Top 12 IoT Conferences to Watch in 2026

Explore 2026’s must-attend IoT conferences for innovation, research, and industry insights.
Top 12 IoT Conferences to Watch in 2026
Article by Marija Naumovska
Published Mar 16 2026
|
Updated Mar 17 2026

IoT is set to create trillions in value by 2030, but most companies won’t capture it. Why? Many get stuck in pilots or miss the key lessons from real-world deployments.

These leading IoT conferences give you insider knowledge, hands-on demos, and case studies that cut through trial and error.

IoT Conferences 2026: Key Findings

Events like Sensors Converge, IoT Tech Expo, and The Things Conference let you see edge AI, LoRaWAN, and real IoT projects in action.
CPS-IoT Week, IEEE WF-IoT, and IFIP IoT share the latest research, smart city ideas, and AI-powered IoT systems from leading engineers and academics.
Smart Manufacturing Week, SIDO Lyon, and IEEE Smart World show how factories and companies use IoT, robotics, and digital tools to solve real problems.

Inside the Future of IoT

The Internet of Things is on track to generate $5.5–$12.6 trillion by 2030, transforming factories, healthcare, and B2B operations.

Attending conferences like Sensors Converge or IEEE Smart World Congress puts you in the room with the people driving these changes.

1. Sensors Converge 2026

Best for hands-on insights into sensors, edge AI, and embedded systems.

Sensors Converge 2026
Source: Sensors Converge 2026
  • Date: May 5–7, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: Santa Clara Convention Center, California
  • Key speakers:
    • Ganesh Kondapuram – Edge AI Architect at Intel
    • Omar Abed – CTO of InvenSense
    • Pete Bernard – CEO of Edge AI Foundation
  • Price:
    • VIP Conference pass: $895
    • Conference pass: $695
    • Expo Hall pass: $49

Sensors Converge is North America’s largest event dedicated to sensing, embedded systems, and connected technologies that power modern IoT applications.

The three-day conference brings together more than 5,000 engineers, developers, product leaders, and technology innovators to explore advancements in edge AI, MEMS sensors, and wireless connectivity.

The program also includes industry awards, startup pitch sessions, and dedicated meetups such as the Women in Sensors and Electronics (WISE) gathering.

Register now to attend Sensors Converge.

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2. CPS-IoT Week

Best for cutting-edge research on cyber-physical systems and real-time IoT.

CPS-IoT Week
Source: CPS-IoT Week 
  • Date: May 11–14, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: Palais des Congrès de Saint-Malo, France
  • Key speakers:
    • Xia Zhou – Professor at Columbia University
    • Rodolfo Pellizzoni – Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of Waterloo
    • Barry M. Wise – President and CEO of Eigenvector Research
  • Price:
    • Main conference: From $940 (members) / $1,130 (non-members)
    • Workshops/tutorials only: From $240
    • Full week pass: From $880

CPS-IoT Week is one of the most prominent academic and research-focused gatherings dedicated to cyber-physical systems, real-time computing, and IoT technologies.

The event uniquely combines multiple leading conferences, including:

  • ACM/IEEE International Conference on Cyber-Physical Systems
  • ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems
  • IEEE Real-Time and Embedded Technology and Applications Symposium.

Beyond keynote talks and research sessions, CPS-IoT Week also features poster sessions, demos, a PhD forum, and a student self-driving car competition.

Register to attend CPS-IoT Week.

3. IoT Tech Expo North America

Best for practical IoT case studies and industry implementations.

IoT Tech Expo
Source: IoT Tech Expo
  • Date: May 18–19, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: San Jose McEnery Convention Center, California
  • Key speakers:
    • Sri Kodali – Global Head of Developer Relations (Energy & Utility) at NVIDIA
    • Kevin Clark – VP and Head of Industrial Strategy at Siemens
    • Trilok Agrawal – Director of Product Management at Qualcomm
  • Price:
    • Free Expo pass: Free
    • Gold pass (Full Conference access): $849

A flagship event within the broader TechEx North America, IoT Tech Expo North America brings together over 8,000 technology professionals, 250+ speakers, and 200+ exhibitors to explore the real-world implementation of IoT across industries.

The two-day IoT expo focuses on enterprise IoT applications, including digital twins, IoT connectivity, embedded systems, edge computing, and industrial automation.

Sessions feature case studies from leading companies across manufacturing, telecom, automotive, and smart cities, alongside networking experiences for CIOs, CTOs, and technology leaders.

Get your pass to join the IoT Tech Expo in California.

Other upcoming editions:

  1. IoT Tech Expo Amsterdam (October 20-21, 2026)
  2. IoT Tech Expo London (February 3-4, 2027)

4. Smart Manufacturing Week 2026

Best for exploring smart factories, digital twins, and automation.

Smart Manufacturing Week
Source: Smart Manufacturing Week
  • Date: June 3–4, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England
  • Key speakers:
    • Alexia Williams – Technical Lead at Rolls-Royce
    • David Roberts – Founder of Evtec Automotive
    • Rebecca Galley – CEO of Tornado Wire Ltd
  • Price:
    • Standard ticket: Free
    • Premium ticket: £165 + VAT
    • Manufacturing Digitalisation summit: From £399 + VAT

Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week is the UK’s largest festival of advanced manufacturing and engineering.

It gathers 13,500+ manufacturers and technology leaders, over 450 exhibitors, and 200+ speakers across eight content theatres.

The two-day event combines multiple co-located shows, including Smart Factory Expo, Design & Engineering Expo, Maintec, and Drives & Controls.

It offers a broad platform covering industrial IoT, automation, digital twins, robotics, predictive maintenance, and connected factory systems.

Secure your spot and register for Smart Manufacturing Week.

5. IoTAI 2026: 3rd International Conference

Best for AI-driven IoT innovations and cognitive IoT systems.

IoTAI 2026
Source: IoTAI 2026
  • Date: July 5–9, 2026
  • Medium: Hybrid (In-person and virtual)
  • Location: Nice, France
  • Key speakers:
    • Bharath Sudharsan – Researcher at General Motors
    • Narito Kurata – Professor at Tsukuba University of Technology
    • Young-Joo Suh – Professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology
  • Price: TBA

IoTAI 2026 is a specialized research conference focused on the intersection of Internet of Things technologies and AI.

The conference highlights topics such as:

  • Cognitive IoT systems
  • AI-driven sensor networks
  • Smart city infrastructure
  • Autonomous systems
  • IoT applications for disaster response and emergency management.

Researchers and engineers present new models, field studies, and predictive systems covering areas like smart energy, agriculture automation, and real-time hazard monitoring.

Join the event to connect with leaders shaping the industry.

6. IEEE Smart World Congress 2026

Best for integrated smart world technologies and edge intelligence.

IEEE Smart World Congres
Source: IEEE Smart World Congres
  • Date: September 7–11, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: University of Calabria Convention Center, Calabria, Italy
  • Key speakers:
    • Schahram Dustdar – Professor of Computer Science at TU Wien
    • Zidong Wang – Chair Professor at Brunel University London
    • Vincenzo Piuri – Professor of Computer Engineering at University of Milan
  • Price:
    • Early Bird: €700 (IEEE Member) / €800 (Non-member)
    • Student: From €350
    • Standard: Up to €900 depending on registration type

IEEE Smart World Congress is a leading interdisciplinary event that explores the technologies powering connected “smart worlds,” including IoT, edge intelligence, digital twins, and AI.

The 2026 edition aims to discuss how sensing, communication, and computing technologies can be integrated to create intelligent environments and services.

It’s a multi-conference that includes co-located events such as:

  • IEEE Digital Twin 2026
  • IEEE Metaverse 2026
  • IEEE Ubiquitous Intelligence and Computing 2026

Reserve your ticket early for IEEE before prices increase.

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7. SIDO Lyon

Best for seeing the latest in industrial IoT, AI, XR, and robotics.

SIDO Lyon
Source: SIDO Lyon
  • Date: September 16–17, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: Cité Internationale, Lyon, France
  • Key speakers: TBA
  • Price: Free badge for professionals

SIDO Lyon is the premier European event for the convergence of IoT, AI, XR, and Robotics in industry and services.

Now in its 12th edition, the conference gathers over 8,000 professionals, 300 exhibitors, and 210 speakers, offering a full spectrum of innovation from sensors and edge computing to robotics and digital twins.

Attendees explore cutting-edge solutions in deployable AI, industrial IoT, extended reality, and cybersecurity through 70+ conferences and workshops.

Check the full event details and see if it fits your 2026 plans.

8. Manufacturing IT/OT Summit Europe

Best for IT/OT integration and Industry 4.0 strategies.

Manufacturing IT/OT Summit
Source: Manufacturing IT/OT Summit
  • Date: September 21–22, 2026
  • Medium: In-person (with digital streaming option)
  • Location: Holiday Inn Munich City Center, Munich, Germany
  • Key speakers:
    • Thomas Hasenöhrl – Vice President IIoT Systems & Solutions
    • Felipe Serrano Martínez – Manufacturing Data Project Leader at Sartorius AG
    • Dan-Catalin Batrinu – Lead Technology and Solution Development at Oerlikon AM Europe GmbH
  • Price:
    • Standard pass: €2,549
    • Premium pass: €2,749
    • All-Inclusive pass: €3,249
    • Digital Event pass: €895

Manufacturing IT/OT Summit Europe 2026 is one of the leading industrial IoT conferences.

Attendees can expect case studies and practical discussions on topics such as IT/OT integration, cybersecurity for connected factories, real-time data analytics, and scalable Industry 4.0 infrastructure.

It is part of the broader Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0 event series and co-located with conferences like Rethink! Smart Manufacturing Europe 2026 and Manufacturing Data & AI Summit Europe 2026.

Book now to attend the Manufacturing IT/OT Summit.

9. The Things Conference

Best for hands-on Edge IoT, LoRaWAN, and real-world workshops.

The Things Conference
Source: The Things Conference
  • Date: September 22–23, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: De Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Key speakers: TBA
  • Price:
    • Buyer ticket: €0 until June 30
    • Explorer ticket: €100
    • Expert ticket: €800

The Things Conference is the premier global event for Edge and IoT.

Featuring 100+ sessions, the conference covers LoRaWAN, Cellular IoT, Edge AI, wireless networking, sensors, energy harvesting, and IoT cybersecurity.

Attendees can interact with the “IoT Wall of Fame,” participate in hands-on workshops, and compete in The Things Challenge to solve real-world IoT problems.

With a strong focus on collaboration, the conference attracts 10,000+ visitors, fostering networking and partnerships across the IoT ecosystem.

Reserve your The Things Conference ticket early before prices increase.

10. IEEE World Forum on IoT

Best for peer-reviewed technical IoT research and next-gen networks.

IEEE World Forum on IoT
Source: IEEE World Forum on IoT
  • Date: October 26–29, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • Key speakers: TBA
  • Price: TBA

The IEEE WF-IoT 2026 is a premier forum bringing together global researchers, practitioners, and industry experts to explore the latest IoT technologies and applications.

Hosted for the first time in Abu Dhabi, the event features technical tracks in next-generation networks, intelligent sensing, cybersecurity, digital health, smart energy, and emerging IoT applications.

Its focus is on presenting peer-reviewed papers, which are published in IEEE Xplore and indexed by EI/Compendex, ensuring high-quality technical content.

Attend IEEF WF-IoT to gain actionable insights from industry experts.

11. International IoT Conference (IFIP IoT) 2026

Best for in-depth research and academic IoT innovation.

IFIP IoT
Source: IFIP IoT
  • Date: November 12–14, 2026
  • Medium: In-person
  • Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Key speakers: TBA
  • Price: TBA

The IFIP IoT Conference is a flagship international forum now in its 9th edition, focusing on research, innovation, and practical applications of the Internet of Things across industries.

Participants gain insight into cutting-edge research, pilot projects, and policy frameworks for sectors such as e-health, smart cities, manufacturing, agriculture, and energy.

Unlike more industry- or product-focused IoT events, IFIP’s focus is on academic and technical contributions, bringing together researchers, ICT professionals, and regulators.

Join the IFIP IoT Conference to learn from leaders and innovators.

12. International Congress on Internet of Things (ICIOT 2026)

Best for exploring diverse IoT applications across industries.

ICIOT 2026
Source: ICIOT 2026
  • Date: November 19–20, 2026
  • Medium: In-person & Virtual/Online
  • Location: Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand
  • Key speakers: TBA
  • Price:
    • Authors: £150–£175 (includes presentation and publication)
    • Poster presenters: £125–£150
    • Listeners: £100–£125

ICIOT 2026 is part of the broader International Congress 2026 and is designed to explore the latest advances in IoT technologies and applications.

It covers a vast array of topics, from smart homes, healthcare, and transportation to energy efficiency, mesh networks, real-time positioning systems, and ubiquitous electronics.

Participants can submit full research papers or position papers, with all accepted work indexed by Google Scholar and published in EDLIB.

Sign up to attend ICIOT 2026 and connect with fellow professionals.

Best IoT Conferences at a Glance

These IoT conferences showcase the latest innovations, practical applications, and emerging research shaping the connected world.

Use this comparison to quickly see which events match your interests, goals, and schedule in 2026.

Conference 

Date 

Location 

Best For 

Starting Price 

Sensors Converge 2026 

May 5–7 

Santa Clara, California, USA 

Engineers, product leaders, IoT innovators 

$49  

CPS-IoT Week 2026 

May 11–14 

Saint-Malo, France 

Researchers, academics, PhD students 

$240  

IoT Tech Expo North America 

May 18–19 

San Jose, California, USA 

Enterprise IoT, CIOs, CTOs 

Free  

Smart Manufacturing Week 2026 

June 3–4 

Birmingham, England, UK 

Manufacturers, engineers, industrial IoT professionals 

Free  

IoTAI 2026 

July 5–9 

Nice, France 

AI + IoT researchers, academics 

TBA 

IEEE Smart World Congress 2026 

Sept 7–11 

Calabria, Italy 

Interdisciplinary smart world technologies 

€350 

SIDO Lyon 2026 

Sept 16–17 

Lyon, France 

Industrial IoT, AI, XR, robotics professionals 

Free  

Manufacturing IT/OT Summit Europe 

Sept 21–22 

Munich, Germany 

IT/OT integration, Industry 4.0 professionals 

€2,549 

The Things Conference 

Sept 22–23 

Amsterdam, Netherlands 

Edge IoT, LoRaWAN, hands-on workshops 

€0 until June 30 

IEEE World Forum on IoT 

Oct 26–29 

Abu Dhabi, UAE 

Researchers, IoT practitioners 

TBA 

IFIP IoT Conference 2026 

Nov 12–14 

Dubai, UAE 

Academic & technical IoT researchers 

TBA 

International Congress on IoT (ICIOT 2026) 

Nov 19–20 

Bangkok, Thailand 

Researchers, IoT professionals 

£100  

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Internet of Things Events FAQs

1. What are the best IoT conferences to attend in 2026?

Some of the leading events include Sensors Converge, CPS-IoT Week, IoT Tech Expo North America, Smart Manufacturing Week, and IEEE Smart World Congress.

2. Are IoT events suitable for beginners or only experts?

Most conferences cater to a mix of audiences. Events like IoT Tech Expo North America and The Things Conference offer practical, hands-on sessions for beginners.

Meanwhile, CPS-IoT Week and IFIP IoT focus on research and advanced topics for experienced professionals.

3. Can I attend IoT conferences virtually in 2026?

Yes. Some conferences, such as IoTAI 2026 and ICIOT 2026, provide hybrid options allowing participants to join either in-person or online, making it accessible for global attendees.

4. How do I choose the right IoT conference for my goals?

Consider the conference focus. Research-heavy events are ideal for academics and engineers, while industry-focused events highlight real-world applications, enterprise IoT strategies, and networking opportunities.

Also, check session topics, speakers, and workshops to match your interests.

5. What topics are typically covered at IoT trade shows?

Common topics include edge computing, AI-driven IoT, industrial IoT, smart cities, cybersecurity, connected devices, digital twins, robotics, IT/OT integration, and emerging applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and energy.

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