Trade Show News

The iconic Humana Tower in downtown Louisville is slated for conversion into a dual-tower, 1,000-room convention hotel with over 100,000 square feet of meeting space. This project is expected to significantly boost Louisville's capacity to attract large conventions and national events, as highlighted in the Louisville Downtown Partnership's 2025 Economic Impact Report.

The Louisville Downtown Partnership released its 2025 Economic Impact Report, highlighting $3.2 billion in investment across 75 projects underway or announced in Downtown. The report notes that downtown hotel room sales remained steady with 1.5 million rooms sold in 2025, and the economic impact of downtown convention attendees reached over $172 million. The conversion of the Humana Tower into a 1,000-room convention hotel is a key highlight.

The Louisville Downtown Partnership released its updated economic impact report, highlighting downtown Louisville as the region's economic and cultural center. In 2025, groups booked through Louisville Tourism generated $172,302,948 in economic impact from downtown convention attendees, with over 1.5 million total hotel rooms sold downtown.

The Downtown Louisville Economic Impact Report for 2025 indicates that convention attendees generated an economic impact of over $172 million. This report, updated annually by the Louisville Downtown Partnership, showcases the significant contribution of downtown investments and visitors to the region's economy.

Louisville has been added as a key destination and final port for new Mississippi and Ohio River cruise itineraries by Viking® for 2027, and American Cruise Lines is returning in 2026. This renewed interest from the river cruise industry will bring more visitors to the city, impacting the local hospitality sector.

Cleo Battle, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism, is the 2026 recipient of MPI's Industry Leader Award, recognized for his groundbreaking career in the hospitality industry. Battle, who joined Louisville Tourism in 2013 and became CEO in 2021, has broadened the scope of destination marketing beyond visitor numbers and hotel occupancies, focusing on encouraging wider ethnic diversity in the tourism industry.

Cleo Battle, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism, is the 2026 recipient of MPI's Industry Leader Award, recognized for his groundbreaking career in hospitality and efforts to broaden destination marketing. Battle has been instrumental in encouraging ethnic diversity within the tourism industry and fostering hospitality and tourism programs in Louisville.

Cleo Battle, President and CEO of Louisville Tourism, is the 2026 recipient of MPI's Industry Leader Award. Battle is recognized for his groundbreaking career in the hospitality industry, broadening destination marketing, and encouraging wider ethnic diversity.

Louisville Tourism promotes its Annual Louisville Hospitality Expo, a tradeshow designed to connect the public with the city's hospitality community. The event features over 75 exhibitors and attracts more than 600 attendees, showcasing innovative products and services that shape the destination's visitor economy.

Louisville Tourism is listed as a new Engage-level member of the U.S. Travel Association for 2026. Engage-level members actively shape the travel industry's national agenda and gain access to industry leadership and influential peer networks. This membership signifies Louisville Tourism's commitment to national travel industry engagement.

The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is scheduled for March 27-29, 2026, at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

Cummins Inc. announced its "Forever Rising Tour," a traveling exhibition showcasing heavy-duty engine platforms, will continue at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky, and travel nationwide through May 2026. The tour allows customers to experience the latest farming technology and equipment firsthand.

Tattoo Fest Louisville is scheduled to take place from March 27-29 at the Kentucky International Convention Center. The event will feature over 200 artists from around the world, live tattooing, merchandise vendors, and daily competitions.

The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is scheduled to take place at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville from March 27-29, 2026. This major trade show is a significant event for the trucking industry, drawing attendees and exhibitors to the city.

Louisville Tourism provides alerts for several upcoming conventions and events in March and April 2026 at the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) and Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). These include the GAMA Tradeshow (March 3-5), Under Armour Bluegrass Volleyball Tournament (March 6-8), Kentucky Association for School Technology (March 10-13), and Connect Spring Marketplace (April 14-16).

The Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville is undergoing a significant expansion in 2026, which will add 280,000 square feet of prime exhibit space. This development is projected to elevate the venue to the fifth largest convention center in the U.S., according to Trade Show Executive's World's Top Convention Centers ranking, with completion targeted by the end of December 2026.

Trade Show Executive's April 2026 'Pardon Our Dust' report previews significant convention center expansions, including the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. The KEC expansion will add 280,000 square feet of prime exhibit space, moving it to the fifth largest convention center in the U.S. Construction on the new space is targeted for completion by the end of December 2026.

The Kentucky Exposition Center celebrated a major construction milestone with the topping off of its newest building, part of a multi-phase expansion and renovation project. Phase I, a $180 million investment, will add a 350,000-square-foot exhibit space, and with Phase II, the center is projected to become the fifth-largest convention center in the United States by the end of 2026.

The $470 million expansion of the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville is the largest such project in the nation, adding a 350,000-square-foot building expected to be completed in late 2026. Phase I, which broke ground in Summer 2024, has employed over 3,500 tradespeople.

The Kentucky Exposition Center reached a major construction milestone with a topping-off ceremony for its $180 million Phase I expansion project, as reported on March 13, 2026. The centerpiece is a 350,000-square-foot multi-purpose building, which will become the largest Class 'A' exhibit space at the convention center. This expansion is expected to attract larger trade shows, conventions, and industry events to Kentucky.