MMTS 2026 returns to Montréal as Québec's largest manufacturing technology gathering

By AI, Created 11:09 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – MMTS 2026 will take place May 11-12 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, bringing 5,000 manufacturing professionals, more than 200 suppliers and OEMs, and over 100 new products to Québec’s biggest manufacturing technology event. The show is built around aerospace, defence and advanced manufacturing as the sector faces pressure to improve productivity, adopt AI and automation, and speed up investment decisions.

Why it matters: - MMTS 2026 arrives as Québec manufacturers face mounting pressure to raise productivity, adopt new technologies, and stay competitive globally. - The show is positioned as a concentrated place to compare solutions, meet suppliers, and move faster on investment decisions. - The event also puts aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing at the center of Québec’s next industrial growth phase.

What happened: - The Montreal Manufacturing Technology Show, MMTS 2026, will be held May 11-12 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. - The event expects 5,000 manufacturing professionals, more than 200 suppliers and OEMs, and over 100 new products. - MMTS is billed as Québec’s largest manufacturing technology gathering. - Steve Prahalis, chief operating officer at SME, said the show is designed to reflect how manufacturing decisions are made today. - Prahalis said the two-day format is meant to help manufacturers evaluate equipment, engage with peers, and make decisions with more confidence.

The details: - The show floor will feature live demonstrations of advanced manufacturing technologies. - Exhibits will include CNC machining, automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing solutions. - Attendees will be able to see systems in operation, compare capabilities side by side, and speak directly with technical experts. - MMTS 2026 will include Innovation Park, organized around major industrial transition areas. - Innovation Park will include the RAPID + TCT Showcase for additive manufacturing and the Smart Manufacturing Experience focused on digital transformation. - Dedicated zones will also cover aerospace and defence and clean technologies. - The NGen Innovation Zone will highlight Canadian work in artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, and digital transformation. - The Canadian Tooling and Machining Association Pavilion will focus on precision manufacturing, automation, moldmaking, and advanced machining. - MMTS 2026 will showcase Project Arrow vehicles from the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. - Project Arrow Vector features an AI-designed chassis, electric powertrain, and connected capabilities. - Project Arrow Borealis focuses on autonomous systems, smart city integration, and future mobility.

Between the lines: - The event is not just an expo. It is structured as a decision-making environment for manufacturers that need to move from evaluation to implementation. - The strong emphasis on AI, automation, and digital manufacturing shows where industry organizers see the biggest near-term gains in productivity and competitiveness. - The aerospace and defence programming signals that Québec’s manufacturing story is increasingly tied to high-value, globally competitive sectors. - Hugues Foltz, executive vice president at Vooban, said productivity is now shaped by both shop-floor equipment and the software and artificial intelligence connected to it. - Foltz said MMTS creates a place where executives, engineers, and suppliers can connect those two worlds. - Siemens Digital Industries Software will deliver a keynote titled “Industrial AI Revolution, Measurable Success,” underscoring the push to show measurable results rather than pilot projects.

What’s next: - The education program will include 30 sessions across Executive Perspectives, keynote presentations, industry partner panels, and technical sessions. - The Executive Perspectives Keynote Series will focus on competitiveness, investment, workforce development, and advanced technologies. - A featured panel, “Powering Global Aerospace Leadership: Advanced Manufacturing at the Core of Québec’s Success,” will bring together leaders from MEQ, NGen, Bombardier, and GE Aerospace. - That panel will examine Québec’s aerospace cluster, the growing role of defence, and how automation and artificial intelligence are changing production. - The event will include an Industry Networking Reception on May 11 and a Closing Social on May 12. - The next MMTS is scheduled for 2028, making the 2026 edition a limited window for manufacturers to evaluate technologies in person.

The bottom line: - MMTS 2026 is being pitched as Québec’s main venue for turning manufacturing interest in AI, automation, and advanced production into concrete investment and implementation decisions.