IMTS 2026 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show will expand its role as the manufacturing industry’s leading education destination with a broader lineup of conferences, including the new IMTS Industrial AI Conference, a full-day event on Sept. 16 focused on reality-based AI knowledge for manufacturers. IMTS will present nine total conferences, including The IMTS 2026 Conference, featuring 69 sessions that cover automation, artificial intelligence, systems integration, machining, materials, tooling, workholding, metrology, alternative manufacturing, software, cost justification, and more.

“Conferences at IMTS give manufacturers actionable insights they can apply immediately to improve efficiency, strengthen competitiveness, and address pressing challenges,” says Bonnie Gurney, vice president of strategic partnerships and industry relations at AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which owns and produces IMTS. “They also create space for valuable connections with experts and peers across the industry.”

IMTS 2026 runs Sept. 14-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, with conferences running Monday through Thursday of the show. IMTS will bring together more than 86,000 registrants, 1,800 exhibitors, and 10 Technology Sectors that cover 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space.

Conferences at IMTS focus on key segments of the manufacturing industry, including:

•    The IMTS Job Shops Workshop on Sept. 15. This half-day workshop (1-4:30 p.m., with reception following) features sessions on the economic state of the industry, automation integration for job shops, AI, the future of manufacturing, and a moderated open conversation with attendees.

•    Dia de América Latina en IMTS (IMTS LATAM Day) on Sept. 15. This half-day conference and reception is for the Spanish-speaking manufacturing technology community, focusing on transformative technologies, sustainable manufacturing, and regional trends in the high-growth markets of Mexico, Latin America, and Spain.

•    AM+ Workshop: Aerospace & Defense on Sept. 15. Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Modern Machine Shop, and Manufacturing Connected, this half-day workshop will highlight how military contractors, aerospace OEMs, and others are applying additive manufacturing to achieve significant lead time reductions, cost savings, and accelerated innovation. 

•    The IMTS Investor Summit. This all-day event on Sept. 15 includes a reception, connects investors with advanced manufacturing experts who demystify the estimated $65 billion manufacturing technology industry, and provides tools to identify opportunities.

•    The ELEVATE Conference, powered by AMT and the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM), runs for the afternoon on Sept. 16 with a reception to follow. The event will inspire, empower, and connect manufacturing professionals.

•    The Industrial Laser Conference, presented by the Laser Institute of America (LIA), runs all day on Sept. 16. It focuses on laser applications that include marking, cutting, welding, heat treating, remote welding, cleaning, AM, and more.

•    The Industrial AI Conference, a full-day event on Sept. 16. It is designed for manufacturers seeking implementable outcomes for the production floor (see below for more details).

•    EBITDA Growth Systems presentation on Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This will help attendees unlock high-margin defense, space, and aerospace contracts with proven tactics. Learn how to enter mission-critical supply chains, build compliance and credibility, target the right programs, price strategically, and move from quoting to winning.

With the quality and quantity of conference sessions available, Gurney recommends that IMTS 2026 visitors plan an extra day at the show or assign additional team members to attend conferences relevant to their area of expertise or responsibility. A small sample of topics at The IMTS Conference includes:

•    From Design to Part Delivery, Unlocking 2D/3D MBD (model-based design) for OEMs & Manufacturers

•    Lights-Out Manufacturing Without the Robot: Practical Engineering Lessons from In-Spindle Automation

•    Rethinking Toolpath Creation: A Visual Approach to CNC Programming

•    Zero-Point Plates- Optimizing your shop floor

•    Why Accuracy & Precision Are No Longer the Limiting Factor in Additive Manufacturing

•    Micro Machining - Achieve the impossible

•    Precision Redefined: Integrated 3D Scanning Solutions for Metrology-Grade Inspection and Reverse Engineering.

•    Do More with the Mill You Have: U-Axis Turning on CNC Mills

•    Quality 4.0 with Vision AI: Scaling Inspection Without Scaling Headcount

•    AI-specific presentations on all four days of The IMTS 2026 Conference

“Educational events for professionals already in the industry – such as The IMTS 2026 Conference – are essential as manufacturing moves forward,” says Elizabeth Modic, group publisher for Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, Defense and Munitions, and Today’s Medical Developments magazines, which produces The IMTS 2026 Conference. “With nearly 300 abstracts submitted, it was a long process to choose just the right mix of sessions to cover the important trends in manufacturing. Those who take advantage of The IMTS 2026 Conference stand to gain an edge by keeping up with trends, evaluating new product developments, absorbing technical know-how from industry thought leaders, and taking actionable insights back to their shop floor.”

For nearly a century, IMTS has brought manufacturers together to explore the technologies driving the future of production. At IMTS 2026, that focus will include Industrial AI, an enabling technology that is increasingly present in how manufacturers optimize operations, empower workers, and drive continuous improvement.

"We created the IMTS Industrial AI Conference to help manufacturers move beyond experimentation and understand where AI can deliver measurable business value," says Ryan Kelly, AMT’s vice president of technology.

As one of the world’s leading pioneers in Industrial AI, featured speaker Dr. Jay Lee of the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland will share how manufacturers can identify high-impact opportunities, overcome common data challenges, and build the operational foundation needed for successful AI adoption. Sessions will highlight real-world applications that improve productivity, machine performance, and workforce effectiveness. 

“Most manufacturers face three critical barriers when adopting Industrial AI,” says Lee. “First, identifying usable data. Second, selecting the right AI tools. Third, deciding whether intelligence should run at the edge or in the cloud.”

In one featured case study, Lee will demonstrate how manufacturers can effectively monitor multiple CNC machines using low-cost edge AI devices with a predictive and traceable stream-of-quality (SoQ) methodology.

For more information, visit IMTS.com.