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ESCA Winter Celebration & Awards Presents

A Toast to Tradition

Step into a timeless Wisconsin supper club for an evening of cocktails, conversation, and celebration.

Sunday, November 15, 2026 · 6:00 – 10:00 PM
The Wisconsin Club · Milwaukee, WI

2026 Award Recipients

Lifetime Achievement

Charlie Premone

Rising Leader Excellence

Kevin Small, GES

Innovation Award

beMatrix USA & Emerald Carpets, Inc.

About the Event

An Evening Dedicated to Excellence

Each year at the ESCA Winter Celebration & Awards, we dedicate an evening to celebrating the outstanding achievements, innovation, and commitment of professionals in our industry. Leaders, innovators, and rising professionals from across the exhibition, meeting, and event services community come together for one memorable night of recognition, networking, and celebration. Join us in 2026, as we raise a glass to celebrate our industry in true Wisconsin Supper Club style.

The Venue

The Wisconsin Club

This year we gather in Milwaukee at the historic Wisconsin Club, a grand 19th-century mansion where dark wood paneling, moody lighting, and plush lounges set the stage for a night of luxurious comfort in true supper club style.

Expect live jazz, brandy old fashions and passed champagne, relish trays at every table, and grasshoppers to finish: a toast to the traditions that bring our industry together.

900 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233

Evening Schedule

A supper club evening at The Wisconsin Club

6:00–6:30 PM

Come On In & Raise a GlassCheck in, grab a cocktail, and catch up with friends before settling in at your table, where plated salads await.

6:45–7:20 PM

Supper & the SpotlightEnjoy a plated supper club dinner as we celebrate this year’s ESCA Winter Award recipients and the people making a difference in our industry.

7:20–10:00 PM

Stay for One MoreThe best supper club evenings don’t end with dinner. Treat yourself to dessert, enjoy another round, and spend a little more time with the people you don’t get to see often enough.

The ESCA Winter Awards

Celebrate Excellence

Nominations for 2026 closed September 1, 2026 — thank you to all who submitted. Nominations for 2027 are now open.

Diversity & Inclusion Award

Recognizing champions of a more inclusive industry.

Nominate →

Humanitarian Excellence Award

Honoring service that reaches beyond the show floor.

Nominate →

Innovation Award

For the ideas and tools moving exhibitions forward.

Nominate →

Outstanding Service & Volunteerism Award

Celebrating those who give their time and talent.

Nominate →

Rising Leader Excellence Award

Spotlighting the next generation of industry leaders.

Nominate →

Lifetime Achievement Award

A career of dedication to the exhibitions industry.

Nominate →

See Past Winners

Highlights

Relive Last Year’s Celebration

Plan Your Look

What to Wear

Supper club elegance: velvet, satin, silk, and rich jewel tones with a touch of vintage glamour. Explore the looks below and start planning an outfit worth remembering.

Black

Emerald

Cognac

Cream