The 2026 supply chain conference calendar reflects the transformation of artificial intelligence from an experimental technology to a core operational capability. Major industry events across North America, Europe, and the Middle East will focus on AI deployment strategies, digital transformation initiatives, and emerging technologies reshaping logistics and procurement. From large-scale trade shows attracting Fortune 500 executives to focused assemblies on AI implementation, the event landscape demonstrates that supply chain leaders recognize AI literacy and adoption as competitive imperatives rather than optional enhancements.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Dates: February 9-11, 2026
Manifest represents one of the major global supply chain and logistics expositions, bringing together Fortune 500 supply chain executives, technology providers, and logistics firms. The conference covers end-to-end supply chain operations with particular emphasis on emerging supply chain technology innovations. As one of the earliest major events in 2026, Manifest sets the tone for annual discussions around technology adoption and operational transformation strategies that will dominate industry conversations throughout the year.
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Dates: April 13-16, 2026
MODEX stands as one of North America's largest supply chain trade shows, covering manufacturing, material handling, logistics, and supply chain technology. The exhibition serves as a hub where supply chain operations intersect with automation and AI technologies. The scale of MODEX—with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees—provides comprehensive visibility into the current state of supply chain technology adoption and emerging capabilities that will shape operations over the next several years.
Location: Orlando, Florida
Dates: May 4-6, 2026
The Gartner Supply Chain Symposium represents the globally recognized gathering for supply chain leaders focused on strategic management, technology adoption, risk management, and operational resilience. Gartner's research-driven approach means the symposium provides frameworks for understanding how AI and digital transformation fit into enterprise supply chain strategy. The event attracts senior executives making strategic technology investment decisions rather than tactical implementation managers.
Location: Houston, Texas
Dates: June 3-4, 2026
This focused assembly targets AI deployment specifically in supply chain operations, covering transformation initiatives, best practices, use cases, and emerging AI-driven supply chain models. Unlike broader conferences that cover multiple aspects of supply chain management, the Enterprise AI Supply Chain Transformation Assembly focuses exclusively on how organizations implement artificial intelligence to achieve measurable operational improvements. The event format emphasizes practical implementation guidance over theoretical capabilities.
Location: London, United Kingdom
Dates: September 8-9, 2026 (hybrid format)
The two-day global summit serves senior procurement and supply chain executives exploring sourcing, procurement, logistics, and operations. The event increasingly explores technology-driven supply chain efficiencies including AI and data analytics applications. The hybrid format enables international participation beyond attendees who can travel to London, expanding the diversity of perspectives and use cases shared during sessions.
European supply chain operations face unique regulatory requirements around data privacy, sustainability reporting, and cross-border logistics that create different AI implementation challenges compared to North American counterparts—making this international perspective valuable for multinational organizations.
Location: United States (specific location TBD)
Dates: September 21-23, 2026
This high-level gathering of supply chain executives and experts focuses on trends, strategic planning, innovation, and best practices. The summit format emphasizes peer-to-peer learning and networking among senior leaders rather than vendor presentations. AI adoption in supply chain operations will likely dominate discussions as organizations share implementation experiences, lessons learned, and ROI evidence from deployments over the previous 12-24 months.
Location: Long Beach, California
Dates: September 29-30, 2026
The CHAINge Conference emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and modern supply chain strategies with particular focus on emerging technologies, digital transformation, and supply chain optimization. The conference name itself signals the event's orientation toward organizations actively transforming operations rather than maintaining status quo approaches. Sessions will likely cover how AI enables the supply chain changes required to meet evolving customer expectations and competitive pressures.
Trax's AI Extractor and Audit Optimizer represent the types of AI applications—tools that deliver measurable results through automated invoice processing and exception handling rather than theoretical capabilities.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Dates: 2026 (specific dates TBD)
GS1 Connect focuses on supply chain standards, data interoperability, and visibility, with growing emphasis on how technology, AI, and data standards, including barcodes, RFID, and traceability systems, shape modern supply chain efficiency and transparency. The conference addresses the foundational data infrastructure that AI systems require to function effectively—a critical but often overlooked aspect of successful AI deployment.
Without standardized data formats and consistent identification systems, AI models cannot achieve the accuracy required for operational decision-making. GS1 Connect provides practical guidance on establishing the data governance and standardization that successful AI implementation demands.
Location: Global/Association-based
Dates: Starting April 14, 2026
The GSCT conference covers global supply chain dynamics and trade, addressing topics relevant to supply chain professionals evaluating global sourcing, logistics, and supply chain resiliency. Sessions will likely include discussions of technology adoption as organizations navigate increasingly complex international supply chain networks that require AI-powered visibility and risk management capabilities.
Location: Plug and Play Tech Center (hybrid/online format)
Dates: 2026 (specific dates TBD)
This hackathon brings together technology developers, policy experts, supply chain professionals, public sector representatives, and academics to build AI-driven solutions addressing supply chain disruptions. The hands-on format enables innovators to prototype solutions and test concepts in compressed timeframes. Hackathons often surface novel approaches that established conferences miss—making this event valuable for organizations seeking cutting-edge capabilities rather than proven best practices.
Location: United Arab Emirates/Middle East
Dates: 2026 (specific dates TBD)
The Future Warehouse & Logistics Conference focuses on warehouse and logistics innovation, including automation, AI-driven logistics, digital supply chain transformation, and emerging warehouse technologies. The Middle East location provides a perspective on how AI adoption varies across different regulatory environments, labor market conditions, and infrastructure maturity levels compared to North American and European implementations.
Organizations should select events based on specific objectives rather than trying to attend every major conference. Executive leadership seeking strategic frameworks for AI investment decisions should prioritize the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium and the North American Supply Chain Executive Summit. Implementation teams deploying AI systems will gain more value from the Enterprise AI Supply Chain Transformation Assembly and CHAINge Conference.
Technology providers and innovators should consider AI Supply Chain Hackathon and MODEX for exposure to emerging capabilities and partnership opportunities. Organizations managing international operations benefit from events such as Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE and the Future Warehouse & Logistics Conference, which address region-specific challenges.
The concentration of major events in September 2026 creates scheduling conflicts requiring prioritization based on organizational needs and learning objectives.
The 2026 supply chain event calendar demonstrates that AI has moved from peripheral technology discussion to central strategic topic across all major industry gatherings. From February through September, conferences will provide opportunities to learn implementation best practices, evaluate emerging capabilities, and network with organizations at various stages of AI adoption.
The diversity of event formats—from large expositions to focused assemblies to hands-on hackathons—ensures that organizations can find appropriate venues regardless of their current AI maturity level or specific learning objectives. Success in 2026 will require not just attending events but strategically applying insights gained to accelerate AI capabilities that deliver measurable operational advantages.
Contact Trax to learn how AI-powered freight audit and data normalization deliver the operational results that 2026 supply chain conferences will showcase as implementation best practices.