Automate, North America’s largest robotics and automation occasion, celebrated its most profitable present up to now, drawing greater than 50,000 registrants and 1,230 exhibitors to McCormick Place in Chicago from June 22-25.
Hosted by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), Automate 2026 crammed 425,000 sq. toes of present flooring area with the newest applied sciences in robotics, synthetic intelligence, machine imaginative and prescient, movement management and industrial automation.
The record-setting occasion mirrored the continued development of automation throughout industries as firms search for sensible methods to enhance productiveness, deal with workforce challenges, strengthen provide chains and stay aggressive.
“Automate 2026 was the strongest present we’ve got ever had, not simply in measurement, however within the high quality of the expertise, conversations and connections going down throughout the present flooring,” mentioned Jeff Burnstein, president of A3.
“The power in Chicago was unimaginable. From humanoid robots and industrial AI to machine imaginative and prescient, movement management, autonomous cellular robots and industrial automation methods, attendees noticed firsthand how shortly this trade is transferring and the way a lot alternative lies forward.”
The size and power of the occasion might be felt all through McCormick Place. Keynotes have been packed all through the week, the present flooring featured product launches and stay expertise demonstrations, and packages centered on girls, college students, educators and rising professionals drew robust participation.
The Latin America Networking occasion and Girls’s Empowerment Discussion board attracted a whole lot of attendees, underscoring the trade’s rising deal with management, inclusion and the following era of expertise.
The convention program additionally reached a brand new excessive, with greater than 1,600 registrants and 140+ periods centered on industrial AI, robotics adoption, workforce transformation, US competitiveness, provide chain resilience and the increasing use of automation past conventional manufacturing.
Key highlights from Automate 2026
- Humanoid Robotic Pavilion: Humanoid robotics was one of many main attracts at Automate 2026. The brand new Humanoid Robotic Pavilion, sponsored by Nvidia, gave attendees an in depth take a look at humanoid robots and the enabling applied sciences behind them.
- Humanoid Robotic Discussion board: For the primary time, A3’s well-liked Humanoid Robotic Discussion board was hosted throughout Automate, operating June 23-24 and attracted 1,100+ registrants.
- Automate Startup Problem: Early-stage robotics and automation firms competed for $10,000 and the title of Startup Problem Champion. Mbodi was named the 2026 winner for its platform that enables customers to show industrial robots new duties by pure language and easy demonstrations.
- Automate Innovation Awards: The Automate Innovation Awards acknowledged new merchandise and applied sciences launched to the market in 2025. The 2026 winners have been CeiliX InfinityCrane and SkyRunner in Automation Techniques; Customary Bots’ Flux AI in Imaginative and prescient, AI and Software program; and Synapticon ACTILINK-JD that includes POSITRON Security AI in Elements, {Hardware} and Enabling Applied sciences.
- Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards: The robotics trade’s most prestigious honor was offered throughout a dinner and ceremony recognizing Hiroshi Fujiwara, Govt Director of the Japan Robotic Affiliation (JARA), and Robert Little, co-founder of ATI Industrial Automation. Discover particulars on each winners on-line.
- College students and Educators: Automate 2026 continued to broaden its deal with the following era of automation expertise by the Schooling Pavilion, A3 NextGen Theater, Scholar Problem, A3 NextGen Scholar Excursions and programming centered on curriculum, profession pathways, hiring and workforce improvement.
Automate Rewind
For these unable to attend Automate 2026, Automate Rewind is now obtainable. This digital library options recordings of keynote periods, theater talks, Automate LIVE interviews, and exhibitor spotlights, guaranteeing the wealth of data shared on the occasion stays accessible.
Automate Heads to Las Vegas in 2027
Automate 2027 will happen in Las Vegas, Might 10-13, 2027, on the Las Vegas Conference Middle.
