Chicago Design Events Draw Record Attendance
NeoCon and Fulton Market Design Days transformed Chicago into a hub for design innovation, bringing together designers, manufacturers, and industry professionals for several days of product launches, events, and discussions.
This year, approximately 55,000 visitors attended NeoCon at The Mart, representing a 9 percent increase in attendance compared to the previous year. As a result, the event reinforced its position as one of North America’s leading commercial design exhibitions.
Meanwhile, Fulton Market Design Days continued its rapid growth. The event featured more than 80 brands, nearly 50 permanent showrooms, and a range of satellite exhibitions and activations throughout Chicago’s design district.
Illuminate Brings Dedicated Lighting Focus to NeoCon
One of the standout additions to NeoCon 2026 was Illuminate, a new lighting showcase located on the seventh floor of The Mart.
The dedicated lighting pavilion featured leading lighting manufacturers and offered visitors a focused environment to explore the latest developments in architectural and decorative lighting. Furthermore, the showcase included educational displays and product demonstrations.
Participating brands included:
- RBW
- Juniper
- USAI
Consequently, Illuminate emerged as one of the most notable additions to this year’s event.
Armstrong Debuts an Immersive Showroom Experience
Another highlight came from Armstrong World Industries, which unveiled an immersive new showroom at The Mart.
The showroom brings together a broad portfolio of brands under one roof, creating a unified experience for architects, designers, and specifiers. Featured brands include:
- Turf Design
- 3form
- Arktura
- Zahner
- BÅŒK Modern
- Móz Designs
- Geometrik
- Eventscape
- LightArt
- Parallel
Additionally, Armstrong showcased its Templok Energy Saving Ceilings solution, which earned a Best of NeoCon Award for Innovation and Business Impact.
Workplace Design Continues to Evolve
The strong attendance at both NeoCon and Fulton Market Design Days highlights continued interest in workplace, hospitality, and commercial interior design solutions.
Moreover, manufacturers emphasized flexibility, sustainability, acoustic performance, energy efficiency, and integrated lighting solutions. These themes continue to shape the future of workplace environments and commercial interiors.
