AHR Expo Show Management has announced the forced cancellation of the 2021 AHR Expo after working with McCormick Place to tentatively reschedule the show for March 2021. With roadblocks set in place by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting current state and local restrictions that prohibit mass gatherings more than 50 people, an in-person event will not take place in 2021. Instead, Show Management will shift its focus to 2022 and prepare for an in-person event in Las Vegas.

“We’ve examined every scenario and questioned every roadblock to see how we might hold an in-person event in 2021,” said Mark Stevens, show manager. “Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to present unpredictable challenges and other variables that are beyond our control. The safety of all our participants — attendees, exhibitors, speakers, employees, venue staff and everyone involved at every level — continues to be our top priority. With these barriers, along with state and local restrictions due to COVID-19, we have unfortunately exhausted all efforts to bring the Show to Chicago in 2021.”

Show Management worked alongside show co-sponsors Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), as well as an advisory council inclusive of Choose Chicago, representatives from McCormick Place and many vendor partners, to explore every possibility that could lead to hosting an in-person event that maintained the expectation for AHR Expo. In consideration of time and planning requirements to participate in the show, Oct. 15 was marked as the deadline for the decision.

“We were hopeful that March would be a feasible solution, but there are too many obstacles that are beyond our control,” said Stevens. “We know how disappointing this news is for the HVACR industry and we are disappointed too.”

Since 1930, the AHR Expo has remained the industry’s best place to experience the latest trends, products and services in HVACR. The show serves as a key meeting place for professionals across the industry to network one-on-one with key manufacturers, industry leaders and colleagues at what has grown to be North America’s largest HVACR event.

The AHR Expo will return Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2022, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. Registration is expected to open in the summer of 2021. Visit www.ahrexpo.com for updates and information. For further questions regarding the 2021 show, visit the "Show Updates" page on the website.