National Political Conventions Since 1856

Updated June 26, 2019 | Infoplease Staff

The following table lists the opening date and location of the Republican and Democratic national political conventions since 1856.

Opening date Party Where held
June 17, 1856 Republican Philadelphia
June 2, 1856 Democratic Cincinnati
May 16, 1860 Republican Chicago
April 23, 1860 Democratic Charleston and Baltimore
June 7, 1864 Republican1 Baltimore
Aug. 29, 1864 Democratic Chicago
May 20, 1868 Republican Chicago
July 4, 1868 Democratic New York City
June 5, 1872 Republican Philadelphia
June 9, 1872 Democratic Baltimore
June 14, 1876 Republican Cincinnati
June 28, 1876 Democratic St. Louis
June 2, 1880 Republican Chicago
June 23, 1880 Democratic Cincinnati
June 3, 1884 Republican Chicago
July 11, 1884 Democratic Chicago
June 19, 1888 Republican Chicago
June 6, 1888 Democratic St. Louis
June 7, 1892 Republican Minneapolis
June 21, 1892 Democratic Chicago
June 16, 1896 Republican St. Louis
July 7, 1896 Democratic Chicago
June 19, 1900 Republican Philadelphia
July 4, 1900 Democratic Kansas City
June 21, 1904 Republican Chicago
July 6, 1904 Democratic St. Louis
June 16, 1908 Republican Chicago
July 7, 1908 Democratic Denver
June 18, 1912 Republican Chicago
June 25, 1912 Democratic Baltimore
June 7, 1916 Republican Chicago
June 14, 1916 Democratic St. Louis
June 8, 1920 Republican Chicago
June 28, 1920 Democratic San Francisco
June 10, 1924 Republican Cleveland
June 24, 19242 Democratic New York City
June 12, 1928 Republican Kansas City
June 26, 1928 Democratic Houston
June 14, 1932 Republican Chicago
June 27, 1932 Democratic Chicago
June 9, 1936 Republican Cleveland
June 23, 1936 Democratic Philadelphia
June 24, 1940 Republican Philadelphia
July 15, 1940 Democratic Chicago
June 26, 1944 Republican Chicago
July 19, 1944 Democratic Chicago
June 21, 1948 Republican Philadelphia
July 12, 1948 Democratic Philadelphia
July 17, 1948 (3) Birmingham
July 22, 1948 Progressive Philadelphia
July 7, 1952 Republican Chicago
July 21, 1952 Democratic Chicago
Aug. 20, 1956 Republican San Francisco
Aug. 13, 1956 Democratic Chicago
July 25, 1960 Republican Chicago
July 11, 1960 Democratic Los Angeles
July 13, 1964 Republican San Francisco
Aug. 24, 1964 Democratic Atlantic City
Aug. 5, 1968 Republican Miami Beach
Aug. 26, 1968 Democratic Chicago
July 10, 1972 Democratic Miami Beach
Aug. 21, 1972 Republican Miami Beach
July 12, 1976 Democratic New York City
Aug. 16, 1976 Republican Kansas City, Mo.
Aug. 11, 1980 Democratic New York City
July 14, 1980 Republican Detroit
Aug. 20, 1984 Republican Dallas
July 16, 1984 Democratic San Francisco
July 18, 1988 Democratic Atlanta
Aug. 15, 1988 Republican New Orleans
July 13, 1992 Democratic New York City
Aug. 17, 1992 Republican Houston
Aug. 10, 1996 Republican San Diego
Aug. 26, 1996 Democratic Chicago
July 29, 2000 Republican Philadelphia
Aug. 14, 2000 Democratic Los Angeles
July 26, 2004 Democratic Boston
Aug. 30, 2004 Republican New York City
Aug. 25, 2008 Democratic Denver
Sept. 1, 2008 Republican Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Sept. 4, 2012 Democratic Charlotte, N.C.
August 27, 2012 Republican Tampa
1. The convention adopted name Union Party to attract War Democrats and others favoring prosecution of war.
2. In session until July 10, 1924.
3. States' Rights delegates from 13 southern states.

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