NeoCon 2026 Programming Call Now Open—Spotlight on AI, Wellness, and Adaptive Design

NeoCon 2026 will spotlight themes like AI, adaptive design, and sustainability, offering diverse formats including virtual sessions, hands-on workshops, and short talks, fostering innovation and collaboration across the commercial interiors sector.
Oct. 31, 2025
3 min read

At A Glance

  • Submissions Open: October 30, 2025
  • Deadline: January 15, 2026
  • Focus Areas: AI, adaptive and multi-generational design, and the intersections of technology, wellness, and culture
  • New Addition: Illuminate at NeoCon—a lighting-focused exhibition and programming track
Courtesy of NeoCon
Three women participate in a NeoCon Talks sessions in 2025. NeoCon Talks sessions will return for the 2026 program, featuring fast-paced, 20-minute sessions in the 7th Floor Exhibit Hall.

NeoCon Talks sessions will return for the 2026 program, featuring fast-paced, 20-minute sessions in the 7th Floor Exhibit Hall. 

NeoCon has opened its Call for Programming for the 57th edition of the commercial interiors industry’s leading event, taking place June 8–10, 2026, at THE MART in Chicago—with a new Preview Day on Sunday, June 7. Organizers are inviting industry disruptors, design pioneers, and thought leaders to submit proposals for Continuing Education Units (CEUs), workshops, and NeoCon Talks that challenge the boundaries of design thinking.

“NeoCon is where ideas inspire impact,” says Nubia Henderson, Director of Programming for NeoCon. “Each year, we’re intentional about curating voices and topics that inspire curiosity, challenge assumptions, and expand how we think about design, its influence, and application across commercial interiors.”

Why It Matters

For more than five decades, NeoCon has served as the industry’s central platform for exploring innovation, materials, and design’s impact on human experience. With its expanded educational lineup and the debut of Illuminate, NeoCon 2026 promises to amplify the exchange of ideas shaping the next generation of commercial interiors.

Evolving Conversations in Design

NeoCon 2026 will spotlight themes shaping today’s built environment—from artificial intelligence (AI) and adaptive design to the growing intersections of technology, wellness, and culture. Organizers are seeking programs that reflect design’s evolving influence on how we work, heal, learn, and connect.

For i+s readers, these topics reflect ongoing conversations around sustainability, inclusion, and user experience, offering a platform for professionals to share research, case studies, and material innovations that elevate the built environment.

Courtesy of NeoCon
The new Illuminate logo. Illuminate will include special programming, exhibitor showcases, and on-site installations, drawing a broader audience of lighting designers, specifiers, and manufacturers.

Illuminate will include special programming, exhibitor showcases, and on-site installations, drawing a broader audience of lighting designers, specifiers, and manufacturers.

Illuminate at NeoCon Debuts

One of the most anticipated additions to NeoCon 2026 is Illuminate at NeoCon, a show-within-a-show dedicated to architectural, technical, and decorative lighting. The new feature expands NeoCon’s scope while underscoring lighting’s critical role in wellness, atmosphere, and adaptive design.

Illuminate will include special programming, exhibitor showcases, and on-site installations, drawing a broader audience of lighting designers, specifiers, and manufacturers. This expansion creates new opportunities for collaboration across disciplines while enriching the overall show experience. 

NeoCon is where ideas inspire impact,” says Nubia Henderson, Director of Programming for NeoCon. “Each year, we’re intentional about curating voices and topics that inspire curiosity, challenge assumptions, and expand how we think about design, its influence, and application across commercial interiors.

Programming Formats for Every Presenter

Proposals will be considered across a wide range of categories—including workplace, healthcare, hospitality, lighting, wellness, sustainability, technology, and inclusion. NeoCon offers multiple participation formats designed to accommodate different expertise levels and audience goals:

  • Virtual CEU Sessions: Pre-recorded, 60-minute presentations about emerging trends, global case studies, innovative practices, and more will be available on demand via the NeoCon CEU Hub beginning June 8. These sessions are IDCEC and AIA approved. 
  • On-Site CEU Sessions: Live, interactive sessions held at THE MART, approved by IDCEC and AIA, and later available as virtual sessions.
  • Workshops: In-person, hands-on learning opportunities up to two hours long, designed for deeper engagement.
  • NeoCon Talks (in partnership with Design Milk): Fast-paced, 20-minute sessions by emerging influencers and established thought leaders, recorded for post-show access. These sessions will be held on-site in the NeoCon Talks Lounge (7th Floor Exhibit Hall) on June 8 and 9.

The deadline for all submissions is Jan. 15, 2026. Submission details and full guidelines are available at neocon.com/programming/call-for-programming.

Announcement lightly edited for length and clarity.

Next Steps for Interested Presenters

Prepare your proposal: Choose a format—CEU Session, Workshop, or NeoCon Talk—and identify your key takeaway.
Confirm CEU eligibility: Check requirements for IDCEC or AIA approval if applicable.
Submit online: Complete your submission by January 15, 2026, through the official portal.
Stay connected: Approved sessions will be featured online and on-site during NeoCon 2026.

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