By: Carson Stoolmiller | From: Tradeshow Executive
Appearing as a supplement to Trade Show Executive’s (TSE) September issue, the World’s Top Convention Centers (WTCC) directory strives to be the ultimate companion for trade show organizers looking for concise and accurate information about the 298 largest convention centers in North America by prime exhibit space.
Convention centers ranking among the largest in the world are embracing the opportunity to grow even larger, with several highly ranked WTCC venues moving forward on expansions detailed in the 2026 edition of the directory.
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It isn’t only large convention centers in the U.S. that are expanding. In Ontario, the Toronto Congress Centre has groundbreaking scheduled for spring 2027. With 531,431 sf of prime exhibit space, the center is the second largest in Canada and plans to add an additional 150,000 sf of event space. Another venue planning for groundbreaking next year is the 28th-ranked Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. In fall 2027, the center is scheduled to close and undergo a substantial expansion, intending to re-open by 2031. San Antonio’s Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, which ranks 29th, is also approaching groundbreaking, however a date has yet to be selected as the project currently navigates legislative and other approvals.