Auto Show plan specifies
  • Lighting plus power distribution within the booth at Chicago Auto Show
  • Install and dismantle at Chicago Auto Show, led by our project manager on the floor
  • Show-service orders and deadlines for Chicago Auto Show, tracked on your behalf

Paid to Chicago Auto Show and its contractor

  • Exhibit space (paid to Chicago Automobile Trade Association)
  • Drayage, or material handling, when it is not in the Chicago Auto Show space rate
  • Electrical, internet and rigging orders for Chicago Auto Show
  • Booth cleaning, and union labor where McCormick Place requires it

Rates to plan with for Chicago Auto Show:

  • Sponsor tiers (2027) Star $35,000 (1,000–1,500 sq ft); Official from $50,000; Premier from $100,000, per the show source
  • Overlanding Chicago (2027) 10×20 $3,000; 20×20 $5,000; 40×20 $8,500; +$500 per vehicle source
  • Large vendor space (2027) 1,000 sq ft minimum; $9 per sq ft auto OEM, $12 per sq ft non-auto, with carpet source
  • Material handling About $210 per hundredweight, 200 lb minimum, Purple's 2026–2027 planning figure source

We estimate each of these on your Chicago Auto Show proposal, so the total is on paper before you sign.

Ranges shown are all-in 2026 rental prices for design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle at Chicago Auto Show; custom builds get their own quote. For an exact Chicago Auto Show figure, try the booth cost calculator; the 2026 booth cost guide has the ranges.

Each Chicago Auto Show fee listed upfront and in full, on paper.
Tell us your Chicago Auto Show booth size and what the space has to do. You hear back within one business day, and a rendering with a fixed Chicago Auto Show proposal usually follows within a week. No charge.
Get my Chicago Auto Show proposal

The booth we would build for Chicago Auto Show 2027

The trailhead lounge for Overlanding Chicago

Shoppers at the Chicago Auto Show come to look, sit and dream for five hours, not to sign a purchase order, so this 20×20 vendor space works like a campsite: one rig with its rooftop tent open, gear people can handle, and a place to sit out of the crowd. It sells installs and trail days after February, not on the floor.

Your weekend starts in this driveway. 01The rigOne upfitted vehicle, added for $500,parked on the diagonal with the tentdeployed and the awning out, lit…02Gear wallLights, racks, recovery boards andfridges at hand height, every itemtagged with the install price and…03Camp chairsSix chairs and a low table on a turfpatch where tired parents sit while thekids climb, which is how a family…04Booking counterA short counter with a tablet forinstall appointments, trail-day sign-upsand a February-only offer code. MAIN AISLE CROSS AISLE CROSS AISLE
Concept plan for Chicago Auto Show, not to scale: zones follow the show rules on this page; your final plan is drawn to your space and the organizer's rules.
01

The rig

One upfitted vehicle, added for $500, parked on the diagonal with the tent deployed and the awning out, lit warm like an evening camp.

02

Gear wall

Lights, racks, recovery boards and fridges at hand height, every item tagged with the install price and the shop that fits it.

03

Camp chairs

Six chairs and a low table on a turf patch where tired parents sit while the kids climb, which is how a family stays ten minutes.

04

Booking counter

A short counter with a tablet for install appointments, trail-day sign-ups and a February-only offer code.

The demo

Every half hour, open and close the rooftop tent and swing out the awning in under two minutes, then let one visitor try the ladder; the reveal draws a crowd from the aisle and gives the staff a moment to start a conversation.

The meetings

Real meetings here are with dealers, outfitters and media rather than buyers. The Media Preview on February 11–12 is the time for interviews, and First Look for Charity on February 12 is where partners see the build; the public days are for sign-ups.

Your weekend starts in this driveway.
What the back wall could say at Chicago Auto Show

03 Built by Purple

Chicago Auto Show displays built for nine days of families

Amazon booth by Purple Exhibits, a project to compare for Chicago Auto Show

Case study · Amazon

Amazon at ESSENCE Festival of Culture, New Orleans

Amazon's ESSENCE Festival space had to welcome a public crowd that came to explore, not to buy on the spot; a sponsor lounge at the Chicago Auto Show has the same job for families walking between automaker stands.

Read the Amazon case study All case studies →

“They handle everything end to end so clients can really just show up and not worry about anything. Doesn’t get any better than that.”

Tess Bockes, Exit King Realty · more Purple client reviews
3,000+ exhibitors10,000+ booths built4.9★ client ratingSince 2015

Trusted by exhibitors including

Philippine AirlinesKLEEMANNNantsuneEagle ChemicalsRPS GroupFIMI Group

04 Designing for automotive accessory, overlanding, insurance, finance and lifestyle brands at Chicago Auto Show

Designing a Chicago Auto Show booth beside the automakers

Woman sitting by a car with a rooftop tent and ladder beside a campfire1

Built for nine public days

The show runs February 13 to 21 with families on the floor from open to close. We use scuff-proof laminates, sealed edges and reprintable fabric graphics so the booth on the last Sunday looks like the booth the media saw on February 11.

Smiling woman leaning out of a red car window, chin on her arm2

Overlanding means vehicles inside

Overlanding Chicago lets a vendor add one vehicle to any level for $500. We plan the footprint around the rig first, then fit the gear wall, tent display and counter so families can walk all the way around it.

Visitors walking past custom sports cars at an indoor car exhibition3

One look for preview and gala

Sponsors activate during the Media Preview and inside First Look for Charity. We design graphics that read on camera at the preview and on the gala night, then switch to sign-up mode for the public days without a rebuild.

Man sitting on the ground in front of a car with its headlights on at night4

Keep staff fed and fresh

Ten to twelve days of activation wears teams down. We add a lockable storage closet, a charging shelf and a stool rail behind the counter, so two shifts a day can run the booth without clutter showing on the aisle.

Purple Exhibits 3D booth concept for precise LED, the kind of rendering we make for Chicago Auto Show

Concept rendering

Every Chicago Auto Show proposal includes a rendering like this

Before we cut a single panel, you see the booth in 3D (layout, graphics, lighting and product positions) and we revise it until it is right. Pictured: a Purple concept for precise LED.

Start my Chicago Auto Show concept

Floor at a glance

Where you could be at Chicago Auto Show 2027

The show has not named its 2027 McCormick Place building. These are the parts of the campus that shape a sponsor or vendor booth, from Purple's McCormick Place guide.

ANorth and South Buildings
BHyatt Regency and Marriott Marquis skywalks
CMetra Electric station
McCormick Place, ChicagoSchematic, not to scale
A

North and South Buildings

The largest single-level halls on campus; the South Building has docks on two levels.

Our advice Ask which level your space is on before freight is labeled, so the truck goes to the right dock.

B

Hyatt Regency and Marriott Marquis skywalks

Both on-campus hotels connect to the halls by enclosed walkway.

Our advice Staff staying on campus can swap shifts in February without going outside.

C

Metra Electric station

The McCormick Place stop sits on the campus, a direct ride from the Loop.

Our advice Public visitors arrive by train with bags; leave room near the counter for strollers and coats.

05 McCormick Place · Chicago

Chicago Auto Show 2027 move-in, McCormick Place freight and labor

McCormick Place is four connected buildings, and the 2027 Chicago Auto Show hall is not confirmed yet; the Exhibitor Resource Hub opens to approved exhibitors with deadlines and credentials. Illinois reformed McCormick labor in 2010, so your payroll staff can put up even a large display with their own drills, and Purple files as your contractor for everything else. Moving crates off the truck and onto your carpet remains Teamster material handling priced by weight; Purple plans about $210 per hundredweight with a 200 lb minimum. We crate everything, ship one consolidated load and check the dock for your building before the truck leaves.

Hall rules, drayage estimates and freight deadlines for the building that hosts Chicago Auto Show are in our McCormick Place exhibitor guide.

What Purple handles

  • Overlanding Chicago displays built around one or two vehicles
  • Sponsor lounges for Star, Official and Premier tiers
  • Graphics that switch from Media Preview to public days
  • Crated freight and Teamster material handling at McCormick Place
  • Durable finishes for nine days of family traffic
  • Storage between Chicago and your spring shows
Exterior of McCormick Place in Chicago
Exterior of McCormick Place in Chicago

Chicago Auto Show timeline, counted back from move-in

For Chicago Auto Show, we need design sign-off by mid-December 2026.

  1. November–December 2026Sponsor tier or Overlanding level agreed through the show's inquiry form; space and vehicle count set.
  2. Mid-December 2026Design sign-off; vehicle placement, gear walls and lounge layout approved.
  3. Late December 2026 to January 2027Production in Fishkill, NY or our Las Vegas shop; graphics proofed for preview, gala and public days.
  4. Late January 2027Freight ships to McCormick Place per the Exhibitor Resource Hub schedule; exact move-in dates not confirmed yet.
  5. February 11–12, 2027Booth finished for the Media Preview and the First Look for Charity gala on February 12.
  6. February 13–21, 2027Public show days; graphics refreshed as needed, then strike and return to storage.

Purple's planning timeline for Chicago Auto Show. The official Chicago Auto Show move-in, freight target and order dates come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; when you book, we confirm them against your booth.

Print the Chicago Auto Show budget & deadline sheet

Before you book Chicago Auto Show 2027

Chicago Auto Show 2027 details from the sponsor sheets

  1. Overlanding Chicago charges $500 to add one vehicle to any vendor level, so price the rig into the budget from the start rather than renting a bigger space to fit it. source

  2. Every 2027 sponsor tier includes an activation inside First Look for Charity on February 12, a black-tie crowd that sees your build before the public does; plan a dressed-up version of the booth for that night. source

  3. Official and Premier sponsors may invite 25 influencers during the Social Media Preview; send the list early and give them a corner of the booth that photographs well. source

  4. The Overlanding Chicago video screens loop 30-second spots from at most eight advertisers for $5,000; a spot that matches your booth graphics brings walkers over from the screen. source

  5. The Exhibitor Resource Hub with 2027 deadlines and credentials opens only to approved exhibitors, so submit the inquiry form early; move-in dates are not confirmed yet until it opens. source

Who you meet on the floor

Chicago-area car shoppers

They come to compare models, take an indoor track ride or an outdoor test drive, and spend more than five hours inside, per the show.

Overlanders and off-road owners

Overlanding Chicago gathers upfitted vehicles, tents, wheels and lights in one area, and its owners come to see builds and talk to the people who make them.

Families with children

The Family Zone is built for ages 2 to 18, so parents with kids are a steady part of the crowd across both weekends.

Media and influencers

They cover the February 11–12 Media Preview, and sponsors at the Official and Premier tiers may invite 25 influencers of their own.

Side by side

Chicago Auto Show vs Miami International Boat Show vs AIMExpo: 2027 at a glance

Chicago Auto Show vs Miami International Boat Show vs AIMExpo: 2027 at a glance
Chicago Auto ShowMiami International Boat ShowAIMExpo
DatesFebruary 13–21, 2027February 10–14, 2027March 3–5, 2027
WhereChicago, IL · McCormick PlaceMiami Beach, FL · Miami Beach Convention Center and in-water venuesOrlando, FL · Orange County Convention Center, West Building, Hall A
SizeNot published100,000+ visitors at the 2026 Miami International Boat Show400+ powersports exhibitors, per AIMExpo
Main buyersChicago-area car shoppersBoat buyers and ownersPowersports dealers
Booth spaceLarge vendor space (2027): 1,000 sq ft minimum; $9 per sq ft auto OEM, $12 per sq ft non-auto, with carpetPrice not publishedPrice not published

Figures carry the year and source shown on each show's own page.

Travel to Chicago Auto Show 2027

Getting to Chicago Auto Show 2027: airport, hotels and parking

Fly in

Chicago Midway (MDW) and O'Hare (ORD)

Midway is about 20 minutes and O'Hare 30 to 45, per Purple's McCormick Place guide

Stay

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and Marriott Marquis Chicago, both connected by skywalk

Official Chicago Auto Show hotels →

Park

Metra Electric stops at McCormick Place; on-site parking fills during large shows

Find the venue

McCormick Place
2301 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616

Open in Google Maps →

Travel facts from purpleexhibits.com.

Chicago Auto Show by the numbers

Chicago Auto Show year by year

2026
Hundreds of thousands, per the show attendees
More than two dozen manufacturers exhibitors
Chicago source
AttendeesExhibitors

How Chicago Auto Show 2027 compares with other automotive and transportation shows

The automotive and transportation shows closest to Chicago Auto Show on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Each name other than Chicago Auto Show opens our exhibitor guide for that show.

ShowDatesCityLatest published size
Miami International Boat ShowNMMAFebruary 10–14, 2027Miami Beach, FL100,000+ attendees · 1,000+ brands (2026)
Chicago Auto ShowChicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA)February 13–21, 2027Chicago, ILHundreds of thousands, per the show attendees · More than two dozen manufacturers exhibitors (2026)
AFSA Vehicle Finance Conference & ExpoAmerican Financial Services Association (AFSA)February 14–17, 2027Orlando, FL650+, per AFSA attendees · Booths and kiosks exhibitors (2026)
NADA ShowNational Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)February 17–20, 2027Orlando, FLTens of thousands of automotive retail professionals, per NADA · 628 exhibitors (2026)
Keystone BIG ShowKeystone Automotive OperationsFebruary 19–20, 2027Aurora, CO4 hours for exhibitor setup, Friday 7–11 a.m., 2027
SCWA Convention & EXPOSouthwest Car Wash Association (SCWA)February 24–26, 2027Fort Worth, TX–
TruckloadTruckload Carriers Association (TCA)February 28–March 3, 2027Las Vegas, NV–
AIMExpoMotorcycle Industry Council (MIC)March 3–5, 2027Orlando, FL–
VISION Hi-Tech Training & ExpoMidwest Auto Care Alliance (MWACA)March 4–7, 2027Overland Park, KS3,500+ (exhibitor page); 3,800+ (about page) · 140+ sponsors and exhibitors (2026)
TMC Annual MeetingTechnology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking AssociationsMarch 8–11, 2027Orlando, FLAbout 375 vendors on 350,000 sq. ft., sold out exhibitors (2026)

Chicago Auto Show exhibitor questions

Chicago Auto Show 2027 questions from sponsors and vendors

When is the Chicago Auto Show 2027?

February 13–21, 2027 for the public, per the show. The Media Preview runs February 11–12 and the First Look for Charity gala is on February 12. Daily public hours for 2027 are not confirmed yet.

Where is the Chicago Auto Show held?

At McCormick Place in Chicago, the show's home for decades. McCormick Place has four connected buildings, and the 2027 hall is not confirmed yet; approved exhibitors get it through the Exhibitor Resource Hub.

Can a company that is not an automaker exhibit at the Chicago Auto Show?

It can, through sponsorship or a themed area. The show sells Star, Official and Premier sponsor tiers and vendor space in Overlanding Chicago, the Family Zone and Chi-Town Alley, all through its sponsorship and exhibitor inquiry form.

How much does it cost to sponsor the Chicago Auto Show?

$35,000 for a Star tier with 1,000 to 1,500 sq ft, per the 2027 pricing outline. Official starts at $50,000 for 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft and Premier at $100,000 for 2,000 to 4,000 sq ft with category exclusivity; each includes carpet and one 10 amp outlet, and the booth build is extra.

How much is a booth in Overlanding Chicago?

$3,000 for a 10×20, $5,000 for a 20×20 and $8,500 for a 40×20, per the 2027 Overlanding Chicago sheet. Adding one vehicle to any level costs $500, and spaces of 1,000 sq ft or more are sold as custom vendor packages at $12 per sq ft for non-auto companies.

How many people attend the Chicago Auto Show?

Hundreds of thousands, per the show, which does not publish an exact 2026 count. It says over 90% of Chicagoans know the show and engaged visitors spend more than five hours inside.

What is First Look for Charity?

A black-tie fundraising gala on February 12, 2027, the night before the public opening. The show says it raises more than $2 million a year for 18 area nonprofits, and every sponsor tier includes an activation inside it.

Can our own staff set up the booth at McCormick Place?

They can: since the 2010 McCormick Place labor reforms, people on your payroll may build any display size using their own drills and ladders. Crates arriving at the dock are a different matter; Teamsters move them to your space and the show bills that by weight.

Can we put a vehicle in our Overlanding Chicago space?

One vehicle can be added to any Overlanding Chicago level for $500, per the 2027 sheet. The 2027 vehicle move-in times, fuel level and battery rules are not confirmed yet and will be posted in the Exhibitor Resource Hub.

Which hotel is closest to McCormick Place for the Chicago Auto Show?

The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, connected by skywalk and listed among the show's 2026 sponsors. The Marriott Marquis Chicago is the other on-campus tower, per Purple's McCormick Place guide.

Is the Chicago Auto Show worth it for an accessory or lifestyle brand?

It fits a brand that sells to consumers and can staff ten to twelve days. Overlanding Chicago drew 674 news stories with a reach above 459 million around the 2026 show, per the organizer, which is reach a trade show cannot match.

What is the difference between the Chicago Auto Show and the Detroit Auto Show?

Both are public shows built around automaker displays. Chicago runs in February at McCormick Place with themed vendor areas such as Overlanding Chicago, while Detroit runs in January downtown; choose Chicago for Midwest consumer reach and a priced vendor menu.

Before you sign for Chicago Auto Show

Five questions to ask any exhibit builder for Chicago Auto Show:

  1. Which McCormick Place building and dock is our Chicago Auto Show space in, and how will you label freight for it?
  2. How will you build around the vehicle we add to Overlanding Chicago, and what clearance will visitors have around it?
  3. What finishes will survive nine public days of families, and can you reprint a damaged graphic mid-show?
  4. Can the booth change look between the Media Preview, the First Look for Charity gala and the public days without new structure?
  5. Which tasks will our own employees handle at McCormick Place, and what goes through Teamster material handling?

What Chicago Auto Show exhibitors ask us

We are not an automaker. Is there a real place for us? There is. The show sells sponsor tiers from 1,000 sq ft and vendor levels in Overlanding Chicago, Chi-Town Alley and the Family Zone, and sponsors are placed on the floor among the automakers.

Nine public days is a lot of staffing. Is it worth it? Only if the booth can capture names and bookings without a salesperson on every visitor. Build for self-serve sign-ups, plan two shifts a day, and let the Media Preview and gala carry the partner meetings.

Is a 10×20 in Overlanding Chicago too small? Not for one rig and a counter. At $3,000 plus $500 for the vehicle it is the cheapest way into a show that drew 674 news stories on Overlanding Chicago around 2026; move to the 20×20 when you want seating and a demo.

Get a proposal

Tell us about your Chicago Auto Show booth

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A reply about Chicago Auto Show within one business day. Rendering and fixed proposal for Chicago Auto Show, usually within a week. No charge, no commitment.

Your request about Chicago Auto Show reaches Purple’s exhibit team directly.

What happens next

  1. We reply within one business day with questions about your products, goals and Chicago Auto Show footprint.
  2. You get a concept rendering and a fixed proposal for Chicago Auto Show, usually within a week. Every Chicago Auto Show fee listed upfront, in full, on paper.
  3. Production runs 30–45 days, then we ship to the advance warehouse and install before the Chicago Auto Show hall opens.
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