2026 Highlights
Between inspiring keynote speakers on the IMTS+ Main Stage, groundbreaking innovations in AMT's Emerging Technology Center, and Q&As with industry experts at technology conferences, IMTS 2026 sparked fresh ideas, unveiled game-changing solutions, and created lasting connections.
Here were some can't-miss IMTS 2026 attractions that wowed visitors and exhibitors alike:
Industrial AI Arena
New for IMTS 2026: The IMTS Industrial AI Arena and Industrial AI Conference.
IMTS 2026 unveiled the Industrial AI Arena – positioned at the epicenter of applied innovation – and the Industrial AI Conference, a one-day, practitioner-focused program that delivered practical, real-world AI for the factory floor.
Armed with the power of artificial intelligence, bold new players and veteran companies alike stepped into this proving ground to showcase how their products and services could solve manufacturing's toughest challenges. From quality and inspection to process optimization, downtime reduction, cybersecurity, ergonomics, safety, and demand forecasting, the Industrial AI Arena showcased breakthrough tools, prototypes, and platforms – real solutions that redefined what's possible on the manufacturing floor.
Visitors saw how AI is transforming the production environment in ways that drive measurable performance, resilience, and growth... only at IMTS 2026, the premier manufacturing technology event – and where the future takes the stage.
For more information about the Industrial AI Conference, click here.
Browse Exhibitors in the Industrial AI ArenaAMT's Emerging Technology Center
Located just inside the North Building in IMTS booth #236700, the ETC highlighted how public-private partnerships can accelerate manufacturing innovation from concept to deployment. Together, AMT, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Sandia National Laboratories, and commercial manufacturers demonstrated how collaboration speeds development, strengthens supply chains, and supports the U.S. defense industrial base through three exhibits:
Drone Production and Flight Demonstrations
Every day during IMTS, an automated manufacturing cell, developed by the ORNL Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, produced, assembled, tested, and flew drone quadcopters. The working exhibit showed how flexible production systems rapidly move from design to finished product. Using Fanuc robots and Mazak's VC EZ 20X and 5-axis WAAM system, which debuted at IMTS, the cell illustrated scalable production.
AI-Designed Flight-Test Vehicle
Also on exhibit was Aires Tide, a full-scale 11-foot-tall AI-designed flight-test vehicle that was one of the first results of the DOE-led Genesis Mission, with support from Sandia National Laboratories. Visitors learned how the team combined AI, advanced computing, and additive manufacturing to manufacture this specialty vehicle in modular sections on a Velo3D Sapphire XC, reducing development time to just six months, about seven times faster and 15 times less expensive than traditional methods.
MTConnect, Digital Shadow & Photo-to-Sim
MTConnect data came to life through two 3D experiences: a Digital Shadow that visualized live manufacturing operations and Photo-to-Sim, which turned photos of real equipment into simulation-ready models. AMT technologists were on hand to discuss how they work and how visitors could apply them in their own operations.
IMTS+ Main Stage
The IMTS+ Main Stage invited visitors to a front-row seat to see the people shaping the industry. Visionary leaders, engineers, creators, and machinists delivered actionable ideas and insights. With daily keynotes, expert panels, podcasts, and live shows like IMTS+ Today and IMTS+ Unwind, the stage was packed with energy, inspiration, and practical takeaways.
Browse Sessions
IMTS+ Technology Hubs
Those in need of a quick pit stop pulled into the IMTS+ Technology Hubs. These welcoming areas let attendees take a break and catch curated content about the people and breakthroughs shaping manufacturing. Whether visitors wanted to learn something new, discover emerging technologies, or recharge before their next tour, the IMTS+ Technology Hubs provided an up-close look at the latest ideas and innovations.
Browse Sessions
IMTS Manufacturing Showcase
Brought to you by GIE Media, publishers of Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, Defense and Munitions, and Today's Medical Developments magazines.
The IMTS Manufacturing Showcase offered a close-up look at the newest aircraft and an automation cell.
Situated in the West Building at booth #432636 were six aerospace vehicles from KRATOS, which builds aerial target systems and sophisticated unmanned tactical aerial platforms for the U.S. Department of Defense and America's allied nations. They were the XQ-58 Valkyrie, MQM-178, BQM-177, UTAP-22 Mako, Tactical Firejet, and BQM-167. Visitors also experienced an automation solution that integrated the loading and unloading process with any CNC machine featuring a RoboTrex CNC machine tending robot, presented by LANG Technik-USA and Metalcraft Automation Group (MAG).
In front of McCormick Place, in McCormick Square, showgoers stopped to see the Pivotal Helix, a light eVTOL aircraft created for the thrill of exploring the world from new heights. Perfect for recreation and short-hop travel, this personal aerial vehicle can take off and land on grass, asphalt, snow, and ice – there's no landing gear; just a keel strip.
IMTS Shops Zone
Brought to you by Gardner Business Media publishers of Modern Machine Shop
Gardner Business Media and Modern Machine Shop's IMTS 2026 booth, American Manufacturing in Motion, brought together the machines, parts, people, and technology moving American manufacturing forward.
This year's booth featured five attractions spanning the full arc of American manufacturing. Bridgeport Serial No. 1, on loan from the American Precision Museum, launched the story – a singular machine that helped scale industrial precision machining and shape the modern machine shop. From there, Marathon Precision's custom CNC dart and 12-foot dart and target turned precision into spectacle, putting accuracy, creativity, and shop floor problem-solving on display around the message “The Smartest Parts Start at IMTS.” An Ilmor Engineering V8 – a precision-machined masterpiece powering the Hennessey Venom F5 – connected advanced machining with extreme horsepower, while the FANUC Swag Bot brought automation to life by picking and delivering T-shirts, tote bags, and safety glasses to badge-scanning attendees. Rounding it all out, The Art of the Part: Parts Showcase 2026 spotlighted real parts from real shops across machining, additive, finishing, and production, celebrating the work and ingenuity moving American manufacturing forward.
IMTS Machinists' Hub
Brought to you by Practical Machinist
The internet's favorite machining community stepped off the screen and into the real world. The IMTS Machinists' Hub, presented by Practical Machinist, offered live talks, shop-floor wisdom, daily meetups, and happy hours that turned into “just one more.” Whether visitors came to IMTS to learn something new, meet their people, or just hang out, this became everyone's home base.
Browse SessionsIMTS Supersonic Experience
presented by BOOM and AMT
IMTS attendees were welcomed into BOOM's full-scale Overture flight deck and challenged to land a supersonic airliner with real controls, force feedback, and a scored landing challenge.
IMTS Community Park
presented by AMT & G28
The IMTS Community Park, presented by AMT and G28, was a relaxed community hangout. Designed as a wide-open oasis, the park was built around shared activities that encouraged peer-to-peer conversations and a deeper exploration of IMTS booths. Showgoers tested their skills on an RC rock crawler course made from obstacles provided by show exhi–bitors think toolholders, chip conveyors, and toolboxes. There were also ongoing cornhole tournaments, conversations led by industry experts, and opportunities to make great connections.
Dia de América Latina en IMTS (IMTS LATAM Day)
Dia de América Latina en IMTS fue un programa de conferencias de medio día para la comunidad manufacturera que hablala español y asistía a la feria. El contenido se centró en tecnologías transformativas, manufactura sustentable y tendencias regionales y oportunidades de negocios en mercados de crecimiento acelerado de la región, México, América Latina y España. Con su registro en la conferencia, los asistentes recibieron también acceso a la recepción, Noche Latina Recepción, evento que se llevó a cabo por la tarde para ofrecerles una oportunidad de ampliar su red de contactos entre las comunidades de manufactura mencionadas anteriormente.
(presentados en Español)
Martes: Conferencias Matutinas y Noche Latina Recepción por la Tarde
LATAM DAY at IMTS was a half-day conference for the Spanish-speaking manufacturing technology community focused on transformative technologies, sustainable manufacturing, and regional trends in the high-growth markets of Mexico, Latin America, and Spain. This included access to Noche Latina Recepción, an evening reception that gave attendees a chance to network among manufacturing communities.
(Presented in Spanish)
Miles for Manufacturing
Held on Sept. 16 during IMTS 2026, the Miles for Manufacturing (M4M) 5K Run/Walk is AMT's community fundraising event. It was first run at IMTS 2014 and has since raised more than $250,000. IMTS pays all of the hard costs of producing M4M, allowing 100% of the money raised from sponsorship and registration fees to be distributed to support advance manufacturing education at schools and STEM programs throughout the country.
Questions? Contact Catherine (Cat) Ross at cross@amtonline.org.
Smart Manufacturing Experience Showcase
brought to you by SME and AMT
Visitors interested in improving competitiveness, throughput, and productivity in the face of the manufacturing skills gap learned how automation, robotics, machine monitoring, workforce training, software, A.I., and other technologies could help them achieve greater outcomes for their business. The Showcase, brought to you by AMT and SME, offered education and useful strategies to adopt and implement smart manufacturing in a variety of manufacturing settings.
Browse Sessions