Nine Aligned

IMTS unveils format for upcoming convention: nine co-located conferences

IMTS has always managed the impressive feat of maintaining its quality despite the massive scale of innovations and sheer technological development it covers every two years. This year, it’s upping the ante once again. 

This year’s show will encompass nine conferences and more than 90 sessions spotlighting the full manufacturing ecosystem, including advanced technologies, job shops, additive manufacturing, investors, and industrial AI.

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. The nine conferences are:The IMTS Job Shops Workshop on Sept. 15. (1-4:30 p.m., with reception following); Dia de América Latina en IMTS (IMTS LATAM Day) on Sept. 15, a half-day conference and reception for the Spanish-speaking manufacturing technology community; AM+ Workshop: Aerospace & Defense on Sept. 15, a half-day workshop highlighting how military contractors, aerospace OEMs, and others are applying additive manufacturing; the IMTS Investor Summit, an all-day event on Sept. 15 including a reception that connects investors with advanced manufacturing experts who “demystify the estimated $65 billion manufacturing technology industry, and provides tools to identify opportunities.” 

Rounding out the nine are the ELEVATE Conference, powered by AMT and the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM), which runs for the afternoon on Sept. 16 with a reception to follow; the Industrial Laser Conference, presented by the Laser Institute of America (LIA), running all day Sept. 16; the Industrial AI Conference, a full-day event on Sept. 16 designed for manufacturers seeking implementable outcomes for the production floor; and lastly, the EBITDA Growth Systems presentation on Sept. 16 from 9-11 A.M. This will help attendees unlock high-margin defense, space, and aerospace contracts with proven tactics.