CheeseCon 2027
Event Date
April 20–22, 2027
Location
Madison, WI
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryCheeseCon is a leading trade show and conference for the cheese, butter, whey, and cultured dairy products industry, held in Madison, Wisconsin. Co-hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), it combines in-depth educational seminars, high-value networking, industry award celebrations, and a tabletop exhibit floor of trusted suppliers — all focused on dairy processing.
The event draws over 3,000 dairy processing professionals. Attendees include CEOs and C-suite executives, plant managers and supervisors, food safety and quality assurance staff, artisan cheesemakers, R&D scientists, sales and marketing teams, and both young professionals and industry veterans. Dairy manufacturers, processors, and marketers may attend regardless of membership, while industry suppliers must be WCMA members.
CheeseCon is worth attending for its unique blend of practical, expert-led education and comprehensive networking across the dairy supply chain. Signature events such as the fast-paced Championship Cheese Auction and the U.S. Champions Awards Banquet make it both a professional and celebratory gathering for the industry.
Show Highlights
Key features of CheeseCon include:
- Educational seminars led by industry-leading experts, tailored specifically to dairy processing.
- A 75,000-square-foot trade show floor filled with hundreds of tabletop exhibits from industry suppliers (open one day only, on Wednesday).
- The Championship Cheese Auction, a fast-paced fundraising and networking event.
- The U.S. Champions Awards Banquet and U.S. Champions Reception honoring industry excellence.
- Networking receptions including First Taste (for first-time attendees), the Welcome Reception, WCMA Recognition Breakfast, and the Afterglow Reception.
Attendance
CheeseCon draws over 3,000 dairy processing professionals. The audience spans the full dairy supply chain, including CEOs and other C-suite executives, plant managers and supervisors, food safety and quality assurance staff, artisan cheesemakers, R&D scientists, sales and marketing teams, and product distributors.
Registration
Registration is handled online through the official CheeseCon website. Note the following registration guidelines:
- Eligibility: Dairy manufacturers, processors, and marketers may attend regardless of membership. Industry suppliers must be members of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.
- What's included: All registrations include access to networking events such as the First Taste and Welcome Receptions (Tuesday), Continental Breakfast, complimentary lunches, the Reception & Championship Cheese Auction (Wednesday), the WCMA Recognition Breakfast, U.S. Champions Reception, and the Afterglow Reception (Thursday).
- Check-in: Registration desks and badge printing are located in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center. Hours are Tuesday, April 20 (12:00–7:00 p.m.), Wednesday, April 21 (7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.), and Thursday, April 22 (7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.).
- Refunds/transfers: Registrations canceled on or before April 12, 2027 receive a 75% refund; no refunds are issued after April 12. Transfer requests before April 12 can be made by emailing events@wischeesemakers.org; after that date, transfers take place onsite at the Registration Desk.
For questions, contact the WCMA Events Team at events@wischeesemakers.org or (608) 286-1001.
History
CheeseCon is produced by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR). The event was formerly known as the International Cheese Technology Expo, which WCMA rebranded as CheeseExpo in 2019. Today the gathering alternates annually between two names and cities: in odd-numbered years it is held as CheeseCon in Madison, and in even-numbered years as CheeseExpo at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. WCMA itself has served the dairy industry for more than 130 years and represents over 850 dairy companies, cooperatives, and industry suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is CheeseCon 2027?
CheeseCon 2027 takes place April 20–22, 2027, at the Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713. It opens Tuesday afternoon with welcome receptions, followed by seminars, tabletop exhibits, and special events on Wednesday and Thursday.
Who should attend CheeseCon?
CheeseCon welcomes cheese, butter, and whey industry professionals from around the world, including CEOs and C-suite executives, plant managers, food safety and quality assurance staff, artisan cheesemakers, R&D scientists, and sales and marketing teams. Dairy manufacturers, processors, and marketers may attend regardless of membership, while industry suppliers must be members of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.
What is included in registration?
All registrations include access to networking events such as the First Taste and Welcome Receptions, continental breakfast, complimentary lunches, the Championship Cheese Auction, the WCMA Recognition Breakfast, the U.S. Champions Reception, and the Afterglow Reception. Attendees check in and print badges at the registration desks in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Registrations canceled on or before April 12, 2027 receive a 75% refund, and no refunds are issued after April 12. Transfer requests before April 12 can be made by emailing events@wischeesemakers.org, and after that date transfers take place onsite at the Registration Desk.
Is there parking at the Alliant Energy Center?
Yes. Free surface parking is available at the Alliant Energy Center throughout CheeseCon, with more than 5,800 paved, well-lit spots on site. The venue is also ADA compliant.
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