In March, Chicago’s McCormick Place is set to become the heartbeat of the home and housewares industry. From March 10-12, 2026, at the The Inspired Home Show retailers, designers, and innovators from around the world will gather to discover what makes a house a home. At this event, trends are unveiled, ideas collide, and every product, from smart kettles to scented candles tells a story of creativity and retail brilliance.
In this edition, the focus is on the people and retailers who make the industry exceptional. To add to the credibility is the gia Excellence in Retailing, part of the IHA Global Innovation Awards program. Since 2000, gia has set the benchmark for overall excellence, business innovation, and creative merchandising in home goods retailing, celebrating those who turn insights into results.
The competition operates on a two-tier structure—national and global—evaluating retailers based on key criteria. Each year, IHA partners with leading housewares trade publications worldwide to sponsor national gia programs, ensuring that top retailers from various countries are identified and celebrated. In the global stage at The Inspired Home Show, national winners—including the Middle East winner selected by IMAGES RetailME—compete for international recognition.
2026 promises more than a showcase with four distinct expos, 300,000 products, and innovations that might make you wonder if your homes have been living in the past. There’s a palpable rhythm to the event: networking, inspiration, and strategic scouting all happen in one place.
From consumer behaviour shifts and licensing strategies to the subtle art of merchandising that turns browsers into buyers, the Show doubles as a masterclass in homeware retail. For a touch of pageantry with business acumen, gia winners will be showcased, their achievements celebrated, and their strategies studied by peers and competitors alike.
The diverse and immersive highlights include the gia Awards, the Hall of Global Innovation, the New Product Showcase, and Pantone ColorWatch, each providing a glimpse into the future of home goods design and retail.
Additionally, events such as the Housewares Cares Gala, Networking After Dark, and the Chicago Retail Tour ensure that connections are made, ideas are exchanged, and partnerships are forged.
The Inspired Home Show draws over 52,000 professionals from more than 130 countries, making it a hub for international business development, trend spotting, and cross-border collaboration.
For those in the business of home and housewares, March in Chicago is non-negotiable. Witness global excellence, guided by renowned publications like IMAGES RetailME, and join a conversation you won’t want to miss.
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