FABTECH returns to Las Vegas for first time since 2016

By AI, Created 10:09 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – FABTECH will bring an expected 31,000 attendees to Las Vegas on Oct. 21-23, marking the event’s first return to the city in a decade. The show arrives as manufacturers weigh automation, workforce shortages and modernization spending across Western U.S. industry hubs.

Why it matters: - FABTECH is the largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event in North America. - The Las Vegas return places the show closer to major Western U.S. manufacturing centers in aerospace, defense, energy and advanced manufacturing. - Manufacturers are facing tighter margins, workforce shortages and pressure to upgrade operations without slowing production.

What happened: - FABTECH will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center on Oct. 21-23, 2026. - The event is returning to Las Vegas for the first time since 2016. - Organizers expect 31,000 attendees. - The show floor will cover 725,000 square feet, or roughly 12 football fields. - More than 1,400 exhibitors will appear across 40 product categories.

The details: - Attendees will be able to evaluate automation systems, smart factory solutions and precision fabrication technologies in operation. - The show floor is designed to let manufacturers compare capabilities side by side and review live demonstrations before making equipment decisions. - The event is positioned as a place for shops dealing with material cost volatility, staffing gaps and modernization delays to assess investment priorities. - FABTECH’s conference program will include educational sessions on manufacturing operations, technology adoption and workforce development across all skill levels. - The Emerging Leaders Program will return for professionals 35 and under. - The half-day program will focus on leadership development, peer networking, mentorship and technical training.

Between the lines: - The return to Las Vegas signals an effort to meet manufacturers where investment activity is concentrated, especially in the Western U.S. - The event’s emphasis on live demos, workforce programming and supplier access reflects how industry leaders are balancing capital spending with labor constraints. - Tracy Garcia, CEM, FABTECH group director at SME, said manufacturers are navigating tighter margins and persistent workforce constraints, and that FABTECH brings equipment, suppliers and technical expertise together in one place. - Mark Hoper, senior vice president of expositions and media at FMA, said U.S. manufacturing is in a period of genuine momentum and that the event helps attendees turn ideas into action.

What’s next: - Registration is open for attendees and exhibitors. - A complimentary exhibit hall pass is available at fabtechexpo.com. - Press registration is available at media resources. - More information is available at FABTECH’s website and on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. - FABTECH is backed by five event partners: the American Welding Society, the Chemical Coaters Association International, the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International, the Precision Metalforming Association and SME.