Inside the Industry: North America’s 20 Biggest Engineering & Manufacturing Shows
North America’s 20 Largest Engineering & Manufacturing Trade Shows
Explore the top engineering and manufacturing expos in North America with full details on attendance, exhibitor counts, keynote speakers, show dates, and how to save on travel and lodging for each event.
North America is home to some of the world’s largest and most influential engineering and manufacturing expos—and the 2025–2026 calendar is packed. From IMTS and Conexpo-Con/Agg to the NECA Show and Lubricant Expo, these events attract thousands of professionals looking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Whether your focus is automation, industrial AI, construction equipment, or electrical contracting, there’s a show that puts your sector at the center of innovation.
Many of these expos offer more than just exhibit halls—they’re full-scale networking arenas with keynote speakers, technical training, and hands-on product demos. For companies seeking new suppliers, technologies, or partnerships, these shows are a strategic opportunity to grow. And with events spread across the U.S. and Canada, travel planning becomes a big part of the experience.
To simplify it all, engine.com offers exclusive hotel, flight, and rental car discounts for business travelers heading to these expos. Whether you're sending a full team to Chicago for IMTS or planning back-to-back shows across multiple cities, engine.com makes it easy to manage bookings, reduce costs, and keep travel stress to a minimum. It’s free to use—and designed to help your business get the most out of every trip.
Top 20 Manufacturing Shows for 2025-2026
1. Conexpo‑Con/Agg
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: March 3–7, 2026
Attendance: ~139,000
Exhibitors: ~2,400
Cost: $60–$90 entry; education packages extra
Speakers: Construction equipment technology leaders
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/conexpo
2. International Builders’ Show (IBS + KBIS)
Location: Orange County Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: February 17-19, 2026
Attendance: ~100,000+
Exhibitors: ~2,000
Cost: Varies by access level
Speakers: Residential construction and hardware industry executives
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/ibs
3. IMTS – International Manufacturing Technology Show
Location: McCormick Place Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: September 14-19, 2026
Attendance: ~83,000–130,000
Exhibitors: ~1,800–2,500
Cost: $40–$60 expo pass; $500–$1,500 conference
Speakers: Global leaders in CNC, AI, and industrial automation
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/imts
4. National Farm Machinery Show
Location: Kentucky Exposition Center (nearby lodging)
Date: February (annual)
Attendance: >300,000 (includes general public)
Exhibitors: ~800
Cost: $10–$20
Speakers: Agri-tech and equipment manufacturers
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/nfms
5. FABTECH
Location: McCormick Place Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: September 8–11, 2025
Attendance: ~30,000–48,000
Exhibitors: ~1,900
Cost: $50–$80 expo; $200–$400 for conference sessions
Speakers: Fabrication, welding, and forming industry specialists
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/fabtech
6. PACK EXPO International
Location: McCormick Place Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: October 18–21, 2026
Attendance: ~48,000–77,500
Exhibitors: ~2,600–2,700
Cost: $30–$100
Speakers: Packaging automation executives
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/packexpo
7. AHR Expo (HVACR)
Location: Orange County Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: February 2-4, 2026
Attendance: ~50,000+
Exhibitors: ~1,600
Cost: Free expo; educational add-ons available
Speakers: HVAC and sustainable building tech leaders
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/ahrexpo
8. IME West (MD&M West + Co-Located Shows)
Location: Anaheim Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: February 3–5, 2026
Attendance: ~14,000
Exhibitors: Hundreds
Cost: $50–$70 expo; ~$300 for conference access
Speakers: Medical device, packaging, automation experts
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/imewest
9. WESTEC
Location: Anaheim Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: October 7–9, 2025
Attendance: ~10,000+
Exhibitors: Hundreds
Cost: ~$60 expo; conference pricing varies
Speakers: Aerospace, machining, and robotics leaders
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/westec
10. HOUSTEX
Location: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Date: November 4–6, 2025
Attendance: ~10,000
Exhibitors: ~350+
Cost: $50–$100
Speakers: OEMs, manufacturers, and innovation leaders
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/houstex
11. EASTEC
Location: West Springfield, MA
Date: May 11–13, 2027
Attendance: ~9,500–13,000
Exhibitors: ~700+
Cost: $30–$50/day
Speakers: Precision manufacturing experts
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/eastec
12. PACK EXPO East
Location: Philadelphia Convention Center
Date: February 17–19, 2026
Attendance: ~8,000
Exhibitors: ~500
Cost: Free registration; education priced separately
Speakers: Pharmaceutical and CPG packaging leaders
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/pack-expo-east
13. The ASSEMBLY Show
Location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Date: October 21–23, 2024
Attendance: ~6,500
Exhibitors: ~200–300
Cost: ~$50; add-ons for workshops
Speakers: Assembly process and lean manufacturing experts
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/tas
14. Motion + Power Technology Expo
Location: Huntington Place
Date: October 21–23, 2025
Attendance: ~6,000
Exhibitors: ~300
Cost: $50–$100
Speakers: Motion control, robotics, and automation speakers
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/mpte
15. Design Automation Conference (DAC)
Location: Moscone Center (San Francisco)
Date: June 22-25, 2025
Attendance: ~6,000
Exhibitors: ~100
Cost: $800–$1,200 for full conference
Speakers: Electronic design, semiconductors, and AI leaders
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/dacshow
16. NECA Show (Electrical Construction)
Location: McCormick Place Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: September 12-15, 2025
Attendance: ~5,500
Exhibitors: ~300
Cost: $50/day; technical sessions cost more
Speakers: Electrical systems, grid modernization
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/necashow
17. SAMPE Conference & Expo
Location: Seattle, WA (convention center TBD)
Date: April 27–30, 2026
Attendance: A few thousand
Exhibitors: ~300–400
Cost: ~$700 full conference registration
Speakers: Aerospace, composites, materials experts
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/sampe
18. PLASTEC West / PLAST-EX
Location: Anaheim Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: February 3 - 5, 2026
Attendance: Several thousand
Exhibitors: Hundreds
Cost: $40–$70/day
Speakers: Plastic manufacturing & polymer science
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/plastec
19. American Biomanufacturing Summit
Location: Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
Date: April 14–15, 2026
Attendance: A few thousand
Exhibitors: Targeted vendors and biomanufacturing suppliers
Cost: ~$300–$700
Speakers: Biotech and pharma manufacturing execs
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/abs
20. ATX West (Automation Technology)
Location: Anaheim Convention Center (nearby lodging)
Date: February 3-5, 2026
Attendance: Part of ~14,000 IME West total
Exhibitors: Hundreds
Cost: $50–$70 expo; extra for conference
Speakers: Factory automation and robotics developers
Corporate Travel & Lodging Rates: Offered through Engine.com/atxwest
