(FABTECH: Las Vegas) -- FABTECH, the largest metal-forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event in the United States, will host an expansive education program Oct. 21–23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring more than 180 expert-led sessions across 12 tracks focused on modernization and workforce development. The program gives attendees practical tools and strategies to solve today’s manufacturing challenges.

FABTECH brings together the technologies, approaches, and insights manufacturers need to thrive in the AI-driven era, covering automation, smart factories, workforce transformation, and real-world business results.

As manufacturers adopt new technologies, developing the workforce needed to support that transformation remains a critical challenge. The average welder in the U.S. is 51, and experienced tradespeople are leaving the workforce faster than new talent is coming in.

“As retirements continue to outpace the number of people entering the trade, upskilling our current workforce has never been more critical,” says Tracy Garcia, CEM, FABTECH group director at SME. “This year’s program is built to invest in every generation of manufacturing talent, making it easy for someone brand-new to the industry and a 20-year veteran alike to find sessions that move their career and their business forward.”

Focused learning in dedicated tracks

This year’s tracks put two challenges at the center of nearly every session: how shops modernize without breaking what already works, and how they build a workforce that can run what they build.

Key themes include:

AI and smart manufacturing transformation—industrial AI strategy, shop-floor intelligence, digital twins, and connected factory ecosystems

Automation, robotics, and the autonomous factory—adoption road maps, collaborative robotics, and real-world ROI

Operational excellence and cost optimization—reducing downtime, lean practices, and predictive maintenance

Workforce development and leadership evolution—upskilling, career pathing, and closing the labor gap

Digital transformation and connected factory—ERP modernization, real-time data, and cybersecurity for digital shops

Advanced fabrication technologies—laser, forming, and finishing innovations

Business growth and competitive advantage—capital investment, scaling, and regional supply chain strategy

Attendees can customize their learning path throughout the full program, with sessions led by industry veterans, innovators, and thought leaders sharing real-world case studies and expertise. The speaker lineup includes leaders from manufacturing companies, technology providers, educational institutions, consulting firms, and organizations representing expertise from the industry’s evolving ecosystem.

Introducing premium FAB Pass experience

New for 2026, FABTECH is launching FAB Pass, an exclusive premium upgrade designed for attendees who want an all-inclusive event experience. FAB Pass includes full access to all conference sessions and keynotes, VIP lounge access, daily FABTECH Bistro lunch tickets, early entry to special events, jump-the-line privileges for registration and select activities, exclusive FABTECH merchandise benefits, and other premium perks. The package is designed to help busy executives, operations leaders, engineers, and high-intent attendees spend less time navigating logistics and more time learning, networking, and conducting business.

“FAB Pass reflects our commitment to delivering more value and flexibility to attendees,” says Garcia. “For professionals looking to maximize every minute at FABTECH, it provides a streamlined experience that combines premium access, convenience, and exclusive benefits in one package.”

Keynotes and panels bring leadership into focus

Keynotes

FABTECH’s keynote lineup this year centers on leadership, both on the shop floor and in the front office.

All times are Pacific.

Oct. 21: 8:30–9:30 a.m.
“The New AI Power Shift: Risks, Rewards, & Readiness for 2027 & Beyond.” Best-selling author and acclaimed podcast host Amber Mac shares a practical blueprint for leading through the AI power shift, empowering teams, and making smarter decisions in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Oct. 22: 8:30–9:30 a.m.
“Championship Culture in Manufacturing: Discipline, Teamwork, and Excellence.” Pro Football Hall of Fame legend Jerry Rice draws on his career of building winning teams to talk about the discipline and culture required to run a high-performing shop.

Oct. 23: 10–11:00 a.m.
“The Creative Edge: How Craftsmanship and Grit Drive Fabrication.” With Steve Darnell, founder of WelderUp, and the creative force behind the Discovery Channel series Vegas Rat Rods. Darnell will make the case that creativity is a competitive edge in fabrication, sharing how pushing a team to innovate and doing the job right the first time can set a shop apart.

Leadership Exchange panel series

FABTECH’s Leadership Exchange series puts industry veterans in conversation about the issues shaping the year ahead: the skills gap, supply chain pressure, reshoring, and the push to modernize.

Oct. 21: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
“State of the Metal Fabrication Business 2026: Executive Insights on Growth, Risk, and Competitive Advantage.” Panelists will address macroeconomic conditions, capital investment priorities, technology adoption at scale, workforce strategy, and geopolitical and supply chain risk, with a focus on how leadership teams are making decisions in an uncertain market.

Oct. 22: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
“Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: How to Attract, Train, and Keep Next-Gen Employees.” A multigenerational panel will share strategies for attracting, training, and retaining talent throughout a workforce that spans decades of experience.

Oct. 23: 12:30–1:30 p.m.
“Follow the Money: Hidden Funding, Tax Strategies & Profit Levers for Fabricators.” With budgets tight, this panel brings together experts in funding, tax law, R&D incentives, facility design, and performance optimization to help attendees find opportunities they may be missing.

Special events spotlight skill and leadership

Oct. 21–23: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
“WeldArt World Championship.” Experience the excitement of the inaugural WeldArt World Championship at FABTECH 2026. Watch the world’s top welders compete live in the Round of 16, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and technical skill as they vie for a place in the global finals in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Oct. 22: 7:30–9:00 p.m.
“Women of FABTECH: Not Who They Had in Mind; Leadership, Manufacturing, and Redefining What a CEO Looks Like,” with Vanessa Heim, president and CEO of Brenco Industries. Now in its 11th year, Women of FABTECH honors the women who have shaped the metal fabrication industry and continue to pave the way for the generations behind them. Heim will challenge attendees to rethink who gets to lead a manufacturing business as she shares how she built an unconventional path to the corner office.

Emerging Leaders Program returns

Oct. 22: 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
FABTECH’s half-day program gives rising leaders practical tools to grow into their next role. The schedule includes a networking lunch, a keynote, and a series of skill sprint sessions.

Speaker and program sponsor H.R. Huntsman, founder and president of Leader’s Edge, says, “The cost of developing an emerging leader is small. The cost of not developing one is enormous. The Emerging Leader Program gives high-potential employees practical leadership tools, peer connections, and a clear framework for creating value so they return to work better prepared to lead projects, influence teams, and contribute at a higher level.”

At every stage of a manufacturing career, from someone just entering the trade to the executives setting next year’s strategy, FABTECH’s 2026 conference program meets manufacturers where the industry actually stands: a workforce retiring faster than it can be replaced, supply chains shifting closer to home, and shop floors under pressure to modernize without blowing the budget. From AI-driven fabrication to funding strategy to hands-on leadership training, FABTECH remains where the industry’s toughest decisions about people and machines are made.

For more information, visit fabtechexpo.com or follow on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. To secure a complimentary exhibit hall pass, attend a conference session, or upgrade to the new FAB Pass premium experience, register here. Members of the press can register for a media pass here.