When and where is NACAS C3X 2026 taking place?

The 2026 NACAS C3X Annual Conference & Expo is held September 27-30, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. Conference activity centers on the McCormick Place district, and NACAS shares official hotel details directly with registered attendees.

Who should attend C3X?

C3X is designed for higher-education auxiliary services professionals — those who manage dining, campus stores and retail, housing, parking and transportation, printing and mail, and conference and event services — along with the business partners and vendors who serve them. Attendees come from more than 200 institutions across the U.S. and Canada.

How much does it cost to register, and is there an early bird deadline?

Full Conference Early Bird rates were $995 for institution members, $1,325 for institution non-members, and $1,850 for business partners, with the Early Bird deadline on July 17, 2026. Regular rates and single-day passes are also available, and groups of 3 or more save $45 per registration.

Why is C3X worth attending?

C3X offers 50+ education sessions, marquee keynotes, campus tours, and a large sold-out-caliber Expo Hall with 170+ exhibitors, all focused on advancing campus commerce and student success. It gives institutional leaders a place to source solutions and benchmark with peers, and gives business partners direct access to campus decision-makers.

NACAS C3X 2026 — College Auxiliary Services Conference & Expo, Chicago, IL | Trade Show Event Directory

Q: What does exhibiting at C3X include and cost?

A 10' x 10' booth costs $4,200 (standard) or $4,600 (premium) and includes a draped backwall, siderails, a 6' table, chairs, and signage, plus one full conference registration and two booth staff registrations. Carpet, internet, and electrical are ordered separately, and Gold and Silver sponsorship add-ons are available.

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NACAS C3X 2026 — College Auxiliary Services Conference & Expo, Chicago, IL | Trade Show Event Directory | Trade Show Directory

Attendance

NACAS reports that C3X draws over 1,000 higher-education leaders and NACAS Business Partners, with attendees representing 200+ institutions from across the United States and Canada.

Booth Pricing

Exhibit space is sold as 10' x 10' booths, which include an 8' draped backwall, 3' draped siderails, one 6' draped table, two chairs, a wastebasket, and an identification sign. Carpet, internet, and electrical are not included.

Standard 10x10 booth: $4,200
Premium 10x10 booth: $4,600

Each 10x10 booth includes one Full Conference Registration and two Booth Staff Registrations (booth staff can upgrade to full registration for $600 each). Sponsorship add-ons are also available:

Gold Sponsorship (booth add-on): $2,500
Silver Sponsorship (booth add-on): $1,000
Programmatic Advertising: $1,600–$3,200

Registration

Registration is completed online through the official C3X registration portal (hosted on Cvent). Early Bird pricing applied through the July 17, 2026 deadline; regular rates applied afterward. Full and single-day passes are available, and groups of 3 or more save $45 per registration.

Full Conference Early Bird / Regular rates:

Institution Member: $995 / $1,095
Institution Non-Member: $1,325 / $1,425
Business Partner: $1,850 / $1,950
Non-Member Business Partner: $3,200 (regular)
Retiree Full Registration: $500 (email info@nacas.org for the rate code)

Day and guest registrations are also offered (Institution Member Day: $450 early / $500 regular; Member Guest: $450 early / $500 regular). Registration includes access to keynote and education sessions, the Expo Hall, receptions, meals, and the Climate Action Lab.

History

C3X is the annual conference and expo of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS), an association serving higher-education auxiliary services professionals. The event rotates among major U.S. cities each year; the 2025 conference was held in Las Vegas, and the 2026 edition moves to Chicago. In recent years demand has grown steadily, with the Expo Hall selling out for two consecutive years. NACAS has also published future host cities: Washington, DC (2027), Grapevine, TX (2028), and Denver, CO (2029).