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
