IMTS 2026 Draws More Than 90,000 Registrants to Chicago

IMTS 2026 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show brought more than 90,000 registrants to Chicago, including an estimated 15,000 students, as manufacturers, technology providers and industry professionals gathered to explore manufacturing equipment, automation, software and other technologies.

The event attracted attendees from all 50 U.S. states and 113 countries. A total of 1,788 exhibiting companies participated, including 400 first-time exhibitors.

According to IMTS organizers, the show's floor-density ratio—the number of visitors for every 100 exhibitor personnel—increased from 1.42 before the event to 1.65 during the show. The 1.65 ratio was reported as an all-time IMTS record.

Manufacturing Investment and Technology

The show took place as manufacturers continue to evaluate investments in equipment and technology. Metalworking machinery orders totaled $4 billion through July 2026, according to data cited by IMTS, representing a 37% increase compared with the first seven months of 2025.

Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, said the manufacturing industry is experiencing increased investment while companies also reconsider their supply-chain strategies.

“The technologies at IMTS give manufacturers the productivity, flexibility, and scale to capitalize on that opportunity,” Woods said.

Exhibitors and attendees also pointed to demand for manufacturing technology, automation, new equipment and software as factors influencing activity at the show.

Paul Van Metre, co-founder of ProShop ERP and co-host of MakingChips, said companies are looking for technologies that can address current production needs.

“There is so much demand for machined parts right now that shops are actively looking for technology, automation, new equipment, and software,” Van Metre said.

AI and Automation Featured at IMTS

Artificial intelligence and automation were among the technologies highlighted at IMTS 2026.

Nicole Wolter, president and CEO of HM Manufacturing, said her company is beginning to implement AI and used the show to examine developments in automation and programming.

“We’re starting to implement AI, and we spent time with our friends from FANUC to learn how it is advancing AI to enable automation of difficult tasks and make programming more intuitive,” Wolter said.

The show also featured the inaugural Industrial AI Conference, providing programming focused on artificial intelligence applications in manufacturing.

For some attendees, the conference served as an opportunity to investigate how AI could be incorporated into manufacturing operations. Roger Buccolo, plant manager at Teledyne Oil & Gas in Orlando, Florida, attended the Industrial AI Conference to learn more about bringing artificial intelligence to the manufacturing floor.

Industry Connections Continue Beyond the Show

In addition to technology demonstrations and educational sessions, IMTS provided opportunities for manufacturers and industry professionals to establish new business relationships.

Buccolo also attended the IMTS Job Shops Workshop, where he met Chris Basgall, CEO of Catamount Machine Works, a precision machine shop in Plant City, Florida. The two companies planned a follow-up meeting before leaving the show.

The interaction illustrates one of the business activities associated with large manufacturing trade shows: attendees can use educational programs and networking opportunities to identify potential suppliers, partners and technology resources.

IMTS Looks Ahead

The 2026 edition of IMTS brought together manufacturers and technology companies at a time when businesses are evaluating equipment, automation, software and other manufacturing technologies.

Woods said the longer-term results of the event will be reflected in decisions made after the show, including investments in technology and equipment and relationships established during the event.

“Manufacturing is ultimately a community of people who make things and solve problems,” Woods said. “The real measure of IMTS 2026 will be what happens next: the investments manufacturers make, the technologies they put to work, the relationships they build, and what they make possible because they came together in Chicago.”