List honors the Top 25 convention centers

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Oct. 29, 2026) – Oak View Group (OVG), operator of the Grand River Center, announced today that the venue has been named to EXHIBITOR Magazine’s 2027 Centers of Excellence list. The list honors the Top 25 convention centers for trade shows and events across the United States and Canada. This is the second year in a row the Grand River Center has made the list.

The Grand River Center is also one of three finalists for the Best Convention Center (Less Than 100,000 sq. ft. of Exhibit Space) award and will defend the title it won last year. Winners will be announced later this year.

EXHIBITOR Magazine is a leading authority on trade shows and corporate events. Its Centers of Excellence program judges venues on facility and functionality, service, innovation and upgrades, location, and industry recognition. Results come from exhibitor surveys, feedback from event planners, and reviews by a panel of corporate event professionals.

Set in the historic Port of Dubuque, the Grand River Center offers flexible event space with floor-to-ceiling views of the Mississippi River. The venue hosts conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, sporting events, weddings, and community gatherings. Its on-site edible garden and microgreens program supplies fresh produce for event menus, giving guests a true taste of the venue. The Grand River Center also won the Northstar Stella Award for Best Convention Center in the Midwest in 2024 and 2025.

“Being named to this list again, after winning Best Convention Center in our category last year, tells us we’re on the right track,” said Scott Hallgren, CVE, General Manager of the Grand River Center. “These awards are based on what exhibitors and planners say about their experience here, and that says a lot about the people who work in this building every day. We love what we do, and for us, it’s all about creating the magic to truly Deliver Grand

Experiences to all we serve. We’re grateful for our partners at the City of Dubuque and Travel Dubuque, and we’re proud to keep showing the industry what Dubuque has to offer.”

For more information about the Grand River Center, visit grandrivercenter.com or call 563.690.4500.

About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents.