The International Housewares Association announced The Inspired Home Show 2026 will shift to a new mid-week pattern after surveying show participants to assess the preferred scenario to meet their needs.
The Inspired Home Show 2026 will run Tuesday, March 10, through Thursday, March 12. The Inspired Home Show 2025 remains in its original schedule of Sunday, March 2, through Tuesday, March 4.
The mid-week pattern for The Inspired Home Show 2026 follows decades of the IHA-operated trade show at Chicago’s McCormick Place starting on weekends.
The evolution to the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday pattern best positions the show to meet the industry’s evolving needs and expectations, said IHA President and CEO Derek Miller. Results of a recent IHA survey of The Inspired Home Show participants indicated that 68% of exhibitors and 84% of key retailers desired the shift or found it acceptable, according to IHA.
“The decision to move the show to a Tuesday-through-Thursday schedule was made after polling the industry and having conversations with key constituents to determine the most desirable day pattern,” Miller said. “It was clear that there has been a shift in our culture and workforce that directly impacts when we must come to market.”
IHA reported it has reserved the Tuesday-through-Thursday pattern for The Inspired Home Show at McCormick Place in March of 2026 (March 10-12), 2027 (March 9-11) and 2028 (March 7-9).
News of the new, mid-week show pattern coming for 2026 follows other recent show developments to accommodate the evolving needs of participants, including unifying the show into two buildings and changing from a four-day to a three-day pattern during the 2024 show, according to IHA. IHA launched an earlier, advanced registration process for The Inspired Home Show 2025, which will see the debut of the Travel Gear + Luggage Expo; the Candle Pavilion, created in partnership with the National Candle Association, and the Pet Products Pavilion, created in partnership with the American Pet Products Association.
“Each of these new developments helps to evolve and shape the show into an even more valuable marketplace for exhibitors, buyers and retailers,” Miller said.
