Header: Neocon
NeoCon has concluded its 57th annual event with an impressive 9% increase in visitor attendance compared to 2025. This turnout firmly establishes the event as the premier destination for the commercial interiors sector. Operating under the theme “Where Design Connects,” the 2026 edition hosted design specialists from 88 countries for four days of intensive product exploration, professional programming, and business networking. Bringing together 450 brands, ranging from long-standing market leaders to fresh, emerging businesses, NeoCon 2026 put the spotlight on the latest ideas shaping modern public and workplace environments, providing the face-to-face interactions that drive partnerships and industry growth.
The 2026 event introduced several new features designed to improve the guest experience. A major addition was Illuminate at NeoCon, a specialised lighting pavilion on the seventh floor. The showcase beat its initial target of 50 brands, ultimately welcoming more than 60 global lighting exhibitors. Attendees also explored NeoCon Collab: Half-Light, an interactive, hospitality-focused installation created by Charlie Greene Studio on the seventh floor. Additionally, the event introduced an early opening morning on Sunday, June 7, giving visitors an early look at showrooms and stands before the official weekday rush began.
“NeoCon has always been a reflection of where the commercial design industry is headed, and this year there was a real sense of momentum that was felt across every floor. It was evident in the conversations taking place between exhibitors and specifiers, in the investments brands are making in their presence at The Mart, and in the enthusiasm around new ideas and introductions.”
Byron Morton, Vice President and Co-Head of Leasing at The Mart
A marketplace for fresh ideas and innovative products
Across nearly one million square feet of exhibition space, visitors discovered forward-thinking products covering workplaces, healthcare, hospitality, education, public areas, textiles, and technology. This vast layout spanned permanent showrooms on floors one, three, six, ten, eleven, and fourteen, alongside the seventh-floor exhibit hall, all presenting pieces designed to support the changing habits of modern workers.
Rich burgundy, soft lavender, and deep plum tones emerged as the definitive colour palette of the week. Furniture designs moved away from sharp angles, favouring thick curves, embracing lounge shapes, winding communal seating, and long tables built for flexible use. Pleated and fluted patterns also transitioned from architectural walls onto table legs, cabinetry, and seating. Tactile velvet textures and layered materials added physical warmth, while bright colour blocking and tubular frames injected energy. Together, these elements pointed toward inclusive, universally accessible spaces that offer the comfort of home while meeting the practical demands of professional environments.
“That rich mauve. The muted, almost-exhaled palettes appearing independently across showrooms who never compared notes. That’s not a color trend. That’s the industry taking the emotional pulse of the culture. Overstimulated people need color that is an act of care and the floor knew it before anyone wrote the brief.”
Meena Krenek, Global Sector Director, Interiors, at HKS
“Cognitive research is reshaping design at every scale — seating that invites movement, lighting calibrated to circadian rhythms, natural materials that carry the restorative quality of the outdoors inside, acoustic and sensory elements working together rather than in isolation.”
Janet Simpson, ASID, IIDA Associate AIA, President, CEO of TVS
The week also highlighted a busy booking period for The Mart, which secured 22 long-term leasing agreements, alongside new showrooms and major space expansions. Formica Group, Haskell Education, Nevers Industries, Slalom, and Workrite opened permanent new spaces, while companies like Keilhauer, Division Twelve, and Calyx by Claridge made substantial reinvestments. Long-time partners including Emeco, Schiavello, and Stance Healthcare also renewed their ongoing commitments to the building.
“The business momentum and engagement this year were unmistakable,” notes Tim Penczar, Principal at Martin Brattrud. “We saw an influx of active buyers and designers arriving with projects in hand, turning our showroom into a destination for collaborative planning rather than ‘look-and-see appointments.’”
A new chapter for lighting at NeoCon
Positioned in the seventh-floor exhibit hall, the debut of Illuminate at NeoCon put architectural lighting at the centre of the design conversation. To ensure the pavilion met the technical needs of the design community, NeoCon collaborated with industry experts Sohana Arni of line + form + light, Avi Mor of Morlights, and Clara Powell of Deltalight. Their efforts brought together over 60 architectural, decorative, and technical lighting brands.
Beyond simple product displays, the area highlighted how lighting shapes physical well-being through advanced engineering and custom setups. The pavilion featured five educational installations, fourteen quick spotlight sessions hosted with Lytei, a panel talk on lighting and spatial layout, and accredited educational courses.
“Knowing that lighting now has a dedicated presence at NeoCon gives us the confidence to push our products and designs even further,” says Mel Saenz, Vice President of Relationships at Juniper. “We’ve been able to have meaningful conversations with people who may not regularly specify lighting or fully understand what’s possible. There’s an excitement in being able to educate, inspire curiosity, and bring more designers into the conversation. That’s why we want to be here.”
Industry recognitions
Design excellence was celebrated during the 36th annual Best of NeoCon Awards. This year’s competition evaluated 274 entries from 97 exhibitors, handing out 71 awards across 42 distinct categories based on performance, sustainability, and real-world value. New lighting categories were also added to mark the debut of the Illuminate pavilion.
The premier award, Best of Competition, went to KI for its Cognetic Technology, a gravity-powered seating system designed to encourage natural body movement. The second annual People’s Choice Awards, decided by voter ballots from the wider design community, went to Mohawk Group’s Hero Rubber (made with Nike Grind), SurfaceWorks’ Newton, BIOS Lighting’s SkyView Tile, Haskell Education’s Pathmaker Table Series, Andreu World’s Patin Chair, and HALCON Furniture’s VESPER. The most-awarded businesses of the week included Andreu World, KI, Davis Furniture, Haworth, HALCON Furniture, BIOS Lighting, and Keilhauer.
“NeoCon 2026 at The Mart surpassed all of our expectations,” comments Robert Soler, Founder & Chief Scientist, BIOS Lighting – SkyView.
“We came to make connections—and what we found was a global community of forward-thinking designers, architects, and facility leaders who were hungry to learn and eager to engage. Being part of the Illuminate show was particularly special, and winning five Best of NeoCon awards made it truly unforgettable.”
Curated global programming and hyper-local experiences
NeoCon’s seminar program brought together creative minds and business leaders to discuss the immediate future of architecture and interiors. Keynote speeches from Jessica O. Matthews, Nick Foster, and David “Shingy” Shing covered topics ranging from artificial intelligence and neuroinclusive layouts to corporate change and green manufacturing.
“We often talk about the future of design as if it’s about spaces, furniture, or technology. At NeoCon, I was reminded it’s really about people. Design has the power to connect worlds of work and play, support diverse needs, and create environments where people can thrive. If the conversations I had this week are any indication, the future looks incredibly human.”
David Shing, Digital Prophet, Cultural Strategist, and NeoCon 2026 keynote speaker
The programming also included real-time audience interaction tools and dedicated lounges for conversation. The Inside Design initiative, organised with the Design Museum of Chicago, hosted architecture tours around the city. This included a special behind-the-scenes visit to the upcoming Obama Presidential Center, linking the international design crowd directly with local Chicago culture.
Immersive and expanded activations
Special events and design installations kept the energy high all week. On the seventh floor, the NeoCon Collab: Half-Light space used the famous “Chicagohenge” alignment as inspiration for a bright, central meeting hub. Other prominent showcases included Paved States x DesignLab, Material Intelligence: Destination NeoCon, and Neuroaesthetic Art. Outside, the night skyline was transformed by Art on The Mart’s massive digital projection, Love Language by HDR, which played across the building’s riverfront wall throughout the event.
“NeoCon always reminds me that one of the best parts of design isn’t just what we create—it’s who we create it with,” notes Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Studio. “I had the chance to reconnect with longtime friends, meet new faces, explore emerging ideas, and spend time with some of the brands helping shape where our industry is headed. Beyond launches and showroom visits, my favorite part of NeoCon is always the conversations. The ideas shared between meetings, the unexpected introductions, and the collective energy around what comes next.”
NeoCon will return to The Mart for its 58th edition from June 13-16, 2027, maintaining its four-day schedule and expanding its lighting exhibition through Illuminate at NeoCon.
