Duke Energy Convention Center

Downtown Cincinnati’s Completely Reimagined Conventions and Meetings Venue

Cincinnati’s downtown convention center is undergoing a $240 million development to become the Midwest's best-in-class center. Reopening in January 2026, it will accommodate 75 percent of the existing convention, conference, and meetings market in the United States.

The completely reimagined Center will feature modernized meeting rooms, upgraded ballrooms and renovated exhibit hall and pre-function space. In addition, a new expansive rooftop terrace on the third level will provide stunning views of Cincinnati's downtown skyline. Major improvements are being made to building systems and technology making it much more energy efficient.

The development will pour over the Elm Street Plaza, a new, two-acre park and outdoor convention area convenient for event activations and relaxing breakouts.

Get to know the space

Every element of the Duke Energy Convention Center was designed with the experience in mind, 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
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: 5,000 served in a single seating
Levels: 3, multi-level concourse provides easy access to exhibit space, meeting rooms, and ballroom levels.
Skywalk access to the brand new, 800-room Headquarters Hotel
Extended outdoor space with seamless flow to the new Elm Street Convention Plaza

Latest Renderings of the Space

Duke Energy Convention Center Elm Street Park

Duke Energy Convention Center Rooftop Terrace

Duke Energy Convention Center Prefunction Space

Explore the New Floor Plans

Virtual 360° Tour

New Management Company

ASM Global has been selected to launch and operate the reimagined Cincinnati Convention Center. The Center joins ASM Global’s extensive convention and conference portfolio — the largest in North America and worldwide.

Dan Hoffend, ASM Global’s executive vice president, convention centers, said, “We are honored that the City of Cincinnati has entrusted ASM Global to unveil and share the new DECC with clients the world over and drive unprecedented growth for the venue. This is a watershed moment in the history of Cincinnati convention business, and we are ready for the moment." Read more.

Award-Winning

The Convention Center is a 2024 Exhibitor Magazine Center of Excellence Award winner (4 years in a row!) and voted by meeting planners as a Top 30 Convention Center Prime Site Award Winner for twelve consecutive years.

GBAC Star Accredited

DECC is a GBAC Star Accredited meeting facility, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, Duke Energy Convention Center has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease. To achieve this accreditation, DECC demonstrated compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. Learn more about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.org.

Welcoming destination

Duke Energy Convention Center takes its place in Cincinnati’s skyline by welcoming meeting delegates and visitors with its iconic series of glistening metal panels set at angles along the western facade that gleam alongside Interstate 75, proclaiming C-I-N-C-I-N-N-A-T-I in 50-foot-tall letters.

Compact footprint

Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, the Duke Energy Convention Center is within a fifteen-minute walk to 3,200 hotel rooms and 5,000 parking spots.. Attendees and exhibitors alike will be energized by dozens of new restaurants, nightlife options and destination shopping just steps away from the Center. Four new hotels have opened within the past couple of years, and a future 800-room downtown HQ hotel is planned.

Social responsibility

Through the company-wide Step Up program, the Duke Energy Convention Center, has committed to being a leader in employing and promoting environmentally responsible, equitable, and sustainable practices. Please visit the DECC Step Up FAQ for more details on recycling, energy efficiency, waste management, landscaping, and more.

High-tech specifications

The Duke Energy Convention Center, managed by ASM Global, works to provide planners with the latest technology and outstanding customer service for meetings and conventions.