Manufacturing Trade Shows 2027–2028: Which Shows Run Each Year
Major manufacturing trade shows don't all run every year. ProMat and MODEX alternate, IMTS runs in even years, PACK EXPO events fall on different cycles, and NPE runs every three years. This 2027–2028 calendar shows which major US manufacturing and supply chain shows run each year, where they're held, and how the schedule affects exhibit planning and budgeting.
Many of the big manufacturing trade shows don't run every year. Some alternate with a sister show. Some run every two or three years. Others run every year but move cities. If you plan your manufacturing and industrial trade shows one year at a time, you can find that your main show isn't on next year's calendar.
This calendar shows which shows run in 2027, which run in 2028, and what that means for your exhibit budget. If ProMat 2027 is on your list, our ProMat booth builders page covers planning and quotes for that show.
The two-year calendar
| Show | 2027 | 2028 | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| World of Concrete | Jan 19–21, Las Vegas | Jan 25–27 | Every year |
| Mid-America Trucking Show | Mar 18–20, Louisville | Not yet published | Every year |
| PACK EXPO East | – | Mar 21–23, Philadelphia | Every two years |
| MODEX | – | Apr 3–5, Atlanta | Alternates with ProMat |
| ProMat | Apr 19–21, Chicago | – | Alternates with MODEX |
| NPE: The Plastics Show | May 3–7, Orlando | – | Every three years (next: 2030) |
| Automate | May 10–13, Las Vegas | Not yet published | Every year, changes city |
| AWFS Fair | Jul 13–15, Las Vegas | – | Alternates with IWF |
| IWF Atlanta | – | Returns; dates not yet published | Every two years |
| IMTS | – | Sep 11–16, Chicago | Even years |
| FABTECH | Sep 13–16, Chicago | Not yet published | Every year, changes city |
| PACK EXPO Las Vegas | Sep 27–29, Las Vegas | – | Every two years |
| PACK EXPO International | – | Returns to Chicago; dates not yet published | Every two years |
| MODEX West | – | Oct 18–20, Las Vegas | Scheduled for 2028 |
| CONEXPO-CON/AGG | No show | No show | Every three years (next: Mar 13–17, 2029) |
ProMat 2027 and MODEX 2028: MHI's alternating shows
MHI operates ProMat and MODEX as alternating flagship events for the material handling and supply chain industry. They are two different shows, not two editions of one. ProMat is in Chicago at McCormick Place on April 19–21, 2027. MODEX follows in Atlanta on April 3–5, 2028.
MHI has also scheduled MODEX West, in Las Vegas on October 18–20, 2028. That gives material handling exhibitors two MHI shows in 2028, one of them in the West.
If you exhibit with MHI across both years, your flagship ProMat/MODEX program alternates between Chicago and Atlanta, with MODEX West adding a Las Vegas option in 2028. Budget for different venues, labor rules and freight costs each year.
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PACK EXPO 2027 and 2028: Las Vegas, then Chicago and Philadelphia
PACK EXPO Las Vegas and PACK EXPO International alternate between odd and even years, while PACK EXPO East runs in even years. PACK EXPO Las Vegas runs September 27–29, 2027 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. PACK EXPO International runs at McCormick Place in even years: the 2026 show is October 18–21, and it returns in 2028. PACK EXPO East is in Philadelphia on March 21–23, 2028.
So packaging and processing exhibitors have one PACK EXPO in 2027 and two in 2028.
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IMTS 2028: no IMTS in 2027
IMTS runs in even years at McCormick Place. The next show is September 11–16, 2028. IMTS is the key event to plan around if machine tools, metalworking and advanced manufacturing technology are central to your show calendar. If IMTS isn't on your 2027 calendar, machine and metalworking exhibitors can consider FABTECH, while automation-focused companies may find Automate a closer fit.
FABTECH 2027 and Automate 2027: every year, different cities
FABTECH runs every year but moves. The 2026 show is in Las Vegas; the 2027 show is in Chicago, September 13–16, at McCormick Place. Automate has run every year since 2023 and also moves. The 2026 show was in Chicago; 2027 is at the Las Vegas Convention Center, May 10–13.
A city change can materially change your exhibit costs: labor rules, freight routes and hotel rates vary by venue.
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NPE 2027 and CONEXPO 2029: every three years
NPE: The Plastics Show, run by the Plastics Industry Association, is on May 3–7, 2027 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. After that, the next NPE is May 2030. CONEXPO-CON/AGG also runs every three years; the next one is March 13–17, 2029 in Las Vegas.
A three-year gap means a missed show is a long wait. If NPE is your main show, 2027 is the year to plan for.
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IWF and AWFS: woodworking alternates too
The AWFS Fair is in Las Vegas on July 13–15, 2027, with a new three-day schedule. IWF Atlanta runs every two years at the Georgia World Congress Center and returns in 2028.
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What this means for your exhibit budget
2027 and 2028 are not the same size. 2028 has several major events that don't run in 2027, including MODEX, MODEX West, IMTS, PACK EXPO International and PACK EXPO East. 2027 has ProMat, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, NPE and FABTECH in Chicago.
Plan two years, not one. As a practical rule, set the exhibit budget across both years so a heavy 2028 doesn't squeeze it. A booth structure used for a 2027 show may be reusable in 2028 if the footprint, venue requirements and graphics still fit; ask your builder about storage and refurbishment costs early.
Watch Chicago in 2028. IMTS and PACK EXPO International both use McCormick Place in even years. If you exhibit at both, plan builder, crew and freight schedules together once PACK EXPO's 2028 dates are out.
Other annual manufacturing and industrial shows
- World of Concrete: January 19–21, 2027 and January 25–27, 2028, Las Vegas
- Mid-America Trucking Show: March 18–20, 2027, Louisville
Plan your 2027–2028 trade show calendar
Exhibitorly helps exhibitors find vetted booth builders, compare booth designs and quotes, and get up to 3 free quotes before choosing a booth-building partner.
Start with ProMat, MODEX, PACK EXPO, IMTS or any show above.
