Return attendees to this year’s EXPO CHICAGO,which takes place April 9 through 12 at the city’s Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, might notice some changes from previous editions that have been implemented to enhance the visitor experience.
Satoru Ozaki, A Letter from the Forest, 2025, hammered, polished stainless steel, 22 x 64 x 31½ in. Courtesy of A Lighthouse called Kanata, Tokyo, Japan.
The fair’s new director Kate Sierzputowski and curator Essence Harden have curated the 2026 show in a more “focused, intentionally scaled format, designed to deepen engagement for seasoned collectors, first-time visitors, and regional audiences alike,” notes an event press release. “Presenting over 130 galleries from around the world in a refined floorplan, EXPO CHICAGO 2026 emphasizes clarity, discovery and meaningful encounters with art. The updated format reflects a strengthened artistic vision for the fair, prioritizing coherence, curatorial context and accessibility, while maintaining EXPO’s role as a key convening point for the Midwest and beyond.”
Laura Letinsky, Coming to the Commons 4, archival pigment print, ed. of 9, 53 x 44 in. Courtesy of DOCUMENT, Chicago, IL.
Special programming plays an important role in supporting the show’s more fine-tuned vision. One highlight is Embodiment, an exhibition curated by Dr. Louise Bernard, director of the Obama Presidential Center Museum, alongside Evolution, featuring select archival materials drawn from the Center’s art commissions. Together, the presentations were designed to provide a refreshing perspective on history, identity and cultural memory, through the lens of Chicago and its global connections. Other focused sections of the fair showcase emerging galleries and innovative artistic practices, and solo booth projects hosted by established international galleries.
Exhibitors at the 2026 edition of EXPO CHICAGOwill include an ample number of Chicago galleries, many leading galleries from across the United States, and a broad international presence underscoring Chicago’s connections with the global art community. Visit the event’s website for a full list of participating galleries and the artists whose work they will be bringing to the show, as well as ticket information and hours.
EXPO CHICAGO 2025. Photo by Casey Kelbaugh Associates.
“As we build toward EXPO CHICAGO 2026, our priority has been to refocus the fair on what has always defined it: rigorous curation, civic collaboration and a deep commitment to artists,” says Sierzputowski. “Over the past year, we have shaped a fair environment that allows thoughtful, high-quality presentations to take form. The goal is a fair that feels intentional, artist-centered and reflective of the creative energy of Chicago.” —
EXPO CHICAGO
April 9-12, 2026
Navy Pier’s Festival Hall
600 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
www.expochicago.com
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