Impact
A bigger and stronger platform
IMTS 2024 was reported by IMTS as a record-scale edition with 1,737 exhibitors, 1,226,523 square feet of show space, and 89,020 registrants.
Notable exhibitors
Companies exhibiting at IMTS 2026 include Adcole LLC, Ahaus Tool & Engineering, Air Turbine Tools, Inc., Allied Machine & Engineering and Amada Machinery America.
- Adcole LLC
- Ahaus Tool & Engineering
- Air Turbine Tools, Inc.
- Allied Machine & Engineering
- Amada Machinery America
Event overview
Overview
IMTS 2026, the International Manufacturing Technology Show, will take place September 14–19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
The event brings together manufacturing-technology suppliers, innovators, and industrial buyers across machining, automation, additive manufacturing, software, robotics, tooling, and related sectors.
Why visit
Visitors can access exhibits across the show floor, compare manufacturing technologies, attend conferences, meet suppliers, explore technology demonstrations, and participate in education and networking programs.
Why exhibit
IMTS positions exhibiting as a way to reach a large North American manufacturing audience, demonstrate technology, generate leads, appear in the IMTS.com exhibitor directory, use promotional tools, and connect with qualified industrial decision-makers.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Manufacturing professionals and industrial technology buyers
Engineers, plant managers, operations leaders, and technology decision-makers
Students, educators, and workforce-development participants
International visitors
Distributors, media, exhibitors, and military personnel
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Machine tools and metal removal
Tooling, workholding, and cutting tools
Automation and robotics
Additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping
Manufacturing software, digital manufacturing, and industrial AI
Quality assurance, inspection, and metrology
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Metal removal
Tooling and workholding
Automation and robotics
Additive manufacturing
Manufacturing software and digital technologies
Quality assurance and inspection
Location & Facilities
Venue
Halls & areas
5North BuildingSouth BuildingWest BuildingEast BuildingNorth Building, Hall C / Student Summit
McCormick Place Convention Center
2301 S. King Drive, 60616 Chicago, United States
Entrances & gates
North and South Buildings main entrance
North BuildingSouth BuildingGrand Concourse
McCormick Place lists the North and South Buildings main entrance at 2301 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
McCormick Square / Gate 4
South BuildingNorth Building via connected concourses
McCormick Place identifies Gate 4 at McCormick Square for taxi and rideshare loading/unloading; IMTS attendee FAQ also references South Building coat and baggage check near Gate 4.
West Building / Gate 40 City Gate
West Building
McCormick Place lists the West Building entrance at 2301 S. Indiana Ave and identifies Gate 40 as a taxi and rideshare loading/unloading point.
Lakeside Center / East Building entrances
East BuildingLakeside Center
McCormick Place lists Lakeside Center at 2301 S. Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive, with Gates 30, 31-34, 37, and 38 serving taxi, shuttle, drop-off, limousine, and rideshare movements.
Facilities
Food options
South Hall Food Court, 23rd Street Café & Market, Starbucks Coffee, West Hall Food Court, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place dining, Marriott Marquis Chicago dining
On-site diningParking: Exhibitor parking information is provided through the exhibitor e-Kit and McCormick Place exhibitor resources.
Gate: The reviewed official pages specify building-level exhibit hours but do not identify named 2026 gate numbers.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Trade-only
Event days & opening times
DayOpening hours
North and South Buildings:10:00 AM.–6:00 PM
West and East Buildings:9:00 AM.–5:00 PM
Individual
Listed before August 1, 2026.
$65.00Group registration, five or more
Listed before August 1, 2026.
$50.00International visitor
Official registration page lists international registration as free.
Student or educator
Official registration page lists student and educator registration as free.
Media
Official registration page lists media registration as free.
Exhibitor staff registration
Listed as $60 before September 3, 2026; exhibitors register staff through e-Kit.
$60.00Distributor registration
Listed as $60 before September 3, 2026.
$60.00
Ticket info
Badge collection
Badges ordered in advance begin shipping in August 2026.
Ticket notes
General registration provides access to all exhibits for all six show days; conferences and special events may require additional fees.
Registration deadline
Early-bird individual registration price applies before August 1, 2026; the official page states that prices increase in August 2026.
Build-up & tear-down
Setup starts2 Sep 2026
Setup ends13 Sep 2026
Teardown starts20 Sep 2026
Teardown ends26 Sep 2026
Who runs the show
Organisers
What's on
Programme
Topic tracks
IMTS ConferenceJob Shops WorkshopIMTS Elevate Powered by WiMConferencias TecnicasIndustrial AI ConferenceIMTS Investor SummitSmart Manufacturing Experience ShowcaseIMTS Machinists' Hub
Co-located events
Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2026
Separate ticket
Miles for Manufacturing 5K Run/Walk
Separate ticket
Co-located seminars
IMTS 2026 conferences
Paid
IMTS Stages and Technology Hubs
Paid
Dia de América Latina en IMTS / LATAM Day at IMTS
Paid
Sponsors
AMT
SME
Practical Machinist
Gardner Business Media
Modern Machine Shop
GIE Media
BOOM
G28
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Mazak
FANUC
Government supporters
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Trade fair programme supporter for the German Pavilion
Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic
Listed exhibitor/pavilion coordinator for Czech Pavilion
How the last edition performed
Previous edition
Current edition
2026 · 90,000 visitors · 2,000 exhibitors
Forecast — not final
Visitors
89,020
Exhibitors
1,737
Floor area (sqm)
113,960
Visitor countries
110
Growth over time
Edition recap
IMTS 2024 ran September 9-14, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Official IMTS reporting says the show welcomed 89,020 registrants from 110 countries, featured 1,737 exhibitors across 1,609 booths, and covered 1,226,523 square feet of exhibit space. Highlights included coverage across 10 technology sectors, nearly 40 short IMTS+ “The ONE Big Thing” episodes, and 14,713 Smartforce Student Summit visitors.
New this edition
- 1
IMTS+ digital continuation
IMTS continued the 2024 show experience through IMTS+, including recorded Main Stage presentations, Creators Lounge interviews, technology coverage, and related content.
Source - 2
IMTS 2026 conference program
IMTS published a dedicated 2026 conferences lineup as part of the current-edition program.
Source - 3
AMT Emerging Technology Center live drone-airframe manufacturing system
For 2026, the Emerging Technology Center, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Mazak, and Fanuc, will demonstrate a live end-to-end manufacturing system producing drone airframes with hybrid manufacturing and robotic assembly.
Source - 4
IMTS Supersonic Experience
Presented by Boom and AMT, the experience places visitors in Boom's full-scale Overture flight deck with real controls, force feedback, and a scored landing challenge.
Source - 5
IMTS Community Park
A new relaxed community hangout presented by AMT and G28, including an RC rock crawler course, cornhole tournaments, expert-led conversations, and peer networking.
Source - 6
IMTS Machinists' Hub
Presented by Practical Machinist, this hub brings the online machining community to IMTS with live talks, meetups, happy hours, and shop-floor knowledge sharing.
Source - 7
Dia de América Latina en IMTS / LATAM Day at IMTS
A half-day Spanish-language conference focused on transformative technologies, sustainable manufacturing, and business opportunities in Mexico, Latin America, and Spain, with an included Noche Latina reception.
Source
Testimonials
This has been our best IMTS for quality engagements.
Every building of McCormick Place was a must-see destination.
IMTS 2024 exceeded expectations once again, despite some economic headwinds.
You can’t go anywhere else and see as much technology as you can at IMTS.
Next edition outlook
2026-09-14 – 2026-09-19confirmed
IMTS 2026 is scheduled for September 14–19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago. Official current-edition materials emphasize manufacturing technology, automation, software, additive manufacturing, AI, digital technologies, conferences, international participation, and expanded travel support.
Current-edition conferences lineup published. International visitor planning materials cite over 6,200 international registrants representing 105 countries. Complimentary shuttle service is planned between most participating official hotels and McCormick Place during show days. Media programming includes a Media Preview Day, press kit resources, and access to IMTS 2024 photos and video footage. Official hotel block, airline discounts, and complimentary hotel shuttles are active for the 2026 edition.
Audience quality
High-value decision-makers
IMTS describes its audience as manufacturing-technology professionals and industrial decision-makers; its 2024 post-show report provides the official registrant count but does not establish a separate independently audited audience-quality score.
Exhibitor outcomes
Real business growth
IMTS provides exhibitor lead retrieval, IMTS.com showroom listings, promotional tools, and access to a large manufacturing audience. IMTS also reports that expanded exhibitor showrooms received 4–18 times more views in 2024 than non-expanded profiles.
Intelligence
Exhibitors
295
Exhibitors
30
Categories
7
Countries
9
Pavilions
Top exhibitor countries
Top 7 by exhibitor count — estimates based on published directory.
- United States282
- Canada5
- Germany3
- Spain2
- Portugal1
- Japan1
- Switzerland1
~96% of listed exhibitors are from United States.
Category breakdown
295Exhibitors
1~60
estimate
2~24
estimate
3~22
estimate
4~20
estimate
5~17
estimate
6~12
estimate
7~11
estimate
8~11
estimate
9~10
estimate
10~9
estimate
11~9
estimate
12~9
estimate
13~9
estimate
14~8
estimate
15~7
estimate
National pavilions
United States
~282 stands
estimate
Canada
~5 stands
estimate
Germany
~3 stands
estimate
Spain
~2 stands
estimate
Portugal
~1 stands
estimate
Japan
~1 stands
estimate
Switzerland
~1 stands
estimate
Official pavilions
German Pavilion at IMTS 2026
Unverified
20 stands · Coord. Hannover Fairs International GmbH; Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy trade fair programme
Czech Pavilion - Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic
Unverified
Coord. Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic
Buyer targets
High priority
Buyers sourcing
Other Manufacturing Technology Suppliers
Buyers sourcing
General Machine Tool & Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers
Buyers sourcing
AI & Data Platforms for Manufacturing Suppliers
Buyers sourcing
Workholding, Fixturing & Tombstone Suppliers
Buyers sourcing
PLM, ERP & Manufacturing Operations Software Suppliers
Medium priority
Buyers sourcing
Industrial Robotics & Factory Automation Suppliers
Buyers sourcing
Tool Holder, Spindle & Rotary Tooling Suppliers
Buyers sourcing
Cutting Tool & Insert Suppliers
Buyers sourcing
CNC Machining Center & Milling Machine Suppliers
Buyers sourcing
Coordinate Measuring & Precision Metrology Suppliers
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
North America
Why it matters
IMTS brings manufacturing technology suppliers, buyers, and industry professionals together at a large-scale Western Hemisphere event, making it useful for supplier discovery, technology benchmarking, and market intelligence.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Automation and robotics
Automation and robotics are listed among IMTS industry and sector areas and should be treated as core sourcing categories for the 2026 show.
SourceAdditive manufacturing
Additive manufacturing is included in the event's manufacturing technology scope and is a relevant technology area for visitor route planning.
SourceDigital manufacturing and software
Software and digital equipment are part of IMTS's manufacturing technology ecosystem and exhibitor discovery scope.
SourceAdditive manufacturing moving further into production
IMTS sector descriptions emphasize continued improvements in materials and processes producing more industrial additive solutions.
SourceFoundational machine tools enhanced by digital technologies
IMTS 2026 press materials stress that AI, software, automation, and digital solutions are advancing the capabilities of machine tools and other foundational technologies.
SourceMarket news
Latest updates from across the market.
IMTS 2026 spotlights technologies powering manufacturing’s next leap
ReadIMTS announces 2026 conferences lineup
ReadIMTS 2026 focuses on productivity and enabling technologies
ReadIMTS 2026 showcases foundational technologies
ReadBLS revised Q1 2026 manufacturing productivity higher
ReadIMTS 2026 Showcases Foundational Technologies
ReadManufacturing technology event circuit
Plan IMTS travel and exhibitor logistics around September 14-19, 2026; confirm other event dates directly with their organizers.
IMTS is a major Western Hemisphere manufacturing technology show. Comparable events should be checked separately for confirmed 2026 dates before booking.
14–19 Sep 2026
IMTS 2026
Chicago, United States
Best for machine tools, automation, additive, software, metrology, tooling, and manufacturing AI.
website21–23 Oct 2026
FABTECH 2026
Las Vegas, United States
Good follow-on for fabrication, welding automation, finishing, and job-shop audiences.
website10–13 May 2027
Automate 2027
Las Vegas, United States
A3 announced Automate 2027 heads to Las Vegas May 10-13, 2027.
website11–13 May 2027
Manufacturing Technology Series EAST 2027
West Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
EAST event featuring EASTEC at Eastern States Exposition.
website1–30 Sep 2027
EMO 2027
Milan, Italy
Official EMO release confirms the 2027 event location as Milan; exact dates should be verified when published.
website16–18 Nov 2027
Manufacturing Technology Series WEST 2027
Long Beach, California, United States
WEST event featuring WESTEC and smart manufacturing content.
websiteNo additional events were included without verified official 2026 dates.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · USD
Arrival airports
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Chicago Midway International Airport
CTA Orange Line provides access toward downtown; confirm final connection to McCormick Place.
Approximately 10 miles by road; verify route conditions
to venue
Approximately 20-35 minutes depending on traffic
by car
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
CTA Blue Line connects O'Hare with downtown; continue by CTA, Metra, taxi, or ride-hail.
Approximately 20 miles by road; verify route conditions
to venue
Approximately 30-60 minutes depending on traffic
by car
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Budget
South Loop / downtownUSD 225–273 / night
Examples from the official IMTS 2026 hotel list include Congress Plaza at $225 and Allerton Warwick at $273.
Mid-range
Downtown / River NorthUSD 280–329 / night
Examples include ACME Hotel, AC Hotel Chicago Downtown, and Hotel Blackstone.
Premium
Downtown / Magnificent MileUSD 330–350 / night
Examples include Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile.
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
IMTS hotel shuttle
Estimated costComplimentary
Best forParticipating official hotels to McCormick Place
Operates during show days September 14-19, 2026; exclusions apply to some hotels.
Metra Electric
Estimated costFare varies
Best forMillennium Station to McCormick Place
IMTS states the trip takes approximately seven minutes.
CTA Green Line
Estimated costFare varies
Best forCermak-McCormick Place station to Chicago connections
Official IMTS transportation information identifies the station as a convenient connection.
McCormick Place parking
Estimated costLot C: $21 per day
Best forVenue campus lots
No overnight parking and no in-and-out privileges for Lot C.
Plan your trip
Visa & entry documents
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
Visa not required
ATA Carnet: check with organiser
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-1 business visitor visa | Eligible travelers conducting temporary business activities who are not visa-exempt | $185.00 | Varies by embassy or consulate; IMTS warns some applicants may face three-to-four-month timing | |
| Visa Waiver Program / ESTA | Eligible nationals traveling for permitted business visits of up to 90 days | — | Verify current processing guidance through official U.S. government channels | |
| Visa Waiver Program with ESTA | Eligible citizens or nationals of VWP countries traveling for permitted business/tourism for 90 days or less. | $40.27 | Apply before travel; CBP recommends checking ESTA status before travel reservations. |
Visa-free or visa-waiver eligibility is nationality-specific and may depend on purpose, passport, and travel history. Verify through the U.S. Department of State and official ESTA information.
No official IMTS source confirming ATA Carnet treatment was located. International exhibitors should consult the official freight forwarder and U.S. Customs guidance before shipping equipment.
Official visa pageWeather
September weather details were not supplied by an official IMTS source; verify the Chicago forecast before travel.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Use the IMTS show planner or mobile app when available to locate exhibitors, contact companies, and plan routes.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Business meetings
Chicago is a major business-travel destination; allow extra time between meetings because IMTS spans a very large exhibition footprint.
Professional networking
Prepare concise company and technology introductions, exchange details with consent, and record next steps immediately after meetings.
Tipping and payments
Credit cards are widely accepted. Tipping is customary in restaurants, taxis, and ride-hail; budget 18-22% for full-service meals.
Show-floor etiquette
Ask before photographing machines, parts, or demonstrations. Some exhibitors restrict photos due to customer parts, proprietary fixtures, or unpublished equipment.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Destination: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
IMTS lists airline discounts from United Airlines and Southwest Airlines for eligible bookings.
Visa
Visa requirements depend on nationality. IMTS advises international visitors who need a U.S. visitor visa to begin early; processing may take three to four months at some embassies.
Processing: Potentially three to four months for some applicants; verify with the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate.
International visitor registration is complimentary according to IMTS international visitor information.
OfficialHotels
Find a stay near the venue with options for every budget.
Check-in (recommended)
September 13, 2026
Check-out (recommended)
September 20, 2026
Areas to stay
McCormick Place / South Loop · Chicago Loop · Magnificent Mile / River North
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Use taxi, ride-hail, rental car, or CTA connections; confirm airport routing before departure.
Hotel → venue: Downtown Atlanta and convention-center hotels are typically within walking distance or a short ride-hail/MARTA trip to the venue.
Ride-hail: Available in Chicago; use designated McCormick Place pickup areas and follow venue signage.
Public transit: Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line station and Metra Electric service provide public-transit access; Metra connects McCormick Place with Millennium Station in approximately seven minutes.
Parking: McCormick Place provides campus parking; Lot C lists $21 per day, no in-and-out privileges, and no overnight parking.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: September
Temperature: Not provided by an official IMTS source
Seasonality: Plan for variable late-summer/early-autumn Chicago conditions and possible rain; verify the forecast close to departure.
Packing: Comfortable walking shoes, business-casual layers, light rain protection, and portable device charging are practical for a large convention venue.
Itinerary builder
Add priorities and side trips to make the most of your visit.
Add side trips
Default day plan
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Monday, September 14, 2026
Monday is the opening day and is suitable for visitors who want maximum show duration and early access to demonstrations; choose later weekdays if minimizing opening-day congestion is more important.
-60
Register and define priority sectors — Build a shortlist of exhibitors and conference or demonstration sessions.
-45
Book official housing and travel — IMTS recommends early hotel booking because of show demand.
-30
Schedule supplier meetings — Allow buffer time for cross-hall travel.
-14
Confirm logistics — Recheck hotel, shuttle, airport transfer, weather, and meeting contacts.
-14
Confirm badge, hotel shuttle, transit, and weather plan — Share daily hall routes and meeting backups.
-1
Sync meeting schedule and contact list — Assign note-taker and lead scoring owner.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
08:30
Arrive and orient
McCormick Place09:00
Priority supplier meetings
Target exhibitor booths12:30
Lunch and notes
McCormick Place13:30
Sector walk
Target IMTS halls16:30
Lead review and next-step planning
McCormick Place15:00
Quality/metrology and tooling supplier visits
Relevant sector halls16:30
Team debrief and lead scoring
Quiet café / hotel lobby18:30
Supplier dinner or networking
South Loop, Chinatown, River North, or West LoopSide trips
5Museum Campus
Cultural and Lakefront
Near McCormick Place
Convenient option for a short pre-show or post-show visit.
Chicago Loop
City District
Short transit or ride-hail trip
Restaurants, architecture, and business-meeting options.
Chicago Riverwalk
Urban Waterfront
About 15-25 minutes by car/transit
Good for client walks and architecture views.
Millennium Park
Public Park / Landmark
About 15-20 minutes by car/transit
Iconic Chicago stop near the Loop and Art Institute.
Art Institute of Chicago
Museum
About 15-20 minutes by car/transit
High-quality cultural side trip near many downtown hotels.
Networking spots
5Exhibitor booths
business networking
Best for product-specific discussions and qualification.
Conference and education areas
professional networking
Use sessions to meet peers around manufacturing technology topics.
South Loop / Motor Row
Restaurant and bar area
Convenient for dinners close to the venue.
Chinatown
Dining district
Short ride or walk from McCormick Place with many group-dining options.
River North
Restaurant and nightlife district
Strong choice for client dinners if staying downtown.
Budget
Costs & budget
Shell scheme
USD 645.83–1937.5 / m²
Raw space
USD 312.15–398.29 / m²
Standard booth
9.2903 m²
Rates were converted from official square-foot pricing using 1 square metre = 10.7639 square feet. Package prices are for 10 x 10 ft or 10 x 20 ft booths.
sourceBuild your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Booth 9.2903 m² × $1,291.67/m²$11,999.96
Estimated total$11,999.96
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Cost reference
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
visitor_registration
visitor · individual_before_2026-08-01
USD 65 / per person
officialAs of 2026-08-01
hotel
visitor · official_budget
USD 225–289 / per room night
unknownAs of 2026-08-01
hotel
visitor · official_mid
USD 290–350 / per room night
unknownAs of 2026-08-01
hotel
visitor · official_premium
USD 351–437 / per room night
unknownAs of 2026-08-01
parking
both · venue_daily
USD 18–40 / per day
officialAs of 2026-08-01
booth_space
exhibitor · raw_member_per_sqft
USD 29 / per square foot
officialAs of 2026-08-01
booth_space
exhibitor · raw_non_member_per_sqft
USD 37 / per square foot
officialAs of 2026-08-01
booth_package
exhibitor · Package A 10x10
USD 6000–7000 / package
officialAs of 2026-08-01
booth_package
exhibitor · Package B 10x20
USD 11000–13000 / package
officialAs of 2026-08-01
visa
both · B visitor visa MRV
USD 185 / per applicant
officialAs of 2026-08-01
visa
both · ESTA
USD 40.27 / per applicant
officialAs of 2026-08-01
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| visitor_registration | visitor | individual_before_2026-08-01 | USD 65 / per person | official | 2026-08-01 |
| hotel | visitor | official_budget | USD 225–289 / per room night | unknown | 2026-08-01 |
| hotel | visitor | official_mid | USD 290–350 / per room night | unknown | 2026-08-01 |
| hotel | visitor | official_premium | USD 351–437 / per room night | unknown | 2026-08-01 |
| parking | both | venue_daily | USD 18–40 / per day | official | 2026-08-01 |
| booth_space | exhibitor | raw_member_per_sqft | USD 29 / per square foot | official | 2026-08-01 |
| booth_space | exhibitor | raw_non_member_per_sqft | USD 37 / per square foot | official | 2026-08-01 |
| booth_package | exhibitor | Package A 10x10 | USD 6000–7000 / package | official | 2026-08-01 |
| booth_package | exhibitor | Package B 10x20 | USD 11000–13000 / package | official | 2026-08-01 |
| visa | both | B visitor visa MRV | USD 185 / per applicant | official | 2026-08-01 |
| visa | both | ESTA | USD 40.27 / per applicant | official | 2026-08-01 |
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use your objectives, budget, and readiness to decide whether to visit, exhibit, or defer.
QUESTION 1 OF 5
What is your main objective for IMTS 2026?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
Visit
You need supplier discovery, technology benchmarking, live demonstrations, or manufacturing-network development
Best for
Professionals sourcing manufacturing technology, automation, robotics, additive manufacturing, software, quality, and metalworking solutions
Timeline
Register, arrange travel, and reserve accommodation as early as possible; official housing opened February 5, 2026
Risks
Large venue and more than 2,000 exhibitors require advance planning
Hotel availability and rates may tighten near show dates
Exhibit
You can demonstrate differentiated equipment, software, automation, or production technology and support qualified lead follow-up
Best for
Manufacturing technology suppliers seeking broad North American and international buyer exposure
Min. budget
$7,000.00
Timeline
Begin at least 90 days before the show; review the exhibitor e-Kit, freight planner, compliance rules, and booth services
Risks
Mandatory Custom Block Program costs vary with freight density
Heavy machinery logistics and target move-in dates require advance coordination
skip
Assess how this option fits your objectives.
Best for
Not yet confirmed
Timeline
Not applicable
Risks
No major risks listed.
Book with
Partners
Official IMTS Housing
Hotels
Official hotel booking path through Global Housing Solutions powered by AMT / Passkey, with official rates, hotel map, and shuttle information.
Visit partner Confidence: high
Listed from IMTS travel page and Passkey reservation page.
IMTS Airline Discounts
Flights
IMTS travel page lists United Airlines and Southwest SWABIZ discounts for IMTS 2026 travel windows.
Visit partner Confidence: high
Official IMTS travel page.
McCormick Place Parking
Transport
Official parking rates, lot addresses, capacity notes, prepaid parking, bus/RV parking, and EV-charging information.
Visit partner Confidence: high
Official venue page.
DSV Official Freight Forwarder and Customs Broker
Freight
Official IMTS exhibitor FAQ identifies DSV Air & Sea, Inc. for freight forwarding and customs brokerage.
Visit partner Confidence: high
Official IMTS exhibitor FAQ.
CDS XPress Lead Retrieval
Lead capture
Several IMTS 2026 booth packages include one CDS XPress lead retrieval device.
Visit partner Confidence: high
Official IMTS booth package table.
CBP ESTA
Visa
Official U.S. government ESTA application path for Visa Waiver Program travelers.
Visit partner Confidence: high
Referenced by U.S. Department of State VWP page.
Recommended providers
Visa
U.S. Department of State / CBP ESTA
Use official government sources; no private visa partner endorsed in this research.
Hotels
Global Housing Solutions powered by AMT / Passkey
Official IMTS housing channel with hotel map and at-a-glance rate sheet.
Freight & shipping
IMTS exhibitor FAQ identifies DSV as official freight forwarder and customs broker.
Insurance
TBD exhibitor insurance broker
No official insurance partner confirmed in extracted sources.
Side trips
Useful for client entertainment, dining, and attraction planning.
Lead capture
CDS XPress / IMTS Exhibitor Passport
Lead retrieval device included in several official booth packages.
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
Glossary
- AMT
- The Association for Manufacturing Technology, identified in IMTS materials as the organization powering IMTS conferences and providing member pricing.
- Raw floor space
- Unbuilt exhibit space priced by square foot; IMTS lists 2026 member and non-member rates in its exhibit-space application.
- Custom Block Program
- A mandatory IMTS exhibitor program covering specified material handling, carpet, protective covering, cleaning, and applicable machinery-rigging services, with final billing based on actual conditions.
- IMTS.com Showroom
- An online exhibitor profile used by visitors to review company details, descriptions, logos, categories, and promotional content before and during the show.
- Smartforce Student Summit
- An education-focused student and educator program held within IMTS at McCormick Place North Building, Hall C.
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Trust footer
Sources
59
References
15
Publishers
0
Date checked
1
IMTS
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4
Institute for Supply Management
Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.