Manufacturing trade shows in the United States 2026–27: which to attend

The US manufacturing calendar runs all year, but the busiest stretch is late March to mid-May, with a second cluster in October and November. Shows rotate among a handful of large convention centres, chiefly in Las Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta and Anaheim.

Summer is quiet for industrial shows. The live list is on atndr's manufacturing in the United States page.

The best-known shows lead a single process or sector, so the right one depends on what you make or buy.

Metalworking and machining

FABTECH 2026 is the largest North American event for metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing. For machine tools, IMTS in Chicago is the national show, but its 2026 edition (14–19 September 2026, more than 1,700 exhibitors) is over and the next is in 2028. In 2027, machinists use the regional SME shows instead: EASTEC 2027 in Massachusetts and MT Series SOUTHWEST 2027 in Dallas.

Automation and supply chain

Automate 2027 moves to Las Vegas for the first time and typically has more than 1,000 exhibitors. ProMat 2027 promotes more than 1,200 exhibits and 200 education sessions, all free with registration. Executives of A3 member companies meet earlier at the A3 Business Forum 2027.

Plastics, packaging and materials

NPE2027 is held every three years and covers more than 1.1 million square feet of the Orange County Convention Center; its organiser promotes more than 2,200 exhibitors. PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2027 and PACK EXPO Southeast 2027 are PMMI's packaging shows. Specialists have Interwire 2027 (wire and cable), Techtextil North America 2027 (technical textiles) and the free AMI Plastics World Expos 2026.

At most US manufacturing shows the expo floor is the cheap part and the conference is the expensive part. Buy the conference only if you need structured training or certification.

• Expo badge. Covers the exhibit halls, keynotes and show-floor theatres. At Automate 2027, ProMat 2027, MD&M East 2027 and the Mid-America Trucking Show 2027 it is free when you register online by the deadline.
• Conference pass. Adds paid technical sessions. Automate's All Access conference pass is USD 1,095 early bird; FABTECH's full conference is USD 900 at the standard rate.
• Supplier badges. Several shows charge non-exhibiting suppliers more than buyers, to keep the floor for customers. At The ASSEMBLY Show 2026 a buyer's expo badge is USD 35 and a supplier's USD 100; SEMA Show 2026 charges non-exhibiting companies USD 399.
• Executive forums. Small, members-only events such as the A3 Business Forum 2027 (from USD 1,495 for the first registrant) are for leadership teams, not product sourcing.

Associations run many of these shows: SME (RAPID + TCT, EASTEC), PMMI (PACK EXPO), A3 (Automate), MHI (ProMat), the Plastics Industry Association (NPE) and AIST (AISTech). Their member rates are often lower.

Expo badges for US manufacturing shows range from free to about USD 400, and the price usually rises as the show approaches. Prices below are from each show's atndr listing for the edition shown.

Registering early is the simplest saving. Most shows also require proof that you work in the industry; SEMA and AAPEX are trade-only, though SEMA opens to the public on its final Friday.

Pick the show that matches your process first, then check the cycle and the region.

1. Match the process. Metal fabrication: FABTECH. Plastics: NPE2027 or the AMI expos. Packaging: PACK EXPO. Robotics: Automate. Warehousing and material handling: ProMat. Electronics: IPC APEX EXPO or SEMICON West. Additive manufacturing: RAPID + TCT.
2. Check the cycle. NPE is triennial; PACK EXPO Las Vegas, PACK EXPO Southeast and Interwire are biennial. IMTS, held in even years, returns in 2028.
3. National or regional. National shows bring the most exhibitors but mean a trip to Las Vegas, Chicago or Orlando. Regional shows such as EASTEC 2027, MT Series SOUTHWEST 2027 and the MD&M events in Minneapolis and New York are smaller and closer to local job shops.
4. Co-locations. The ASSEMBLY Show and The Quality Show share one floor in Rosemont; SEMA and AAPEX share one badge; Techtextil North America runs with Texprocess Americas.
5. Plan meetings. Exhibitor lists and floor plans go online before each show. Book meetings with the suppliers you need before you fly.

International visitors need the right US entry document for business travel, usually a B-1 visa or, for eligible nationalities, an ESTA. Check the US State Department's rules early, as visa interview waits vary by country.