U.S. manufacturing is going through a transitional period as the federal government works to unlock incentives for big investments while the industry loses thousands of jobs. To help stay abreast of the latest trends, products and insights, Manufacturing Dive rounded up some of the leading industry conferences happening in 2026.
The events are intended to help business leaders looking to increase production by leveraging automation and other technologies, while also navigating economic uncertainty from the Trump administration’s trade policies.
Thousands of attendees ranging from executives and researchers to politicians and sales professionals travel to these trade shows each year to network and learn about the state of the manufacturing industry or its various sectors, including robotics, aerospace, chemicals, steel and semiconductors.
Which other events are on your radar for 2026? Let us know at [email protected].
Top manufacturing conferences in 2026
AAIA SciTech Forum
Jan. 12-16
Hyatt Regency Orlando, Orlando, Florida
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’s Science and Technology Forum and Exposition focuses on research, development and technology as well as policy in the aerospace industry. The conference convenes scientists, engineers and technologists from the government, industry and academia to present and share their work in technical sessions, learn about new technologies and expand their professional networks.
Military Additive Manufacturing Summit & Technology Showcase
Feb. 3-5
Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Florida
The Defense Strategies Institute’s Summit focuses on 3D-printing technologies and how additive manufacturing can be used to modernize capabilities and accelerate production in preparation for war. The event also supports Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to extend advanced manufacturing, including 3D and additive, to operational units by 2026.
MD&M West
Feb. 3-5
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
Formerly IME West, MD&M West features advanced manufacturing exhibitions in the packaging, medtech, automation, design and plastics industries. Exhibitors will be able to showcase technologies and will enable attendees to find new suppliers. This event is co-located with the Sustainable Manufacturing Expo.
GlobalChem 2026
Feb. 23-24
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
The American Chemistry Council’s yearly event offers presentations and panels that explore the emerging opportunities and challenges related to chemical management and regulatory compliance with TSCA and PFAS rules.
IPC Apex Expo
March 13-19
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
The Global Electronics Association’s exposition brings together OEMs, electronic manufacturing service providers, printed circuit board manufacturers and industry professionals.
American Manufacturing Summit
March 17-18
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, Chicago
Generis’ American Manufacturing Summit focuses on technology trends, strategic insights on improving manufacturing efficiency and addresses industry challenges. Key themes include process optimization, boosting plant performance, workforce development and innovation such as artificial intelligence platforms and 3D printing.
Aerospace & Defense Supplier Summit
March 17-19
Washington State Convention Center, Seattle
This supply chain event will enable attendees to meet potential industry partners and allows participants to request one-on-one meetings prior to the summit. The event will also host presentations focused on technologies or products, and how to prepare to meet demand in the coming years. The summit will also feature a Boeing Conference Day, comprising interactive presentations from the company's executives.
North American Manufacturing Excellence Summit
April 20-22
Hilton Americas, Houston
This summit brings together leaders in manufacturing, supply chain, operations and quality to share insights and cultivate innovation. Speakers include executives from Intel, Toyota, Estee Lauder, Caterpillar, Mattel, General Mills and Tesla.
MD&M South
April 22-23
Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
This conference is for engineers, executives, researchers and production professionals interested in the latest insights, products and solutions spanning medtech, packaging, automation, plastics, design and processing. It is designed to give the 3,000-plus attendees a comprehensive view of the product lifecycle — from prototype to production.
SelectUSA Investment Summit
May 3-6
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland
Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, this event is where business leaders from around the world go to make connections with investors to establish operations and explore expansion opportunities in the United States. Earlier this year, it drew more than 5,500 participants from across 100 countries.
Sensors Converge
May 5-7
Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, California
Formerly the Sensors Expo & Conference, this event is where sensor and electronics engineers come to learn about the latest products and insights, including how to tackle design challenges and best practices to implement in their projects.
Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference
May 11-14
Hilton Albany, Albany, New York
Technical experts, process engineers, equipment manufacturers, academia and industry professionals come together to solve manufacturing challenges with research-driven strategies and methodologies. The event is hosted by Semi, a California-based industry association.
Automate
June 22-25
McCormick Place, Chicago
Billed as North America’s largest robotics and automation event, more than 50,000 attendees convene to catch a glimpse of the latest robotics, vision systems, motion control and other AI technologies. Organizers expect more than 1,000 exhibitors and 200-plus speakers to attend.
IMTS
Sept. 14-19
McCormick Place, Chicago
Hosted by the Association for Manufacturing Technology, the week-long conference draws experts and enthusiasts from around the world to stay abreast of the latest manufacturing technologies and trends. It is considered the largest manufacturing show in the Western Hemisphere.
Fabtech
Oct. 21-23
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas
Considered the premier event for the metal fabricating industry, it is one of the few conferences that showcases high-tech metalworking machinery alongside networking opportunities and educational sessions. More than 1,700 exhibitors with backgrounds in finishing, welding, forming and automation span the 850,000-square-foot show floor.
Editor’s note: MD&M West and MD&M South are run by Informa, which owns a controlling stake in Informa TechTarget, the publisher behind Manufacturing Dive. Informa has no influence over Manufacturing Dive’s coverage.
