The Biggest PACK EXPO International Yet: What's New for 2026

PACK EXPO International 2026 is shaping up to be the largest in the show's history, with more than 2,600 exhibitors across 1.3 million net square feet. Get the inside scoop on what's new, from Discovery Tours and the AI-powered Solutions Finder to workforce programs, and PACK Gives BACK at the House of Blues.

Sean Riley: So with all the fancy introductions out of the way, welcome back to the podcast, Laura.

Laura Thompson: Thanks, Sean. How are you doing today?

Sean Riley: I'm doing great. It's always a pleasure to have you back talking PACK EXPO.

Laura Thompson: Yes. Always happy to talk about PACK EXPO.

Sean Riley: We figured you were. We were talking beforehand, we've been doing this a while. But this is a particularly, at least how we're projecting it, to be the biggest PACK EXPO International to date, correct?

Laura Thompson: Yes. We have already exceeded 1.3 million net square feet, over 2,600 exhibitors. It is going to be amazing.

Sean Riley: Awesome.

Laura Thompson: It will be the biggest show that we've ever had.

Sean Riley: Yeah, that's what I thought. So what are you personally most excited for people to see or experience at the show this year that, again, every two years we visit Chicago, what really stands out this time?

Laura Thompson: I'm really excited obviously for the technology. If you think about how much has changed just in the last two years, it's significant. So, being able to walk the show floor and see all of the new developments that have happened over the last two years is really exciting to me.

Another thing that we have that's new this year is the PACK EXPO Discovery Tours that the PMMI Media Group is hosting. This is a great opportunity to have targeted guidance on the show floor. Attendees can sign up for these when they register for the show for specific tours, and they'll take you to exhibitors on a curated tour. So I recommend that as something, especially if you're new to the show, as a great way to get started and make those connections with the exhibitors.

Sean Riley: Is that somewhere I just go online to sign up for that?

Laura Thompson: Yes. When you register for the show, you can add that to your registration, along with adding tickets to PACK Gives Back, and any of the other additional things going on during the show.

We also have the new SMB FastTrack program, which helps identify exhibitors who have programs for small to medium-sized businesses. When attendees are searching the online directory, they will see an icon that says SMB Friendly. They can also look for signs in exhibitor booths that say SMB Friendly.

Sean Riley: What things when you talk to companies or exhibitors across packaging and processing, what challenges are coming up and what solutions are you expecting to see at the show where they're responding to these challenges?

Laura Thompson: Speaking of technology, you look at AI, automation, robotics, having to invest to increase their operations to stay ahead, also budgetary constraints and looking at the workforce challenges, how they're going to have to invest in possibly different and new technologies to address some of the challenges that they're seeing with hiring folks in their operations. There's also a lot of new regulatory in the marketplace, so making sure that what they're doing is keeping up with some of those new requirements.

Sean Riley: So you touched on workforce and I was going to get to it, but since we're already talking about it, we might as well talk about it now. What things at the show do we have? Because I know we have a bunch of things that target that next generation workforce, because every podcast I talk to a person and we talk about workforce and how there's not enough workforce and we need to upskill the workforce. And I know PACK EXPO offers a lot of things for that. What kind of things do we have that targeting either the current or the next generation workforce?

Laura Thompson: I am really excited to share, there's a ton of student opportunities at the show.

Sean Riley: Awesome.

Laura Thompson: We have the PACK Challenge, which is a competition of high school students. We have the Future Innovators Robotics Showcase. Both of these groups of kids are incredibly impressive with the capabilities and what they're doing. I recommend anybody stopping by both of these locations to talk to these kids to hear about what they're doing. They're already really passionate about the things that they're working on and it's great to see that from the up and coming generation.

We also have the Workforce Pavilion. I want to say there's 19 schools exhibiting there.

Sean Riley: Nice.

Laura Thompson: So for companies looking to hire people, it's a great place to make those connections. Talk to those schools, talk to those students, get in front of them, because that is a great opportunity to talk to them and let them know about your company as a possibility to hire them in the future.

And not only looking at the future workforce, we also try to work with the current workforce and the people up and coming in the industry. New this year for the first time, we have what we're calling the CPG NexGen Awards, and we have identified 10 young professionals from CPGs that have been awarded the CPG NexGen. I can't tell you who they are yet because they have not officially been announced, but these folks were submitted by their peers in the industry and they're getting a VIP hosted experience at the show. We want to make sure we get these folks to the show who may not otherwise have been able to do so to introduce them to PACK EXPO and give them the opportunity to get to know the show and the industry better.

Sean Riley: Very cool. And we have some networking stuff for the emerging leaders in the industry as well, correct?

Laura Thompson: Yes. I'm really excited about that. We have the Young Professionals Networking Reception. We also have the Packaging Processing Women's Leadership Networking Breakfast. So that's a great opportunity, that has grown tremendously over the years. If you can make it, it's a great speaker, but also just being able to make those connections with other women in the industry.

And also, we are very excited to announce PACK Gives BACK will be at the House of Blues this year.

Sean Riley: Oh, cool.

Laura Thompson: With Third Eye Blind. We have not done an offsite event at the Chicago Show before, so we're excited to bring it to the House of Blues. Proceeds benefit the PMMI Education Foundation. Another great opportunity to network and have fun for a good cause.

Sean Riley: Love that. So we talked about some networking things, but what else? I'm an attendee at the show, what are some things that I shouldn't miss? We have 2,600 exhibitors. I obviously am going to be full while I'm visiting all these booths and looking at all the technologies. What other things are happening on the show floor that I need to be aware of to fit into my show planner?

Laura Thompson: So the show has seven targeted pavilions. I recommend, depending on what you're looking for, that you make a point to visit them. The food and beverage processing zone is the biggest it's ever been. We have a containers and materials pavilion. I recommend looking at the website, looking at these pavilions, because they're a great way to help manage the show. We have said it's 1.3 million net square beat. It's 2,600 exhibitors. It's a great way to narrow down to get you the targeted solutions that you might be looking for. So, I recommend the pavilions.

But also, there's some great education at the show. There's our innovation stages, there's a food and beverage processing stage, there's industry speak stage, and sustainability central. All of them have some great content, depending on your needs. We're really excited for the industry speaks stage, that's where we work with a lot of our association partners. So there's some really good targeted industry insights that are provided by our partners. As well as, we have Amazon speaking on the stage, Conagra on the stage, as well as GS1, and we'll be presenting some of PMMI's latest research. So, that's a great stage I recommend checking out. It has some very good, targeted information.

Sean Riley: Yeah, that's some big names. Isn't there some crazy number of first time attendees that attend the show or people that have never attended the show before?

Laura Thompson: So, about half our attendees are new every year.

Sean Riley: Yeah. So as one of those new attendees, what's some advice you can give to me, tools I should take advantage of, sessions I should attend? Things that I need to do because it has to be overwhelming if I'm a first time attendee to see all this, how can you talk me through it?

Laura Thompson: I would say for sure, plan ahead and give yourself enough time. I remember last year I was actually getting a coffee and I overheard a woman on the phone talking to one of her colleagues saying, "I've just walked into the biggest trade show I've ever seen in my life." And after she hung up, I started talking to her and she said, "I had no idea how big this is. I only have today. Had I known, I would've allowed myself more time and done more planning prior to the show." You really cannot visit PACK EXPO in one day, so plan ahead and know that investment in time is going to be worth it because you're going to be able to see and compare so much in just those couple days than you could do in months of research.

But as far as planning tools, I'm really excited, we launched an AI tool online. It's called the PACK EXPO Solutions Finder-

Sean Riley: Cool.

Laura Thompson: ... Where you can just type in a project. Very easy. I want to package cookies. You can also upload an image and it can help provide exhibitors that provide the picture of the package that you are looking for. So, there's a lot of search tools available now to help people narrow down what they're looking for prior to the show. So go to the Solutions Finder, go to map your show, and make sure you download the mobile app. Have a plan before you get there.

And if you are a first-timer, we also have an onsite first-timers lounge.

Sean Riley: Perfect.

Laura Thompson: Where there are daily briefings provided by one Sean Riley.

Sean Riley: That's me.

Laura Thompson: And I highly recommend. It's a great place to start to just learn the tips and tricks of visiting the show, learn about the venue, understanding we know it's a large place to get around, and also meet some of your fellow first-time attendees. The networking is so important, not only walking the show floor and finding the latest solutions, but making those connections with other folks in the industry.

Sean Riley: So with all the technology we have today, you can research equipment, you can watch demos, you can meet with suppliers virtually or over Zoom calls asking you to sell PACK EXPO in person. What is it about being in person that simply can't be replicated online? Is there things we hear from previous shows or attendees that said, "This is why you have to go to PACK EXPO in person."

Laura Thompson: You need to go so you can truly see the equipment operating in action. So you can see the materials, hold the materials, have conversations. If you're making a large capital equipment purchase, that's not really something that you just put in your shopping cart on Amazon. You have to be able to have conversations. You have to talk through your specific needs and you're able to do that. You can visit as many or as little booths that you want to visit, talk through your needs. The engineers are on site working the booths, so they are able to answer very specific questions, show you the functionality of the machinery, talk to you about how it will work for your particular solution.

So, I can't stress enough the importance of going to the show just for being able to see everything, have those conversations and accomplish what you need to accomplish to help solve whatever challenges that you're dealing with at your company.

Sean Riley: Yeah. It's really that one thing that AI can't replace, that you have to be there in person. You have to be able to talk to the people, touch the machinery, stuff like that. It is truly something that you need to do, like you said, in person.

Laura Thompson: Absolutely.

Sean Riley: Yeah. This has been great, Laura. And it always is to talk to you before the show, get the lay of the land, what we can expect from the newest show. So, I want to thank you again for taking time out of your day because I know you're very busy leading up to the show to come on here and talk to our listeners about PACK EXPO International.

Laura Thompson: Thanks, Sean. I appreciate it.