IMTS 2026 conference lineup includes dedicated AM aerospace and defense workshop

IMTS 2026 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show is expanding its conference program with nine events and more than 90 sessions covering advanced technologies, job shops, additive manufacturing, investors, and industrial AI. The show runs September 14-19 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, with conferences scheduled Monday through Thursday, and is expected to bring together more than 86,000 registrants and 1,800 exhibitors across 1.2 million square feet (about 111,500 square meters) of exhibit space organized into 10 Technology Sectors.

“Conferences at IMTS give manufacturers actionable insights they can apply immediately to improve efficiency, strengthen competitiveness, and address pressing challenges,” said 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.”

AM programming

For additive manufacturing professionals, the most directly relevant event is the AM+ Workshop: Aerospace & Defense, scheduled for September 15. Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Modern Machine Shop, and Manufacturing Connected, the half-day workshop will examine how military contractors, aerospace OEMs, and other organizations are applying additive manufacturing to reduce lead times, cut costs, and accelerate product development.

AM also appears elsewhere in the program. The Industrial Laser Conference, presented by the Laser Institute of America and running all day on September 16, covers laser applications, including additive manufacturing, as well as marking, cutting, welding, heat treating, remote welding, and cleaning. The IMTS 2026 Conference, the show’s flagship education program with 69 sessions, addresses additive and alternative manufacturing, including a session that asks why accuracy and precision are no longer the limiting factors in AM. A separate presentation by EBITDA Growth Systems on September 16 will focus on how manufacturers can win defense, space, and aerospace contracts—sectors where AM adoption continues to grow.

“Educational events for professionals already in the industry—such as The IMTS 2026 Conference—are essential as manufacturing moves forward,” said Elizabeth Modic, Group Publisher for Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, Defense and Munitions, and Today’s Medical Developments magazines, which produce The IMTS 2026 Conference. She noted that nearly 300 abstracts were submitted for the program.

Widening the scope

The remaining conferences address adjacent segments of the manufacturing industry. The IMTS Job Shops Workshop on September 15 features sessions on the industry’s economic state, automation integration, and AI. Dia de América Latina en IMTS, also on September 15, serves the Spanish-speaking manufacturing technology community with a focus on Mexico, Latin America, and Spain. The IMTS Investor Summit, an all-day event on September 15, connects investors with advanced manufacturing experts in what AMT estimates to be a $65 billion manufacturing technology industry. The ELEVATE Conference, produced with the Women in Manufacturing Association, runs on the afternoon of September 16.

The new Industrial AI Conference, a full-day event on September 16, helps manufacturers achieve results that can be implemented on the production floor. Featured speaker Dr. Jay Lee of the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland will present on identifying high-impact AI opportunities and overcoming data challenges, including a case study on monitoring multiple CNC machines with low-cost edge AI devices.

All conferences require registration and a fee, which also provides full access to the IMTS exhibition halls for all six days of the show.