The World’s Leading Home + Housewares Marketplace
The Inspired Home Show is the premier exposition for the home and housewares industry, organized annually by the International Housewares Association (IHA). Held at Chicago’s McCormick Place, it serves as the ultimate global marketplace where buyers, sellers, and industry leaders converge to discover new products, explore emerging trends, and build meaningful business relationships.
Key 2027 Event Details
The 2027 edition of The Inspired Home Show is scheduled to take place from March 9–11, 2027, at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The show will follow a Tuesday through Thursday format, a mid-week pattern that received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees when introduced in 2026.
A Reimagined Show Floor for 2027
For 2027, the Show will feature a reimagined configuration designed to deliver a more dynamic, discovery-driven, and engaging marketplace experience.
New Hall Configuration
The exhibit floor will be organized across two halls to maximize connections and create a more focused experience:
- South Hall: This space will unite the industry’s three core product groupings — Clean + Contain, Dine + Décor, and Wired + Well — into one vibrant, high-energy destination.
- North Hall: This will be established as a Global Marketplace, a dedicated destination for global manufacturing and sourcing. It will feature International Sourcing exhibitors, select Global Design Point Pavilions, and dedicated networking spaces such as the International Business Center and a café.
New Integrated Activations
The 2027 Show will introduce several enhanced and new activations to enrich the attendee experience:
- Innovation District: A high-energy space combining the Inventors Corner, the IHA Global Innovation Awards (gia) Student Design Winners, and the Inspiration Theater to showcase fresh thinking and creative ideas.
- Discovery Park: Transforming the Debut incubator for smaller or new-to-the-Show exhibitors into a park-inspired destination celebrating “newness.”
- Industry Content Hubs: Curated spaces for learning and networking, including the Pantone® ColorWatch Display, the Buyers Club & New Product Showcase, and the Keynote Theater.
- Connection + Dwell Spaces: Built-in areas for meetings and recharging, including the New Exhibitor Showcase & Lounge, the gia Retail Winners & Lounge, the Business Center, and a café.
- Editorial Studio: Moving the News Center onto the Show floor to serve as a curated hub for media and content creation.
Returning Popular Attractions
Several popular activations will also return in 2027:
- Pet Products Pavilion: Launched in 2025 in collaboration with the American Pet Products Association, this pavilion will expand with a Puppy Park, allowing for pet-related products to be showcased through real-life interaction.
- Candle Pavilion: Launched in 2025 in collaboration with the National Candle Association, this pavilion adds a highly sought-after home accent category to buyers’ discovery opportunities.
- SPLiCE Licensing Hub: Connecting attendees with brands interested in licensing deals. Launched in 2026 in collaboration with the Society of Product Licensors Committed to Excellence (SPLiCE).
The 2026 Show: A Benchmark for Success
The 2026 edition, held March 10-12, provided a strong foundation for the enhancements planned for 2027. It showcased over 1,000 exhibitors, thousands of unique brands, and hundreds of thousands of products to attendees from over 100 countries.
Buyer Attendance
The 2026 Show attracted senior-level executives, DMMs, GMMs, and buyers from nearly all key retailers. U.S.-based buyers alone represented more than 100,000 retail locations and nearly $75 billion in buying power. The Show also attracted over 1,000 smaller independent retailers.
Exhibitor Participation
Participating exhibitors in 2026 ranged from industry leaders and legacy brands to emerging companies and start-ups. Key brands represented included AeroPress, Anchor Hocking, Brabantia, Gibson Homewares, Hestan Culinary, Lodge Cast Iron, Nordic Ware, Riedel Crystal, Scrub Daddy, Tramontina USA, and Umbra.
2026 Show Highlights
The 2026 event featured a robust program of special attractions and experiences:
- Four Expos: Clean + Contain, Dine + Décor, Wired + Well, and International Sourcing.
- Candle Pavilion and Pet Products Pavilion: New in 2025 and returning with strong engagement.
- SPLiCE Licensing Hub: A new addition in 2026.
- Keynotes: Four sessions focusing on consumer trends, growth opportunities, and AI strategies.
- gia Awards: Honoring excellence in retailing, product design, and student achievement.
- Global Design Points: Showcasing emerging trends from Brazil, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Turkey.
- Pantone ColorWatch Display: Featuring housewares matching the Pantone® View Home + Interiors 2027 forecast.
- Inspired Women in Housewares: Networking and a panel discussion for women leaders in the industry.
“Senior leaders from both the supplier and buyer sides are telling us how invaluable it was for them to connect in-person at this year’s Show and identify new partners, products, trends and ideas that will help them gain a competitive edge in the year ahead,” noted IHA President & CEO Derek Miller.
The World’s Leading Home + Housewares Show
The Inspired Home Show has earned its reputation as the premier marketplace for the home and housewares industry. The 2027 edition, with its reimagined configuration, enhanced activations, and continued focus on creating meaningful business connections, is poised to once again unite the global industry under one roof over just three action-packed days.
“As the industry continues to evolve, so does our approach to the Show floor,” said Robert Laub, President of HIC – Harold Import Co., reflecting on the 2026 Show. “The Show exceeded our expectations and remains an essential ingredient in our annual strategy.” For anyone seeking to understand the pulse of the home and housewares market—whether as a buyer, seller, innovator, or industry professional—The Inspired Home Show is essential territory.