Convention to bring thousands of meeting planners to experience Baird Center and Milwaukee’s signature hospitality
Visit Milwaukee is thrilled to announce today that from November 16-18, 2026, the city will welcome more than 2,000 meeting planners and event organizers to the multi-award winning Baird Center for Expo! Expo! IAEE's Annual Meeting & Exhibition 2026, the annual International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) convention that brings together the professionals who shape tradeshows, meetings, and conventions worldwide. The event is expected to generate $3.5 million in economic impact and create significant future interest in Milwaukee as a host city.
“Hosting Expo! Expo! in Milwaukee is a tremendous honor for our community and a major opportunity for our hospitality partners,” said Peggy Williams Smith, president and CEO of Visit Milwaukee. “This event brings some of the most influential event organizers in our industry to our city and gives us the chance to show them everything Milwaukee can offer. The connections made here can translate into future meetings and conventions for years to come. We look forward to welcoming Expo! Expo! with our one-of-a-kind hospitality in 2026 and creating an experience that inspires planners to return with their own events.”
IAEE’s Expo! Expo! is the premier gathering for event organizers from across the country and a key touchpoint for decision-makers who influence where major meetings and trade shows are held. As IAEE brings its community of experienced organizers to Milwaukee, attendees gain a firsthand look at the multi-award-winning Baird Center, featuring flexible, versatile spaces that can support events of any large capacity, along with the city's renowned hospitality. Because IAEE members drive site selection for associations, corporations and independent shows, their time in Milwaukee can lead to future bookings and long-term economic impact for the region.
“We are thrilled to bring Expo! Expo! to Milwaukee in 2026. Milwaukee has energy, creativity and a hospitality community that truly embraces our industry,” said Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM, president and CEO of IAEE. “Our attendees will experience the expanded Baird Center along with a city that delivers memorable food, culture, art, and connection at every turn. We cannot wait to bring our community here for an unforgettable Expo! Expo! experience.”
Baird Center is coming off a landmark year marked by its LEED Gold certification that reflects its commitment to waste reduction and sustainability, its recognition as a 2026 Center of Excellence by EXHIBITOR Magazine, and its recent recognition by Northstar Meetings Group’s Stella Awards, along with Skift’s IDEA Awards. Hosting IAEE Expo! Expo! in 2026 builds on this momentum and places Baird Center firmly in the national spotlight for large meetings and tradeshows.
“IAEE’s decision to bring Expo! Expo! to Milwaukee showcases the strength of Baird Center and the investments we have made in this facility,” said Marty Brooks, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District. “Our expanded convention center is designed for events of this scale with flexible spaces that support creativity, collaboration and unforgettable attendee experiences. We look forward to hosting thousands of event organizers and giving them a firsthand look at what makes Baird Center an exceptional home for major meetings and conventions.”
To build early excitement, Visit Milwaukee introduced an interactive activation at Expo! Expo! 2025 through a partnership with the social wearable platform IBIY, which stands for I Believe In You. In Visit Milwaukee’s engaging booth, attendees received two NFC (near-field communication) enabled bracelets that connect to a mobile app and create a shared digital story as each bracelet travels from person to person. The activation will expand in 2026 when the bracelet unlocks special onsite perks at the Milwaukee event, building excitement as the date approaches.