The future, delivered: Smart Manufacturing Week 2026 sets the UK’s industrial agenda

Smart Manufacturing Week 2026 has officially concluded, marking the most successful edition in the event’s history.

Reflecting the rapid acceleration of industrial automation and digital transformation, this year’s event welcomed 13,405 visitors to the show floor, further cementing its position as the UK’s leading gathering for advanced manufacturing.

The quality of attendance also reached new heights, with purchasing power increasing from 78% to 81% of visitors and a record 871 meetings booked through the event app, demonstrating stronger engagement and business opportunities than ever before. 

Over two days, attendees engaged with cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking solutions presented by an impressive lineup of 437 world-class exhibitors. From pioneering robotics and artificial intelligence to sustainable production ecosystems, the exhibition floor showcased the tools driving the next generation of industrial excellence. 

This year, Alibaba.com joined Smart Manufacturing Week as the Official Agentic Business Partner, showcasing Accio Work, its agentic AI platform designed to help businesses tackle real-world operational challenges. Central to the partnership was a bespoke “Event Edition Agent”, developed exclusively for the show, demonstrating how agentic AI can support UK manufacturers in improving efficiency, decision-making and productivity. 

“Addressing the real challenges facing industry is at the core of what we do at The Manufacturer and Smart Manufacturing Week. Our role is to bring the community together — connecting manufacturers and engineers with the solutions, insights and partners they need to drive growth, streamline maintenance and improve efficiency. 

This year’s event was a powerful reflection of that purpose in action, with a vibrant show floor full of meaningful conversations, new connections and fresh ideas. We’re incredibly grateful to our community, partners and customers for their continued support and to the exceptional team whose hard work makes an event of this scale and impact possible,” said Grace Gilling, Managing Director, Hennik Research, part of Nineteen Group. 

Smart Manufacturing Week 2026 did not just showcase the future of the industry; it actively set the agenda for the years ahead. 

Creating a festival atmosphere

The exhibition floor was charged with a festival-like energy, proving that industry events from Nineteen Group are anything but routine. Attendees were welcomed by a mariachi band, dancers in dazzling mirror suits with disco-ball heads and an all-day DJ at the Main Stage networking area, keeping the atmosphere buzzing throughout. 

Stealing the show, however, was the roaring Accu Fight Fest. The high-stakes robot battles were broadcast across screens with expert commentary, the massive clashes echoing across the floor and drawing crowds to every match. 

Inspiring future talent and delivering industry insights  

Beyond the spectacles, the event delivered deep industry substance. The presentation theatres were packed to capacity, with standing-room-only crowds eager to catch the latest insights on pivotal topics, including AI, product innovation and digital transformation. 

A major highlight of the programme was a headline panel chaired by Chris Dungey, the government-appointed National AI Champion for Advanced Manufacturing. Joined by leading industry experts, the discussion explored why AI has rapidly become a boardroom priority and how manufacturers can move from ambition to implementation. 

The conversation closely aligned with the government’s Advanced Manufacturing AI Adoption Plan, unveiled on 8 June, which aims to support UK manufacturers in safely deploying industrial AI to boost productivity, improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption. 

Meanwhile, in the Product Innovation & Design Theatre there was an insightful session by Gareth Knopp, Innovation and Simulation Manager at Bucher Municipal. Representing the company that won The Manufacturer MX Awards Product Innovation & Design category in 2025, he detailed how advanced simulation and artificial intelligence are actively redefining the development of next-generation industrial equipment.  

The theme of practical execution continued at the Connected Production stage, where Kayode Adisa, Site Director at Fine Lady Bakeries, led crucial discussions on data flow and automation.  

The future of the sector was also on full display at the dedicated STEM Showcase, part of the show’s wider STEM Programme. The event supported a standout lineup this year, featuring incredible apprentices from Rolls-Royce, Festo and Balmoral Tanks, who took to the stage to share their real-world, early-career experiences. 

On the show floor, the energy was equally high as organisations like Stemettes, The Smallpeice Trust, The Engineering Trust and STEM on Track actively engaged with student visitors, opening doors and sparking passion for engineering careers.  

Meanwhile, the bustling The Manufacturer Media Studio served as the content heartbeat of the show, capturing the energy over the two days through a non-stop stream of keynote interviews and deep dives with the event’s platinum partners. 

Driving new business and collaboration  

Business was firing on all cylinders thanks to networking initiatives like the SMMT Meet the Buyer Programme, which forged vital automotive supply chain connections. 

At the Main Stage Networking Bar, exhibitors and visitors joined forces to continue business conversations and share stories. With branded beer, live music from HoneyTrap and a cake to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Smart Factory Expo, it was a milestone occasion. 

As part of the week’s dedicated feature events, the Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit returned for its sixth successful year, drawing 232 high-level attendees across two days to champion the real-world delivery of digital technology.  

Additionally, the Marketing 2 Manufacturers Breakfast Club on Day 2 saw a record-breaking 105 vendors kick-start their morning. An expert panel discussed the key findings of the 2026 Manufacturing Momentum Report which underlined the key priorities for manufacturers this year. Unsurprisingly AI was top of the list, but also on the agenda was digital transformation, workforce and culture and the impact of technology on the people working within the sector.  

A true showcase of innovation  

From advanced robotics and interactive simulators to the Factory of the Future featuring next-generation manufacturing technologies, Innovation Alley spotlighting innovative start-ups and the Quorum Principle Theatre packed with expert insights, the show floor offered a complete manufacturing experience. 

Visitors got hands-on with some of manufacturing’s most innovative technologies. Ensemble AI demonstrated live AI-powered spare parts identification, ByteSnap Design showcased a real-time edge AI vision systems, Creat3D ran industrial 3D printers live on its stand and TWI combined collaborative robotics with ultrasonic inspection software to reveal hidden component defects in real time. 

By bringing together the people, technologies and ideas shaping the future of engineering, the event stood as a true showcase of progress and industrial excellence. 

Commenting on the event, Platinum Partner exhibitor Matt Ansell, Product Portfolio Manager at Lapp UK, said: “Smart Manufacturing Week has been excellent. We’ve had good conversations with potential customers as well as great feedback from previous and existing customers. We’ve seen some really exciting future opportunities, including conversations with people that we’ve never even thought of talking to. The week has been an eclectic mix.”