May 2026 brings 14 industrial AI, IoT, and energy conferences across 6 countries, anchored by SPS Italia (May 26-28, Parma) and the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo (May 4-6, Orlando). Manufacturing and supply chain events span from Orlando to Dublin to Munich. Energy and digital twin conferences convene in Houston and Milan. IIoT World hosts AI Manufacturing Day (May 12), a free virtual conference with live interactive panels on autonomous AI, edge sensing, UNS architecture, and manufacturing cybersecurity. Browse the full year at the 2026 Industrial AI Events Calendar.
May 2026 picks up where Hannover Messe left off. The world’s largest industrial trade fair (April 20-24, Hannover) set the agenda for industrial AI, digital twins, and smart manufacturing. The conferences below continue these themes with deeper technical focus and hands-on workshops.
What Are the Biggest Industrial AI Events in May 2026?
The largest industrial AI events in May 2026 are SPS Italia (May 26-28, Parma), AVEVA World (May 19-21, Milan), and the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo (May 4-6, Orlando).
SPS Italia 2026
Dates: May 26-28, 2026
Location: Parma, Italy
Description: SPS Italia covers automation technology, industrial IT, and smart manufacturing solutions for the Italian and European industrial market. The 2025 edition featured 780 exhibitors and 37,126 visitors across 68,000 square meters of exhibition space. The trade fair features exhibition halls dedicated to automation components, drive systems, sensors, and industrial software.
Target Audience: Automation engineers, industrial IT professionals, manufacturing decision-makers in the European market
AVEVA World 2026
Dates: May 19-21, 2026
Location: Milan, Italy
Description: AVEVA World brings together users and partners of AVEVA’s industrial software portfolio, covering digital twin technology, process simulation, asset performance management, and operational data management for process industries and utilities.
Target Audience: Process engineers, digital twin practitioners, asset performance managers, AVEVA software users
Control Expert Days 2026
Dates: May 20-21, 2026
Location: Messe Stuttgart (Hall 9, West Entrance), Stuttgart, Germany
Control Expert Days replaces the biennial Control trade fair in even-numbered years. The 2026 edition features more than 15 specialist presentations, two panel discussions, and over 40 exhibitors. Day 1 focuses on “Quality Management Plus Sustainability” and Day 2 on “AI in Quality Assurance: Where Do We Stand Today?” covering computer vision inspection, automated testing, and AI-driven defect detection.
IEEE World AI IoT Congress 2026
Dates: May 20-22, 2026
Location: Seattle Convention Center, Seattle, WA, USA
The IEEE 7th World AI IoT Congress brings together researchers and industry practitioners for peer-reviewed technical sessions on artificial intelligence and Internet of Things. The three-day program includes keynote presentations, panel discussions, and industry exhibitions. Accepted papers are published in the IEEE Xplore digital library.
What Manufacturing and Supply Chain Conferences Are in May 2026?
Seven manufacturing and supply chain conferences take place in May 2026: ARC European Industry Forum (May 4-6, Sitges, Spain), Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo (May 4-6, Orlando), IoT Tech Expo North America (May 18-19, San Jose), National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference (May 27-28, Dublin), and Smart Manufacturing Summit (May 28-29, Munich).
ARC European Industry Forum 2026
Dates: May 4-6, 2026
Location: Sitges (Barcelona area), Spain
Description: The ARC European Industry Forum gathers industrial technology leaders, manufacturers, and analysts for sessions on digital transformation, operational excellence, and automation strategy across European industry sectors. The 2025 edition brought together 160 international participants from over 20 countries.
Target Audience: Industrial technology leaders, manufacturing executives, automation strategists
Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo 2026
Dates: May 4-6, 2026
Location: Orlando, FL, USA
Description: Gartner’s Supply Chain Symposium brings together 3,500+ supply chain professionals for 150+ insights-driven sessions across 7 role-based tracks, led by 60+ Gartner experts. The event covers supply chain planning, logistics, procurement, and manufacturing operations.
Target Audience: Chief Supply Chain Officers, VPs of Operations, supply chain technology leaders
IoT Tech Expo North America 2026
Dates: May 18-19, 2026
Location: San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA, USA
Description: IoT Tech Expo North America draws 8,000+ professionals, 250+ speakers, and 200+ exhibitors across six co-located events covering IoT, AI, edge computing, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and intelligent automation.
Target Audience: IoT developers, enterprise architects, technology decision-makers
OTsec USA 2026
Dates: May 20, 2026
Location: Hilton San Diego Bayfront, San Diego, CA, USA
OTsec USA combines the expertise of the CS4CA and ManuSec summits into a single-day event for IT and OT security leaders. Over 200 cybersecurity professionals from manufacturing, oil and gas, energy, mining, and critical infrastructure sectors attend deep-dive panels, tabletop exercises, and workshops on securing IT-OT convergence. Attendees can earn up to 6 CPD credits.
National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference 2026
Dates: May 27-28, 2026
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Description: The National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference addresses manufacturing operations, supply chain management, and industrial innovation for the Irish and European manufacturing community.
Target Audience: Manufacturing leaders, supply chain managers, industrial operations professionals in Ireland and Europe
Robotics Summit & Expo 2026
Dates: May 27-28, 2026
Location: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA, USA
The Robotics Summit & Expo draws more than 6,000 robotics developers and engineers from aerospace, defense, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing. The two-day event features keynotes, technical panels, and an expo floor with exhibitors including Boston Dynamics, LINAK, and Barrett Technology. Topics include autonomous mobile robots, human-robot collaboration, and AI-driven motion planning.
Smart Manufacturing Summit 2026
Dates: May 28-29, 2026
Location: Munich, Germany
Description: The Smart Manufacturing Summit focuses on digitalization, AI, and automation strategies for manufacturing operations, bringing together technology decision-makers from across European industry.
Target Audience: Manufacturing CIOs, CTOs, digital transformation leaders in European industry
What Energy and Digital Twin Conferences Are in May 2026?
Two energy and digital twin conferences take place in May 2026: Future Digital Twin & AI USA (May 13, Houston) and AVEVA World (May 19-21, Milan).
Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2026
Dates: May 4-7, 2026
Location: NRG Center, Houston, TX, USA
The Offshore Technology Conference is the world’s largest offshore energy event, drawing more than 30,000 energy professionals from across the globe. OTC 2026 covers engineering, project delivery, and operational topics across offshore oil, gas, and emerging offshore energy sectors, including AI-driven asset management and digital twin applications for subsea infrastructure.
Future Digital Twin & AI USA 2026
Date: May 13, 2026
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Description: Future Digital Twin & AI USA covers digital twin applications and AI integration for energy, process industries, and infrastructure management.
Target Audience: Digital twin practitioners, energy sector engineers, process industry technology leaders
What Free Virtual Events Are in May 2026?
Many organizations host free webinars and virtual events throughout the year. The one organized by IIoT World in May is AI Manufacturing Day (May 12), a free full-day virtual conference featuring live interactive panels on autonomous AI, edge sensing, UNS architecture, and manufacturing cybersecurity with speakers from Siemens, Bosch, TDK, OPSWAT, HighByte, InfluxData, and Infinite Uptime.
IIoT World AI Manufacturing Day 2026
Date: May 12, 2026
Location: Virtual (free registration)
Description: AI Manufacturing Day is a free full-day virtual conference featuring live interactive panels with manufacturing practitioners. Topics include autonomous AI in production, Unified Namespace (UNS) architecture, edge sensing and MEMS technology, and industrial cybersecurity for connected factories. Register for free at iiot-world.com/ai-manufacturing-day-2026.
Target Audience: Manufacturing engineers, operations leaders, IT/OT professionals, industrial cybersecurity practitioners
May 2026 Industrial AI, IoT & Energy Events at a Glance
| Event | Dates | Location | Category |
| ARC European Industry Forum 2026 | May 4-6 | Sitges, Spain | Manufacturing |
| Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo 2026 | May 4-6 | Orlando, FL, USA | Supply Chain |
| IIoT World AI Manufacturing Day 2026 | May 12 | Virtual (free) | Manufacturing |
| Future Digital Twin & AI USA 2026 | May 13 | Houston, TX, USA | Energy |
| IoT Tech Expo North America 2026 | May 18-19 | San Jose, CA, USA | Manufacturing |
| AVEVA World 2026 | May 19-21 | Milan, Italy | Energy |
| SPS Italia 2026 | May 26-28 | Parma, Italy | Manufacturing |
| National Mfg & Supply Chain Conf. 2026 | May 27-28 | Dublin, Ireland | Manufacturing |
| Smart Manufacturing Summit 2026 | May 28-29 | Munich, Germany | Manufacturing |
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 industrial AI conferences in May 2026?
The largest industrial AI events in May 2026 are SPS Italia (May 26-28, Parma), AVEVA World (May 19-21, Milan), and the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo (May 4-6, Orlando). Other notable May events include the ARC European Industry Forum (May 4-6, Sitges, Spain), IoT Tech Expo North America (May 18-19, San Jose), and the Smart Manufacturing Summit (May 28-29, Munich).
2. Are there free industrial AI events in May 2026?
IIoT World hosts AI Manufacturing Day (May 12), a free virtual conference with live interactive panels on autonomous AI, edge sensing, UNS architecture, and manufacturing cybersecurity. Speakers include practitioners from Siemens, Bosch, TDK, OPSWAT, HighByte, InfluxData, and Infinite Uptime. Register at iiot-world.com/ai-manufacturing-day-2026.
3. Which industrial AI events in May 2026 are in Europe?
Four European industrial AI events take place in May 2026: ARC European Industry Forum (May 4-6, Sitges, Spain), AVEVA World (May 19-21, Milan), SPS Italia (May 26-28, Parma), and Smart Manufacturing Summit (May 28-29, Munich).
4. What supply chain conferences are in May 2026?
Two major supply chain conferences take place in May 2026: Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo (May 4-6, Orlando) and National Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference (May 27-28, Dublin, Ireland).
5. Which May 2026 conferences focus on smart manufacturing?
Several May 2026 events cover smart manufacturing topics. The Smart Manufacturing Summit (May 28-29, Munich) focuses specifically on factory digitization. SPS Italia (May 26-28, Parma) covers industrial automation and smart production. IIoT World’s AI Manufacturing Day (May 12, free virtual) features eight live panels on AI-driven manufacturing. For the complete list, see the IIoT World Events Calendar.
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