Business EXPO 2026 is largest of its kind in nation

The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce will host hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees at the organization’s annual Business EXPO 2026 on Thursday, April 16. The event, which is free and open to the public from noon to 5 p.m., will be held at the Central Wisconsin Convention + Expo Center in Rothschild. The Business EXPO is the largest Chamber trade show in the nation and features an exhibitor-to-exhibitor time from 9 a.m. to noon.

Business EXPO 2026 will feature the Small Business of the Year Awards at 10 a.m., a mascot parade at 1 p.m. and the Best In Show Awards will be presented around 3 p.m.

New in 2026, several member food trucks will offer lunch and snack options for exhibitors and attendees in the area south of the Convention + Expo Center’s Ballroom.

“This Thursday will be our greatest opportunity for personal and professional networking of the year,” said Kaycee Packard, director of programs and events with the Chamber. “It is an exciting day, offering connections between the hundreds of our member exhibitors and the thousands of attendees who drop by.”

The EXPO will be followed by the Fun@EXPO networking event from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at bantr in Rothschild. Fun@EXPO is the region’s largest business networking event of the year, offering a unique opportunity to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones. Food and beverages at the event will be supplied by numerous Chamber member restaurants, caterers, distributors and breweries. The cost for a wristband to enter is $20 at the EXPO or at the door.

The Fun@EXPO vendors include: Avenue117 and FizzFactory, Beltzy LLC, Big Mama's Bacon Wrapped BBQ, El Tequila Salsa LLC, Fun Factory Sweet Shoppe, Lo Que Sea International Treats, Mr. Sweets, Papa Johns Pizza - Wausau, Red Robin Burgers & Brews - Wausau, Sourdough & Co, The Bar, Fabiano Brothers - Wisconsin LLC, Lil' Ole Winemaker Shoppe and Venado Wine Bar.

View the interactive map for the Business EXPO.

The presenting sponsor for the Small Business of the Year Awards and Business EXPO is M3 Insurance. The EXPO is sponsored at the platinum level by The Dirks Group and SDS Painting Company, at the silver level by Health In Motion, Ho-Chunk Gaming – Wittenberg, In The Lite Electric, Jim Kryshak Jewelers, Lakeland Care, Vitality Bar, Weston Memory Care and Yach’s Body & Custom. The print media sponsor is The Business News. The television sponsor is WAOW/WYOW Television Inc. The radio sponsor is Midwest Communications. The printed map sponsor is RotoGraphic Printing Inc and the Best In Show Awards sponsor is New Pulse Marketing.