Pinball Expo 2026 Highlights Industry Resurgence and Innovation
Pinball Expo 2026 in Chicagoland showcases a blend of traditional and innovative pinball machines, attracting many enthusiasts.
Pinball Expo 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois, highlights the industry’s resurgence, attracting hundreds of enthusiasts eager to experience the latest in pinball technology and design.
Visitors gathered at Stern Pinball’s headquarters in Elk Grove, where they toured the company’s factory and learned about its 40-year history from founder Gary Stern. According to Stern, his company currently controls 90 percent of the pinball market, with the remaining producers exploring creative innovations.
Displays at the expo included Stern’s latest machine, Fallout, alongside offerings from manufacturers like Jersey Jack and Spooky Pinball. Attendees found a mix of traditional gameplay with emerging technologies, including attempts to integrate virtual reality into the pinball experience, allowing players to use real buttons while wearing VR headsets.
One of the most talked-about innovations was the Multimorphic P3 system, designed to enhance user engagement with swappable playfields and an interactive display that reacts to ball movements. Co-creative director Stephen Silver explained the concept of the P3, saying, “We have floating mechanisms above the screen… the idea being that you get to Faction Wars—the events of the seventh book—it’s a perfect wizard mode.”
The P3 system allows users to create their own games using a free software development kit, which aims to foster community-driven content creation. With 30 games currently available, the platform is unique in the pinball world for its third-party development opportunities.
Developer Johnny Zen revealed Pocket Pinball, a free Android app allowing users to play various pinball tables on mobile devices. He also announced a closed beta for his Pinball Construction Set, aiming to let users design their own machines with a user-friendly interface.
The enthusiasm at the expo reflected a promising future for the pinball industry, as visitors expressed excitement over the blend of nostalgia and innovation present on the show floor. As one attendee noted, “It’s a very exciting time to be a pinball fan.”
Sources
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
