September 2026 is the biggest month on the manufacturing calendar, anchored by IMTS 2026 in Chicago (September 14-19, 1,800+ exhibitors, 89,020 registrants in 2024). IIoT World’s Industrial AI Summit opens the month on September 9-10 as a free virtual conference covering industrial AI architecture, predictive analytics, and operational intelligence. The final two weeks pack cybersecurity summits in Washington DC and London, robotics conferences in Toronto and Pittsburgh, and the 50,000-attendee Gastech in Bangkok. This guide covers 14 industrial AI, manufacturing, cybersecurity, and energy conferences across 6 countries. Browse the full year at the 2026 Industrial AI Events Calendar.
What Are the Biggest Manufacturing and AI Conferences in September 2026?
September concentrates the year’s largest manufacturing events into a single week. IMTS in Chicago and Autodesk University in Las Vegas both run September 14-19 and September 15-17 respectively, giving manufacturing engineers a choice between the show floor and the design lab. IIoT World’s own Industrial AI Summit opens the month with free virtual access on September 9-10.
IIoT World Industrial AI Summit 2026
Dates: September 9-10, 2026
Location: Virtual (100% live online, on-demand access after event)
IIoT World’s free virtual conference on industrial AI, covering AI architecture and deployment, predictive analytics, operational intelligence, and automation. One of four free virtual conferences hosted by IIoT World in 2026, with speaker applications currently open.
Target Audience: Industrial engineers, plant managers, OT/IT professionals, automation engineers, manufacturing leaders
Cost: Free registration
IMTS 2026 (International Manufacturing Technology Show)
Dates: September 14-19, 2026
Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, USA
The Western Hemisphere’s largest manufacturing technology show, running under the theme “Achieve the Impossible.” IMTS 2024 drew 89,020 registrants from 110 countries across 1,226,523 square feet of exhibit space with 40 million+ pounds of machinery on display. The 2026 edition features 1,800+ exhibitors and the IMTS Conference with technical sessions across automation, additive manufacturing, metal removal, fabricating and lasers, quality assurance, software solutions, and tooling.
Target Audience: Manufacturing engineers, plant managers, machine tool buyers, automation integrators, OEMs across aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and energy
Cost: Individual $95; Group (10+) $85/person; International $125; Student $25
Autodesk University 2026
Dates: September 15-17, 2026
Location: The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Autodesk’s annual “Design and Make Conference” covers practical AI applications, design innovation, and manufacturing workflows. A free Digital Pass provides live-streamed and on-demand content for remote attendees.
Target Audience: AEC professionals, product designers, manufacturing engineers, BIM managers
Advanced Vision & AI Conference 2026
Dates: September 23-24, 2026
Location: Santa Clara, CA, USA
Organized by A3 (Association for Advancing Automation), this conference covers machine vision and computer vision in manufacturing, AI for predictive maintenance, quality inspection, robotic guidance, and deployment in regulated environments including aerospace and medical devices.
Target Audience: Vision system integrators, automation engineers, quality control managers, AI/ML practitioners in manufacturing
What Robotics and IoT Conferences Are in September 2026?
Three events cover robotics and IoT connectivity in the final 10 days of September. The Things Conference in Amsterdam brings together the LoRaWAN and embedded IoT community, while ROSCon in Toronto and IROS in Pittsburgh represent the two largest open-source and academic robotics gatherings.
The Things Conference 2026
Dates: September 22-23, 2026
Location: De Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The largest LoRaWAN and IoT connectivity conference, with 1,900 expected attendees, 100 hand-picked speakers, 180+ sessions, and 6 tracks covering Connectivity and Platforms, Security and Compliance, Edge AI and Intelligent Systems, Energy Efficient Embedded Systems, Embedded Systems and Developer Tools, and Strategy and Impact. Features the IoT Wall of Fame with 100+ devices, live demo challenges, and a Women in IoT Panel. Keynotes from Semtech President/CEO Dr. Hong Q. Hou and Arduino CEO Fabio Violante.
Target Audience: IoT developers, embedded systems engineers, LoRaWAN users, hardware makers, IoT solution providers
ROSCon Global 2026
Dates: September 22-24, 2026
Location: Sheraton Centre Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The annual conference for the Robot Operating System (ROS) community, covering ROS/ROS 2, motion planning, simulation, autonomous systems, and aerial robotics. Workshop instructors from NVIDIA, AMD, Clearpath Robotics, PAL Robotics, and Dronecode Foundation. Registration is first-come, first-serve with limited capacity.
Target Audience: ROS developers, robotics engineers, open-source robotics community, academic researchers
Cost: Early General $575 USD (until July 12); Regular $725 USD; Late $1,025 USD
IROS 2026 (IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems)
Dates: September 27 – October 1, 2026
Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society’s premier conference on intelligent robots and systems, covering robot perception, learning, control, human-robot interaction, and autonomous vehicles. One of the largest academic robotics conferences globally. General Chair: Howie Choset. IEEE Life Members attend free.
Target Audience: Robotics researchers, AI/ML engineers, autonomous systems developers, academic robotics community
Cost: Early bird Member $920; Student Member $460; Non-Member $1,150 (by July 24)
What Cybersecurity Conferences Are in September 2026?
Four cybersecurity events span Washington DC, London, and Singapore. The Billington Summit draws 3,000+ government and military cybersecurity professionals to DC. Back-to-back events at Gartner Security London (September 22-24) and CS4CA Europe (September 23-24) make late September the most efficient travel window for European OT security professionals. For current OT threat data, see Top 7 ICS/OT Cybersecurity Trends and Frameworks for 2026.
Billington CyberSecurity Summit 2026
Dates: September 8-10, 2026
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC, USA
The largest cybersecurity summit focused on government and critical infrastructure, with 3,000+ expected attendees, 300+ speakers, 50+ sessions, 150+ exhibitors, and 9 tracks. The 2026 theme is “Reducing Risk in An Age of AI-Enabled Threats.” Confirmed speakers include FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman (Cyber Division) and U.S. Department of State Director Manny Medrano (Cyber Testing Monitoring and Response). Complimentary registration for government and military professionals. ISC2 and SANS/GIAC continuing education credits available.
Target Audience: CISOs, government cybersecurity officials, military cyber professionals, critical infrastructure security leaders
Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit London 2026
Dates: September 22-24, 2026
Location: ExCeL London, UK
Gartner’s European cybersecurity summit with 1,500+ expected attendees, 62 Gartner experts, and 110+ research-driven sessions. The 2026 theme is “Smarter, Faster, Stronger,” covering AI governance, cyber resilience, third-party risk, privacy, operational technology security, and cloud security.
Target Audience: CISOs, CROs, CIOs, directors of infrastructure, heads of IT security and compliance
Cost: Starting at $4,475
CS4CA Europe 2026 (Cyber Security for Critical Assets)
Dates: September 23-24, 2026
Location: Mercure Earls Court, London, UK
Now in its 13th edition, CS4CA Europe brings together 120+ senior IT/OT security experts with a 3:1 end-user to vendor ratio. The 2026 theme is “Building Intelligence-Driven OT Resilience in an Era of Increasing Risk,” covering IT/OT security convergence, NIS2 compliance, OT governance, and risk quantification. Up to 14 CPD credits available. IIoT World’s next free virtual conference is the ICS Cybersecurity Day 2026 (October 14).
Target Audience: CISOs, CIOs, heads of cybersecurity, OT security specialists from oil and gas, energy, utilities, mining, transportation
Cost: End-users EUR 999; Commercial/security providers EUR 2,999 (early bird ends July 24)
Tech Week Singapore 2026
Dates: September 29-30, 2026
Location: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Asia Pacific’s largest technology week with 29,000+ expected attendees, 500+ exhibitors, and 500+ international speakers across five co-located events: Cloud and AI Infrastructure Asia, DevOps Live!, Cyber Security World Asia, Data Centre World Asia, and Big Data and AI World Asia. One ticket covers all five events.
Target Audience: Business leaders, CTOs, CISOs, data center operators, cloud architects, AI/ML professionals across APAC
What Energy Conferences Are in September 2026?
Three energy events cover the full spectrum from oil and gas to building decarbonization. Gastech in Bangkok draws 50,000+ attendees as one of the world’s largest energy conferences. AEE World in Orlando focuses on energy efficiency and renewable energy for facility managers and engineers. ASHRAE’s Decarbonization Conference in Seattle targets building systems engineers working toward net-zero targets.
Gastech 2026
Dates: September 14-17, 2026
Location: BITEC (Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre), Bangkok, Thailand
One of the world’s largest energy events, with 50,000+ attendees from 150+ countries, 1,000+ exhibitors, 1,000+ expert speakers, and 200+ sessions across 17 programs. Gastech 2026 covers natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, low carbon solutions, electrification, maritime energy, climate technologies, and AI for energy. Includes the AixEnergy program focused specifically on AI and energy applications.
Target Audience: Global energy leaders, LNG/gas professionals, hydrogen technology companies, energy transition executives
AEE World Energy Conference & Expo 2026
Dates: September 16-18, 2026
Location: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL, USA
The Association of Energy Engineers’ flagship conference with 11 tracks, 140+ technical presentations, 56 sessions, and 260+ speakers. Sessions cover energy efficiency, renewable energy, affordable energy pathways, and professional development for energy managers. Up to 12 PDH and 2.4 AEE Credits available.
Target Audience: Energy managers, engineers, facility managers, sustainability professionals, utility program managers
ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference 2026
Dates: September 23-25, 2026
Location: Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, Renton, WA, USA (Seattle area)
The 6th annual ASHRAE Decarbonization Conference runs under the theme “Decarbonization That Delivers: From Policy to Projects to Performance.” Four tracks cover Business Strategy, Finance and Accountability; Technical Solutions and Emerging Technology; Policy, Standards and Infrastructure; and Portfolio Planning and Case Studies. Building types covered include data centers, airports, hospitals, laboratories, and higher education facilities.
Target Audience: HVAC engineers, building owners, utility program managers, local government sustainability leaders
Cost: Early bird Members $725; Non-members $825 (through July 31)
Are There Free Industrial Events in September 2026?
IIoT World’s Industrial AI Summit (September 9-10) is the standout free event, offering two days of live virtual sessions on industrial AI with on-demand access after the event. IMTS offers student registration at $25. The Billington CyberSecurity Summit provides complimentary registration for government and military professionals. Autodesk University offers a free Digital Pass for live-streamed content. See the full IIoT World schedule and register at iiot-world.com/upcoming-virtual-conferences.
September 2026 Industrial AI, Manufacturing & Cybersecurity Events at a Glance
| Date | Event | Location | Category |
| Sep 8-10 | Billington CyberSecurity Summit | Washington, DC, USA | Cybersecurity |
| Sep 9-10 | IIoT World Industrial AI Summit | Virtual (free) | Industrial AI |
| Sep 14-17 | Gastech 2026 | Bangkok, Thailand | Energy |
| Sep 14-19 | IMTS 2026 | Chicago, IL, USA | Manufacturing |
| Sep 15-17 | Autodesk University 2026 | Las Vegas, NV, USA | Design & Manufacturing |
| Sep 16-18 | AEE World Energy Conference | Orlando, FL, USA | Energy |
| Sep 22-23 | The Things Conference 2026 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | IoT |
| Sep 22-24 | Gartner Security Summit London | London, UK | Cybersecurity |
| Sep 22-24 | ROSCon Global 2026 | Toronto, Canada | Robotics |
| Sep 23-24 | CS4CA Europe 2026 | London, UK | OT Cybersecurity |
| Sep 23-24 | Advanced Vision & AI Conference | Santa Clara, CA, USA | Machine Vision |
| Sep 23-25 | ASHRAE Decarbonization Conference | Renton, WA, USA | Energy |
| Sep 27 – Oct 1 | IROS 2026 | Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Robotics |
| Sep 29-30 | Tech Week Singapore 2026 | Singapore | Technology |
Browse the full 2026 events calendar with filters by month, category, and region at iiot-world.com/industrial-ai-iiot-industrial-cybersecurity-events-calendar.
Register for free IIoT World virtual events at iiot-world.com/upcoming-virtual-conferences.
Have an event to add? Contact us at info@iiot-world.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the top manufacturing conferences in September 2026?
IMTS 2026 (September 14-19, McCormick Place, Chicago) is the Western Hemisphere’s largest manufacturing technology show with 1,800+ exhibitors and 89,020 registrants in 2024. Autodesk University (September 15-17, The Venetian, Las Vegas) covers design, manufacturing workflows, and practical AI applications. IIoT World’s Industrial AI Summit (September 9-10, virtual, free) covers industrial AI architecture, predictive analytics, and operational intelligence. The Advanced Vision and AI Conference (September 23-24, Santa Clara) covers machine vision and computer vision for manufacturing quality inspection and robotic guidance.
2. What cybersecurity events are in September 2026?
The Billington CyberSecurity Summit (September 8-10, Washington DC, 3,000+ attendees) focuses on government and critical infrastructure cybersecurity, with complimentary registration for government and military professionals. Gartner’s Security and Risk Management Summit London (September 22-24, ExCeL London, 1,500+ attendees) covers AI governance, cyber resilience, and operational technology security. CS4CA Europe (September 23-24, London) specializes in OT cybersecurity for critical assets with a 3:1 end-user to vendor ratio. Tech Week Singapore (September 29-30, Marina Bay Sands, 29,000+ attendees) includes Cyber Security World Asia.
3. What is IMTS 2026?
IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show) is the Western Hemisphere’s largest manufacturing technology show, held every two years at McCormick Place in Chicago. The 2026 edition runs September 14-19 with 1,800+ exhibitors across 1.2 million+ square feet, covering automation, additive manufacturing, metal removal, fabricating, lasers, quality assurance, software solutions, and tooling. IMTS 2024 drew 89,020 registrants from 110 countries with 40 million+ pounds of machinery on display. Registration: $95 individual, $25 student.
4. What is the IIoT World Industrial AI Summit 2026?
The IIoT World Industrial AI Summit (September 9-10, 2026) is a free, two-day virtual conference covering industrial AI architecture and deployment, predictive analytics, operational intelligence, and automation for manufacturing. The event features live sessions with on-demand access after the conference. Speaker applications are currently open. Register free at iiot-world.com/upcoming-virtual-conferences.
5. Are there free industrial conferences in September 2026?
IIoT World’s Industrial AI Summit (September 9-10, virtual) is the month’s largest free industrial event, covering AI architecture, predictive analytics, and operational intelligence with on-demand access after the live event. IMTS offers $25 student registration. The Billington CyberSecurity Summit is complimentary for government and military professionals. Autodesk University offers a free Digital Pass for live-streamed and on-demand sessions. See the full schedule at iiot-world.com/upcoming-virtual-conferences.
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