CHICAGO — Trade Show Executive’s (TSE) Midsized Convention Centers report focuses on venues falling into the middle tier of trade show facilities, offering between 125,000 square feet (sf) and 349,999 sf of prime exhibit space.
“Midsized convention centers contribute significantly to the trade show industry, offering show organizers versatile options in convenient locations for events of moderate size,” Carri Jensen, Director of Research for TSE, explained. “The 2026 TSE Midsized Convention Centers report comprises 98 venues in this size classification, and the inventory continues to expand. New to the list is the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in Chula Vista, Calif., which opened in May 2025. And TSE is tracking 13 midsized venues with expansion projects in the works.”
Related. Cincinnati Is Upping Its Game with a Convention Center Redo
Of the 13 developments detailed in the report, five have broken ground. The Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati will re-open in January 2026 with 108,938 sf of meeting space throughout 42 breakout rooms, up from the previously offered 100,627 sf. The convention center was closed in July 2024 to allow for every aspect of the building to be completely revamped. The Cobb Convention Center-Atlanta, formerly known as the Cobb Galleria Centre, is also currently constructing an addition, that will give the event facility 144,000 sf of prime exhibit space, 24,316 sf of meeting space and 32,200 sf of flex space. The venue’s new name and expansion represent a rebrand for the center, which will re-open in January 2026 while continuing to work on the additional space, planned to debut in early 2027.
Related. Major Change Coming at Four Texas Convention Centers
Tennessee’s Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville is working on an expansion to raise the meeting space at the venue from 88,702 sf to 126,702 sf and the flex space from 120,812 sf to 151,812 sf. Construction on this new space is expected to conclude by spring 2027.
The CHI Health Center Omaha in Nebraska is targeting a fall 2027 date to unveil its expansion, which will increase meeting space from 22,050 sf to 60,884 sf and breakout rooms from 16 to 41. Texas’ Austin Convention Center intends to re-open by the end of 2028, as the center is currently closed during construction. Once finished, the new building will have 336,000 sf of prime exhibit space, 122,000 sf of meeting space and 92,000 sf of flex space.
To submit a venue for consideration in TSE’s Midsized Convention Centers report, email Carson Stoolmiller at carsons@tradeshowexecutive.com.
