PACK EXPO International is scheduled for 18 to 21 October 2026 in Chicago. The event follows IMTS at McCormick Place, placing two major industrial exhibitions in the city within several weeks.
Industry calendars continue to rank the fair among the important second-half trade shows for packaging and processing. Attendance has historically reached the high tens of thousands, according to the supplied event facts.
Packaging follows machine tools
Consumer packaged-goods brands, contract packers and equipment makers use the week to compare fillers, cartoners, inspection systems and sustainable materials. Bringing these categories together allows buyers to review production options on the same aisle.
The schedule also matters for destination planners. Chicago now hosts two heavy industrial exhibitions in six weeks: machine tools in September and packaging in October. The concentration puts pressure on hotels and union labour serving the same halls.
PACK EXPO therefore sits at the intersection of Packaging, Food Processing and Industrial Equipment. Its place in the international trade shows calendar supports sourcing, technical discussions and meetings between exhibitors, OEMs and buyers.
