When is the 2026 Chicago Auto Show? Car show at McCormick Place begins this week with First Look for Charity; tickets available

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of the Chicago Auto Show, released the dates and plans for the 2026 event, which will be held Feb. 7-16 at McCormick Place.

Showgoers can once again expect an engaging show with the latest new vehicles, outdoor ride-and-drives and indoor test tracks, including the return of Chicago Drives Electric, a one-stop-shop for electric vehicle ride-alongs and education, organizers said.

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The show’s black-tie charity gala, First Look for Charity, will be held the evening of Friday, Feb. 6 at McCormick Place. Since its inception, First Look for Charity has raised millions for local charities, positively impacting individuals in the Chicagoland community. Attendees can once again expect an evening of gourmet food, beverages and musical entertainment, all while supporting those in need. Tickets and more information for First Look for Charity can be found at FirstLookforCharity.org.

This year’s show is all about what’s next, with more electric vehicles, more hands-on experiences and more tech than ever before.

And for the very first time in Chicago, the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC will be featured.

“We’ve been working on this vehicle for four years; it’s a combination of race breed technology, competition-inspired design. Kinda the heart of this vehicle is the 5.2 liter supercharged V8 engine. This is the same exact engine shared with the Mustang GTD supercar,” said Ryan Shaughnessy, the Mustang brand manager for Ford.

Over at Ram, there is a comeback.

“It’s back. This is the 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX. It’s not only a high performance truck that can go off-road, but it also rivals luxury vehicles. This is our bloodshot night edition, and it has these cool red-splash graphics, carbon fiber trim on the inside, black suede headliner. And the 777 horsepower truck can go over and do jumps. There’s massaging seats on the inside, heated seats in the front and rear,” said Kelley Enright, with Ram communications.

There’s also the Lucid Air sedan and the Gravity for those who like electric.

Tickets to the 2026 Chicago Auto Show are currently on sale at ChicagoAutoShow.com. The 2026 show opens to the public daily at 10 a.m.

Adult ticket prices are $20; seniors ages 62 and older are $15; and children ages 4-12 are $15 before fees. Kids 3 and younger are free. Show hours vary by day so please check the site for details.

McCormick Place, located at 2301 S. King Drive in Chicago, is a cashless facility.

Attendees will be subject to a security screening, organizers said.

Only clear tote bags (12″x12″x6″ or smaller) and clutch purses (under 9 x 5 x 2 or smaller) are allowed. When an infant is present, diaper bags and strollers are permitted.

The Chicago Auto Show is the nation’s longest-running auto exposition in North America. It’s in its 118th edition.

The Illinois secretary of state will also have a full-service DMV at the event.