AHR Expo 2027 Chicago Guide: Dates, Free Badges & App
By Ilyas Kerbal,
AHR Expo 2027 takes place from 25 to 27 January at McCormick Place in Chicago. It is the largest HVACR marketplace in the world, with around 1,900 exhibitors and 45,000 attendees, and it runs alongside the ASHRAE Winter Conference, which brings in a large number of design engineers.
Heat pumps, refrigerant transition, building automation and indoor air quality are the big topics. This guide covers dates, the free registration window, future locations and how to reach the engineers, contractors and distributors who drive purchasing.
AHR Expo 2027 at a glance
| Next edition | 25-27 January 2027, Chicago; then 7-9 Feb 2028 Orlando and 22-24 Jan 2029 Chicago |
| Venue | McCormick Place (2027) |
| City | Chicago, Illinois, USA (2027) |
| Typical month | January-February |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Attendance | ~45,000 attendees |
| Exhibitors | ~1,900 exhibitors |
| Industry | Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning & refrigeration (HVACR) |
| Organizer | International Exposition Company; co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI |
| Official website | ahrexpo.com |
What is AHR Expo?
AHR Expo is the main North American trade show for HVACR. Manufacturers of heating, cooling, ventilation, refrigeration, building automation and controls show products to engineers, contractors, distributors and facility managers.
It is held together with the ASHRAE Winter Conference, so many design engineers attend. Free education sessions and product demos run throughout.
Where does AHR Expo take place?
2027: McCormick Place, Chicago. Recent and future hosts include Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Chicago.
Does it change location? Yes, it rotates between US cities, mainly Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Heat pump unit on the side of a building. Photo by alpha innotec on Unsplash.
Who you’ll meet at AHR Expo
- Mechanical engineers and design engineers
- HVAC contractors
- Wholesalers and distributors
- Manufacturers’ reps
- Facility managers and building owners
- Architects and utilities
Expect a broad audience where purchasing often runs through dealers, distributors or buying committees. Mapping who is coming, and from which companies, is what turns the visit into pipeline.
Exhibiting or attending AHR Expo? I can deliver the AHR Expo attendee and exhibitor list, enriched with job titles, company size, industry and LinkedIn profiles, as a CRM-ready file before the event starts. Ask for your AHR Expo list on Prospector
Industries and niches covered
- Heating and cooling equipment
- Heat pumps and electrification
- Refrigeration
- Building automation and controls
- Indoor air quality and ventilation
- Plumbing and hydronics
- Refrigerant transition and decarbonization
Why AHR Expo matters for sales teams
HVACR buying decisions involve several groups: mechanical engineers specify, contractors install, distributors stock and facility managers operate. AHR Expo is one of the few places where all of them show up.
For manufacturers, controls companies and building-tech software vendors, segmenting the attendee list by role is essential. A consulting engineer and a wholesale distributor need very different pitches, and the app’s appointment tool works much better once you know whom to invite.
Who should attend AHR Expo?
Go if you sell into HVACR and want face time with operators, dealers or distributors you can’t easily reach online. The show is excellent for relationships and market intelligence.
Think twice if you need senior corporate buyers only. Many AHR Expo visitors are hands-on operators, so plan for filtering and don’t judge success purely by badge scans.
AHR Expo ticket prices
| Option | Price / details |
|---|---|
| Also good to know | Free advance registration (by 23 Jan 2027) |
| Also good to know | $30 for online registration after the deadline and onsite |
| Also good to know | Under-16s not admitted |
| Typical cost | Free with advance registration. |
Prices change between editions and by registration date, so treat these as a guide and check ahrexpo.com before you buy.
Does AHR Expo have an app?
Yes. The AHR Expo app usually goes live around December and covers exhibitor search and bookmarks, the floor plan, appointment scheduling, session search and a personal agenda.
The official app is good for finding a booth or a session. It is much less useful for prospecting: data is thin, you can’t export it, and messaging limits stop you from reaching more than a handful of people a day.
AHR Expo: strengths and weaknesses
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free if you register in advance | Changing host cities complicate planning |
| Highly targeted HVACR audience | Narrow vertical |
| Paired with ASHRAE conference for engineers | Many attendees are technical rather than budget holders |
| App includes appointment scheduling |
A pre-show prospecting plan for AHR Expo
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6-8 weeks before | Get the attendee and exhibitor list. Segment it by job title, company size and industry, and remove existing customers and competitors. |
| 3-5 weeks before | Start outreach on email and LinkedIn. Mention the event, give a specific reason to meet and offer two or three time slots. |
| Show week | Confirm every meeting 48 hours ahead, keep a short list of walk-in targets, and log every conversation in your CRM the same day. |
| 1-5 days after | Follow up while the event is still fresh, then add non-responders to a nurture sequence. |
Registration is free until 23 January 2027 and costs $30 after. Encourage prospects to register early with your invitation; it gives you a natural reason to reach out in December.
Already exhibiting at several shows this year? I can track the same buyers across events so nobody falls through the cracks. Talk to me about AHR Expo and your other shows.
Frequently asked questions
When is AHR Expo 2027?
25-27 January 2027, Chicago; then 7-9 Feb 2028 Orlando and 22-24 Jan 2029 Chicago. Dates can shift, so confirm on the official website (ahrexpo.com) before booking travel.
Where is AHR Expo held?
2027: McCormick Place, Chicago. Recent and future hosts include Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Chicago.
Does it move? Yes, it rotates between US cities, mainly Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
How much does a AHR Expo ticket cost?
Free with advance registration. See the pricing table above for pass types.
Who attends AHR Expo?
Mainly mechanical engineers and design engineers; HVAC contractors; wholesalers and distributors; manufacturers’ reps.
Can I get the AHR Expo attendee list?
Event organisers rarely sell attendee lists. Prospector builds one for you from the event app and website: attendees, exhibitors and speakers, enriched with job title, company, company size, industry, LinkedIn profile and work email where available, delivered as a CRM-ready file before the event. Ask about AHR Expo here.
Get the AHR Expo attendee list
If AHR Expo is on your calendar, the best time to build your target list is now, while there is still time to book meetings. Contact me on Prospector with the event, your target roles and your CRM, and I’ll tell you what I can deliver and how fast.
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- IBS + KBIS 2027 (Design & Construction Week) Guide
- DTECH 2027 Atlanta Guide: Dates, Passes & Utility Buyers
Photo credits
- Cover image: Photo by Kettenreaktion on Unsplash
- In-article image: Photo by alpha innotec on Unsplash
Sources
Event details were last checked in October 2026. Dates, venues and prices can change, so confirm them on the official event website.