EXHIBITOR Magazine names Baird Center as a 2026 Center of Excellence
Milwaukee’s Baird Center has been named one of North America’s best convention centers by EXHIBITOR Magazine, earning a coveted spot on the publication’s 2026 Centers of Excellence list.
Each year, EXHIBITOR recognizes a select group of convention centers that set the standard for excellence in design, service and innovation. This year, 25 venues across the United States and Canada made the cut — and Milwaukee’s Baird Center is proudly among them.
“Being named a Center of Excellence is a reflection of the people behind the building,” said Marty Brooks, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District. “From our partners in design and construction to our staff who deliver exceptional service every day, this honor represents the pride and professionalism that define Baird Center’s Bold. Proud. Experience Obsessed experience.”
The Centers of Excellence program evaluates convention centers on five key criteria: facility design and functionality, location and accommodations, service and execution, expansions and upgrades, and overall recognition. The process includes feedback from event organizers and exhibit managers who have recently hosted events in each venue — making the honor both data-driven and experience-based.
In announcing the award, EXHIBITOR Magazine praised the selected centers for their “world-class service and state-of-the-art accommodations” that help ensure successful, stress-free events.
For the Baird Center team, the recognition reinforces what they already know: the building is more than a convention center. It’s a symbol of Milwaukee’s growth, collaboration, and hospitality — and a place where the city welcomes the world.
“This award tells planners across the country that when they choose Milwaukee, they’re choosing excellence,” Brooks said. “And that’s something our whole community can be proud of.”