<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001244289</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001015328</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-35077</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>9700 WEST HIGGINS ROAD, 8TH FLOOR</com:street1>
        <com:city>ROSEMONT</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>60018</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>8479399000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>STOEHR DAVID L</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>3020</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>454359.30</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>67270487</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>04/23/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/25/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3020</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/25/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>David Stoehr</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>9700 W. Higgins Road</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 800</com:street2>
          <com:city>Rosemont</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>60018</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>01/29/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2499</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>365254.09</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>04/23/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/ Gary Redman, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for David Stoehr</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>