RAPID + TCT 2026: What to Know Before You Go
The largest additive manufacturing event in North America is back! Taking place in Boston, Massachusetts for the first time, the Conference Program kicks off RAPID + TCT 2026, starting April 13 and the exhibition runs April 14–16.
Bringing together the entire additive manufacturing ecosystem, the event is packed with innovation, networking and expert-led conferences. How packed? More than 450 exhibitors, 200+ speakers, over 160+ technical presentations and attendees from more than 35 countries. With so much to see and so little time, understanding how to navigate the week can make the difference between general exposure and actionable insight.
The Conference
The Conference Program is where RAPID + TCT becomes more than a technology showcase. Across more than 160 presentations, speakers focus on how additive manufacturing is actually used in production environments.
Sessions are organized across nine tracks, including aerospace, defense, healthcare, energy and materials development, allowing attendees to approach the technology from both application and process perspectives.
Rather than highlighting capabilities alone, the conference centers on real case studies and implementation strategies that can be applied directly to manufacturing workflows.
Plus, because presentations are also categorized by technical level, the program content is relevant whether you’re evaluating additive manufacturing for the first time or optimizing an established practice.
Executive Perspectives Keynotes Series
Each morning begins with the Executive Perspectives Keynote Series. These panels are designed less as technical presentations and more as Q+A sessions and industry outlook conversations.
The lineup brings together decision makers from across the additive manufacturing ecosystem. Leaders from Stratasys, Velo3D, Siemens and the U.S. Army discuss Scaling AM for Aerospace and Defense. The healthcare session features executives including Brigitte de Vet-Veithen of Materialise alongside leaders from 3D Systems, HP and Carbon in Life-Saver: How AM Is Transforming Point-of-Care. The final keynote pairs MIT’s Neil Gershenfeld with Formlabs CEO Maxim Lobovsky in From MIT to Mainstream: The Next Era of Manufacturing, highlighting the transition from research to industrial production.
The Exhibits
The exhibition hall connects strategy to real implementation. Manufacturers, material suppliers, software companies and service providers showcase solutions for production, automation and part qualification.
Pro tips:
- Wear comfortable shoes. The exhibition floor spans the length of four football fields and features 450+ additive manufacturing providers demonstrating technologies and applications hands-on.
- Plan your show floor visits ahead of time. With hundreds of exhibitors showcasing hardware, materials and software, identifying the companies most relevant to your applications can help you make the most of your time.
Celebrating AM Achievement
New for 2026, the SME AM Awards and TCT Awards Gala takes place the evening of April 14. The joint ceremony brings together two long-standing recognition programs, the SME AM Awards and TCT Awards Gala. It’s a dedicated moment to honor the people, teams and organizations shaping additive manufacturing today. The gala will highlight accomplishments across materials, hardware, design, engineering, production and real-world applications. It will also recognize the winners of two student competitions, underscoring SME’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and the next generation of AM professionals.
Join the Event
Register for RAPID + TCT 2026 as 3Dnatives’ guest. Click HERE to claim your free Expo Pass, save 20% on Conference Passes and discover the latest additive manufacturing technologies, exhibitors and conference sessions across the industry.
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*All Photo Credits: RAPID + TCT
