Show guide
AHR Expo 2027: Tips for Exhibitors and Attendees
Jan. 25-27, 2027, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
AHR Expo 2027 runs Monday through Wednesday, Jan. 25-27, 2027, at McCormick Place in Chicago. It's the HVACR industry's big winter show, produced by the International Exposition Company and co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Show guide
Quick facts
Facts checked Oct. 17, 2026.
AHR Expo 2027 at a glance
AHR Expo moves between cities. The 2026 show was in Las Vegas, so treat the figures below as last year's results, not a forecast for Chicago.
Who attends AHR Expo (and who exhibits)
AHR's about page lists engineers, contractors, OEMs, design/build professionals, wholesalers and distributors, manufacturers' reps, architects, facility managers and public utility professionals among its visitors. Its 2026 Attendance Report for the Las Vegas show (Feb. 2-4, 2026) lists:
- 41,888 verified visitors and 12,110 verified exhibitor personnel, for 53,998 total
- 1,956 exhibiting companies on 578,980 net square feet
- 8,186 international visitors from 110 countries
- 16,464 first-time visitors, or 39%
Michael's Tip
With 39% of 2026 visitors there for the first time, a lot of the people at your booth won't know your company. Train your staff to open with a question about the visitor's work and save the product detail for after they've answered. Keep a short, plain explanation of what you make ready for the people who are new to the category.
Exhibitor tips for AHR Expo 2027
Booth space
Space at the 2027 show costs $47.30 per square foot, per AHR's FAQ. AHR says the Chicago floor plan is sold out and it's taking waitlist requests only from HVACR equipment and product manufacturers (AHR exhibit page).
Per the exhibitor manual, your space includes an 8-foot back drape, 3-foot draped side dividers and an ID sign with your company name and booth number. The sign is automatic for booths up to 300 square feet and has to be requested for larger spaces. Booths aren't carpeted, so order flooring separately.
Key dates from the exhibitor manual
The manual lists these "for best rates, order by" and submission dates (Booth Services, EAC, Badges, Booth Layout Approval, Exhibitor Planning Timeline). The 2027 show's deadlines start in November 2026.
The exhibitor FAQ says there are no deadlines for ordering booth services, but there are discounts for ordering early. Every exhibitor also has to submit a booth layout for approval, and the manual's deadline for that is Nov. 20. Its planning timeline lists Dec. 28 as the last day for the best rate on services ordered from Freeman Online.
McCormick Place has free Wi-Fi in public spaces, but the manual says it's shared bandwidth meant for light use like email. Order internet for anything that matters, like demos and lead scanners.
Michael's Tip
I'd place the lead retrieval order first, since its best rate ends Dec. 15, and send the EAC notice and certificate of insurance before Dec. 28. Internet comes next, by Jan. 5. With those three in, you can capture leads, your booth builder can get in, and your demos will have a connection.
Move-in and move-out
Per the manual's setup and dismantle hours:
Move-in: Thu., Jan. 21, through Sat., Jan. 23, 2027, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., Jan. 24, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Freight arrives by the time assigned to your booth on the target move-in plan. If you plan to work late, email show management first. Once you leave the hall after 5 p.m. (3:30 p.m. Sunday), you can't come back in. Label your empty crates and leave them in the aisle before 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Move-out: Wed., Jan. 27, 4 to 8 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 28, and Fri., Jan. 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sat., Jan. 30, 8 to 11 a.m. All carriers must check in by 8 a.m. Saturday. Exhibits stay intact until the show closes at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and AHR says returning empty crates takes about 12 to 15 hours after close.
The exhibitor FAQ says employees with at least six months at the exhibiting company may start dismantling at close. Read the full wording in the manual before you plan your teardown around it.
Shipping and material handling
Freeman handles all freight in and out of the building. Per the manual's shipping overview:
- Advance warehouse: ship to Freeman at 2500 West 35th St., Chicago, IL 60632, from Dec. 22, 2026, through Jan. 14, 2027. Freight after Jan. 14 gets an after-deadline charge. The warehouse takes deliveries Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and is closed weekends, Dec. 24 and 25, 2026, and Jan. 1, 2027.
- Direct to show: freight arrives on your target day and time and checks in at the marshaling yard. Drivers should expect a wait. AHR doesn't recommend DHL, FedEx or UPS for direct shipments.
- Paperwork: every shipment needs a certified weight ticket and a bill of lading.
- Material handling: the manual lists a general rate of $2.50 per pound. Many shows quote per 100 pounds, so read this one carefully when you budget.
- Hand carry: you can't unload in McCormick Place driveways or entryways. Park in a McCormick Place lot and carry items in yourself or use a non-motorized, non-hydraulic hand truck or dolly. For vehicle unloading, see McCormick Place's Automobile and Small Utility Vehicle (ASUV) program.
Freight costs add up fast, which is part of why trade shows are so expensive. There's more on McCormick Place in our Chicago convention center guide.
Approved vendors and list scams
AHR's vendor page names Maritz Global Events for badge registration, lead retrieval and list rental. Per AHR's exhibitor alerts, Maritz is the only authorized source for attendee lists, and anyone else offering one isn't legitimate. AHR suggests filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission if you get fraudulent calls or emails.
Filling your booth
For invitation ideas, see my pre-show email templates and the trade show marketing section. Staffing a three-day show? The staffing section can help.
Michael's Tip
Registration stays free through Jan. 23, 2027, and costs $30 after that, so that date is a good reason to get your invites out early. Send the first one in early December and a reminder in mid-January, before the price changes. Include your booth number and one thing you're showing that people can't see anywhere else.
Attendee tips for AHR Expo 2027
Register by Jan. 23, 2027, and your badge is free. After that it's $30 online or onsite, per AHR's FAQ. The FAQ also says anyone registered for the ASHRAE Winter Conference can attend the expo at no charge, and that the AHR Expo app will be available around December.
No one under 16 gets in, including infants. Students 16 and 17 can attend during show hours if they're registered and with an adult.
Photography of an exhibitor's booth, products or people needs that exhibitor's permission, and camera gear has to stay out of the aisles.
Michael's Tip
McCormick Place is a big campus, so plan your visit hall by hall and build your list in the My Show Planner before you arrive. Leave travel time between appointments in different halls. Wednesday closes at 4 p.m., so book your important meetings for Monday and Tuesday.
Travel, hotels and parking
AHR's travel partner, onPeak, negotiates rates at its "Show Hotels." AHR says free shuttles run between the convention center and all Show Hotels (or points nearby) on show days, and the shuttle schedule will be posted in the winter (AHR FAQ, Show Hotels). AHR also warns about fraudulent hotel offers, so book only through its official link.
AHR hasn't published parking prices for the show. For McCormick Place parking and transit, see our Chicago convention center guide.
McCormick Place labor rules and what you can do yourself
Freeman is the only party allowed to unload trucks and move material to your booth, per the shipping overview. You can hand-carry from a parking lot with a non-motorized dolly. If you use an EAC, notify show management by Dec. 28, 2026, and send a certificate of insurance. EAC workers need a daily set-up and dismantle wristband from security, starting Jan. 21, plus a McCormick Place B.E.E.P. wristband, which applies to all contractor and labor personnel (EAC page). For the building's labor rules, see our Chicago guide and trade show logistics.
AHR Expo 2027 FAQs
When and where is AHR Expo 2027?
Jan. 25-27, 2027, at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Chicago.
Is AHR Expo free to attend?
Yes, if you register by Jan. 23, 2027. After that, registration costs $30 online or onsite.
What are the AHR Expo 2027 show hours?
Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Can I bring my kids to AHR Expo?
No one under 16 is allowed, including infants. Students 16 and 17 can attend during show hours if they're registered and with an adult.
When is AHR Expo 2027 exhibitor move-in?
Thursday, Jan. 21, through Sunday, Jan. 24, 2027. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Sunday, which ends at 3:30 p.m.
Where do I ship to the AHR Expo advance warehouse?
To Freeman at 2500 West 35th St., Chicago, IL 60632. The warehouse receives freight from Dec. 22, 2026, through Jan. 14, 2027.
How many people went to AHR Expo 2026?
AHR's 2026 Attendance Report lists 41,888 verified visitors and 53,998 total verified attendance at the Las Vegas show.
Related guides
- Our Chicago convention center guide
- Our Orlando convention center guide
- Show guides
- Trade show logistics
- Ask Michael: got an AHR Expo question I didn't answer? Send it over.
Written by Michael Flavin, a trade show pro since 2006. Facts checked against official sources on Oct. 12, 2026.
Sources
All checked Oct. 8 to 12, 2026.
- AHR Expo, About: https://www.ahrexpo.com/about
- AHR Expo, FAQ: https://www.ahrexpo.com/faq
- AHR Expo, Request Exhibit Space: https://www.ahrexpo.com/new-exhibitor-inquiry-form
- AHR Expo, 2026 Attendance Report (PDF): https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e8b706df05d9c51212c3bea/t/69a641a0978411545e6db544/1772503456092/AHR2026_AttendanceReport.pdf
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Exhibitor FAQ: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/exhibitor-faq
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, home: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Booth Space Includes: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/booth-space-includes
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Booth Services: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/services-utilities
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, EAC Information: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/eac
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Set-up & Dismantle Hours: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/setup-dismantle-hours
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Shipping Overview: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/shipping-overview
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Target Move-In Plan: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/target-plan
- AHR Expo, Approved Vendors: https://www.ahrexpo.com/vendor
- AHR Expo, Exhibitor Alerts: https://www.ahrexpo.com/exhibitor-alerts
- AHR Expo, Show Hotels: https://www.ahrexpo.com/show-hotels
- AHR Expo, Hotel Alerts: https://www.ahrexpo.com/hotel-alerts
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Badges & Registration: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/badges
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Booth Layout Approval: https://www.ahrexhibitormanual.com/booth-layout-approval
- AHR Expo Exhibitor Manual, Exhibitor Planning Timeline (PDF, linked from the Exhibitor FAQ): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1se-8j037a0D2GraASRyEx96i0QzWw1jL/view?usp=drive_link
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