CINCINNATI, OH (January 8, 2026) — The Cincinnati Convention Center hosted a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, January 7, following an 18-month, $264 million transformation. The fully modernized facility is the crown jewel of the city’s $800 million Convention District reinvention, and is officially open to welcome meetings, conventions, and events.
The Center will quickly shift from celebration to hosting, with Redsfest (January 16 & 17) set to become the first returning event to take place, welcoming fans back and showcasing the venue’s upgraded experience in the heart of downtown Cincinnati.
Ribbon-cutting attendees toured the Convention Center’s refreshed interiors, upgraded technology, streamlined layout, and innovative design, which together redefine the experience of hosting events in the heart of downtown Cincinnati.
“The new Convention District delivers on the story we have been telling for years. It’s about our vibrancy, walkability and hospitality. The Convention Center gives us the product we need to win meetings, drive economic impact, and strengthen our region’s future,” said Julie Calvert, President & CEO of Visit Cincy.
The reimagined convention center features modernized meeting rooms, upgraded ballrooms, a renovated exhibit hall and pre-function space, and a brand-new expansive rooftop terrace offering sweeping views of the downtown skyline.
The surrounding district also includes the new two-acre Elm Street Plaza, providing dynamic outdoor space directly connected to the center. Designed to activate the district and bring attendees together, the plaza creates a built-in gathering space ideal for outdoor receptions, networking events, brand activations, live entertainment, and experiential programming that adds energy and flexibility to any agenda.
Soon, the district will be further strengthened by a new 700-room Marriott headquarters hotel located across the street, creating a seamless destination ecosystem designed to make meetings easier, more engaging, and more walkable. The property will include 700 hotel rooms, 80,000 square feet of meeting space, 15,000 square feet of retail space, and a skywalk connection to the Cincinnati Convention Center.
“This reimagined Convention Center proves that Cincinnati is ready to compete at a national level and will deliver the experience meeting planners expect,” said Rodney Faulk, General Manager of the Convention Center, Legends Global.
Every element of the Cincinnati Convention Center was reimagined to create a more efficient, modern, and planner-friendly experience, featuring:
- Gross Square Feet: 750,000, including setup and support space
- Exhibition Space: 200,000 contiguous square feet
- Grand Ballroom: 40,000 square feet, one of the largest in the Midwest
- Additional Ballroom: 17,400 square feet to comfortably host smaller groups
- Brand-New Rooftop Terrace with panoramic views of Cincinnati’s downtown skyline
- Meeting Space: 30 deluxe breakout rooms with flexibility to accommodate 24 to 4,100
- Loading Dock: 17 berths and three semi-truck portals that lead directly to exhibition space
- Full-Service Banquet Kitchen: capable of serving 5,000 in a single seating
- Levels: 3, with a multi-level concourse providing easy access to exhibit space, meeting rooms, and ballroom levels
- Skywalk Access: to the forthcoming 700-room Marriott headquarters hotel
- Extended Outdoor Space: seamless flow to the new Elm Street Plaza, a 2.5-acre outdoor gathering space directly connected to the convention center for receptions, activations, and event programming
- Branding Opportunities: LED signage outside meeting rooms and a massive 76’ LED wall
- Parking: a new $28 million garage across the street with 780 spaces
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More than Just the District:
The reimagined Convention District will be the cherry on top for the Cincinnati experience. From the Fortune 500 Companies that innovate here to the arts and culture and professional sports the city breathes, attendees receive a full-service bleisure experience that leaves them motivated. Attendees are able to experience the vibrant city by foot, no need to tack on a rental car. With 3,000 hotel rooms within 3 blocks of the Convention Center, attendees can mix their experiences and gather quickly.
About Visit Cincy
Visit Cincy connects the Cincinnati region's people and experiences with visitors and meeting attendees from around the world through sales, marketing, communications, and community-building strategies. The destination marketing organization is supported by nearly 500 businesses that join together in making Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and the Cincy region a world-class destination by offering their services, attractions, and facilities to visitors, meeting planners, and convention attendees. For more information, go to VisitCincy.com.
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