Chicago Drum Show Reveals Dates May 16 and 17 With Program Highlights

The 35th Annual Chicago Drum Show will be held May 16 and 17, 2026 at the Prairie Events Center at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Illinois, with doors open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The show’s Instagram announcement called it “The Drummers' Family Reunion,” and organizers list the event as hosted and produced by Drugan’s Drums & Guitars.

Organizers are framing the weekend as a vendor-heavy drum expo focused on vintage, custom, and new gear. ChicagoDrum copy calls the event “the longest running vintage and custom drum show in the world” and says the show will be “showcasing the best in vintage, custom, and new drum gear!” Exhibitor logistics are already moving: the Chicago Drum Show site states “2026 Exhibitor Registration is now open. 2025 exhibitors please check your email for renewal info.”

Drugan’s Drums & Guitars has positioned itself as steward of the event and published a message announcing the change in custodianship. The announcement reads in full, “We're honored to announce that Rob Cook has entrusted us to carry on the prestigious heritage of the Chicago Drum Show. Known by many as the drummers’ family reunion, the Chicago Drum Show is the longest running vintage and custom drum show in the world showcasing the best in vintage, custom, and new drum gear! Our mission is to continue Rob's vision by faithfully maintaining the camaraderie and strong sense of community while sharing our love and passion with future generations of drummers. Sincerely, The Drugan Bros.”

The show website and shop pages point to continuity with prior years while offering tangible merchandise and archival material. The site still hosts a “Click here to download and view the 2025 Show Program” link, and merch listings include multiple 2025 Chicago Drum Show shirts such as “2025 Chicago Drum Show - Bass Drum Cartoon (Black)” and “2025 Chicago Drum Show - Hot Dog Cartoon (Vintage Navy)” priced at Regular price $25.00 USD. The Drum Directory listing for the show reiterates hours as “Chicago Drum Show 10am - 5pm” and promotes a partner offer, “10% Off Modern Drummer Subscriptions - Code: DRUMDIRECTORY at checkout.”

The site also carries memorial material tied to the community. A tribute note on the ChicagoDrumShow pages describes Mark Cooper as “a kind, well-respected, and exceptionally talented drummer, singer, and vintage drum collector” and records that he “passed away from his battle with cancer on August 1, 2024.” The shop/program page invites readers to “Click the link for the full tribute to Mark Cooper from Bob Campbell and other drummers and friends who loved him too.”

Modern Drummer and other drum trade listings appear alongside the show in online coverage and directories; Modern Drummer’s pages include archived Chicago Drum Show coverage and have a 2026 copyright footer. With Rob Cook’s alleged handover to the Drugan Bros and exhibitor registration active, the immediate tasks for prospective vendors and visitors are clear: vendors should complete registration while buyers can preview the 2025 program and shop show merch priced at $25 to gauge the event’s tone. Expect a vendor-heavy, vintage-and-custom-focused weekend under Drugan’s stewardship when the gates open at the Kane County Fairgrounds in May.