As someone who loves to cook, I know the secret to making a delicious meal starts with the recipe. You need the right ingredients, the right measurements, and the right temperature for a result that everyone would love. Each time I step into the kitchen, there’s a chance to refine and improve.
That’s how I view IMTS. It starts with the right ingredients (people), the right measurements (matching technologies and content to industry needs), and the right execution (helping businesses operate efficiently and successfully).
And, like any great meal, IMTS evolves with each iteration, refining its process to serve up something even better. On April 1, 2025, IMTS 2026 delivers its first course: the IMTS 2026 floor plan.
Currently spanning more than 1 million square feet, the IMTS 2026 floor plan reflects major changes driven by the technologies shaping the future of our industry. With almost 85% of the space rebooked, exhibitors locking in larger footprints, and more booth requests in the pipeline, IMTS continues to thrive. As the Western Hemisphere’s largest manufacturing technology event, IMTS 2026 serves up a feast of innovation – a massive collection of physical and digital manufacturing machines and products featuring multitasking CNC and hybrid machines, additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, artificial intelligence, digital twin, metrology, augmented and virtual reality, generative design, and more. IMTS 2026 is designed to prepare our industry for the future, and I’m excited to share some major updates.
South Building: A Major Transformation
For the first time in decades, the South Building will showcase two sectors. In addition to the Metal Removal Sector, the Additive Manufacturing Sector, accelerated by Formnext is moving from the West Building and claiming a new home. In a nod to the significant impact of robotic innovations on the industry, FANUC will move to the front row.
North Building: Leveraging Momentum
The North Building, reimagined and a resounding success for IMTS 2024, again houses:
The Automation Sector, accelerated by SPS – Smart Production Solutions
The Gear Generation Sector
The Abrasive Machining, Sawing, and Finishing Sector
The Automation Sector will highlight intelligent solutions that drive productivity across the entire manufacturing life-cycle, including cloud-based innovations from companies like Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services. One of the perennial favorites in Abrasive Machining, United Grinding is increasing its booth footprint in 2026, maintaining its prime location in the front of the building.
By popular demand, the Smartforce Student Summit, powered by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and SME returns to Level 1 of the North Building. This move expands its footprint, offers increased visibility, and reinforces STEM education and workforce development initiatives.
West Building: One Focus
The Tooling and Workholding Sector takes center stage in the West Building and will showcase equipment that will help manufacturers be more efficient by decreasing machining time. This entire sector is dedicated to productivity and cost efficiency, helping manufacturers find new solutions and gain new capabilities.
East Building: Fab Four
From metrology to CAD/CAM systems, water jet cutting to air filtration, the East Building is home to the solutions that keep manufacturing running, even with the lights out. The East Building will still house four sectors: Fabricating and Lasers; Machine Components, Cleaning, and Environmental; Quality Assurance; and Software. With Autodesk, Hexagon, and Zeiss again in prominent spaces, the East Building remains a hub for digital manufacturing solutions.
Your Roadmap to IMTS 2026
We are thrilled to share our vision for IMTS 2026 with you and invite you to make plans now to attend North America’s largest manufacturing technology solution showcase. IMTS 2026 will take place Sept. 14-19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
A limited amount of exhibit space remains for IMTS 2026. To learn more, visit IMTS.com/exhibitor.
To read the rest of the Emerging Technology Issue of MT Magazine, click here.
