EXHIBITOR Magazine has announced its 2026 Centers of Excellence list, recognizing 25 top convention centers in North America for their performance in hosting trade shows and events.

Of the facilities honored, 10 (40%) are accredited under ISSA’s Global Biorisk Advisory Council^® (GBAC) STAR™ Facility Accreditation Program, and 14 (56%) are LEED certified—underscoring the growing importance of health, safety, and sustainability in the events industry.

“The Centers of Excellence Awards allows exhibit managers to identify exhibitor-friendly venues that make their experiences at trade shows and events smooth and successful,” said Emily Olson, editor of EXHIBITOR magazine,

The 2026 Centers of Excellence were selected based on evaluations of facility and functionality, location and accommodations, service and execution, upgrades and innovations, and sustainability. Together, these venues represent best-in-class performance in delivering safe, high-quality environments for trade shows, conventions, and corporate events.

By earning GBAC STAR accreditation, these convention centers have demonstrated that they maintain robust cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention programs that align with the industry’s highest standards. The strong showing of LEED-certified centers further highlights the sector’s commitment to environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability.

The 25 venues that qualified for EXHIBITOR Magazine’s 2026 Centers of Excellence include:

• Albany Capital Center
• Anaheim Convention Center
• Baird Center
• Baltimore Convention Center
• Charlotte Convention Center
• Colorado Convention Center
• Edmonton EXPO Centre
• Grand River Center
• Greater Columbus Convention Center
• Greater Tacoma Convention Center
• Hawaii Convention Center
• Huntington Place
• Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium
• Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas
• Kentucky International Convention Center
• Los Angeles Convention Center
• McCormick Place
• Miami Beach Convention Center
• Overland Park Convention Center
• Owensboro Convention Center
• Raleigh Convention Center
• Renasant Convention Center
• San Diego Convention Center
• Seattle Convention Center
• Walter E. Washington Convention Center

See the press release with more information here.