Bagel Bash at IgniteIt Chicago 2026 — the photo recap

What made the second Chicago Bash different?

Chicago was the first city to get a repeat Bagel Bash, and coming back to a city changes the energy. People arrive expecting to see familiar faces, so the morning started warm instead of shy. The loft space at 620 N La Salle filled quickly, with orange and blue balloon arches framing the room and long tables set with breakfast before the IgniteIt floor opened.

The spread leaned into the classic: mini bagel sandwiches stacked with lox, tomato and cucumber, platters lined up on blue tablecloths, and plenty of coffee. It went fast. By the middle of the morning the buffet had become the loudest corner of the room, and at one point a toast there turned into a full room cheer that Nick Robins caught in a burst of frames.

What was happening around the room?

Two things kept the line moving. A green screen corner gave people a reason to grab a friend and a bagel for a portrait, and a Sorse photo booth printed strips inside a Jews in Weed frame with our crescent bagel logo. Guests grabbed props, signs and the occasional stranger, and some of the best strips are below. Along the walls, friends of the community set up tables, including CannaContent with its cannabis digital marketing banner, and people worked their way from one conversation to the next between bites.

The photos tell the rest. There are a lot of hugs in this set, which is what happens when a community meets for the second time in the same city. There are also plenty of first handshakes, the kind that turn into a lunch on the show floor later that day.