MODEX Trade Show 2026 returns to Atlanta April 13-16, 2026 as North America’s largest material handling and supply chain trade show. Produced by MHI (Material Handling Institute), this biennial event will occupy 600,000 square feet across all three halls of the Georgia World Congress Center, with 1,000+ exhibitors and an expected 50,000+ attendees wielding $70 billion in collective purchasing power. Registration is completely free, making MODEX one of the most accessible major trade shows in any industry.
MODEX Trade Show 2026 runs Monday through Thursday, April 13-16, 2026. Show hours will be 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Wednesday in hall A with halls B and C being open 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, with Thursday operating on an abbreviated 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM schedule for ALL halls. The show features 200+ educational seminars running in 45-minute blocks from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM, plus four major keynote presentations.
The keynote lineup includes Richard McPhail (CFO, The Home Depot) on Monday, Salim Ismail (Founder/Chairman of OpenExO and former Yahoo VP) on Tuesday, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver) on Wednesday morning. The annual MHI Industry Report keynote panel with CEO John Paxton and Deloitte’s Wanda Johnson follows Wednesday afternoon. MHI Industry Night features comedian Jim Gaffigan in the Thomas Murphy Ballroom.
Understanding MODEX’s biennial schedule is crucial: there was no MODEX 2025 and there will be no MODEX 2027. MHI operates two alternating shows—MODEX in even years (Atlanta) and ProMat in odd years (Chicago). The most recent MODEX was March 11-14, 2024, which shattered records with 48,733 attendees and 1,164 exhibitors. The next MODEX after 2026 will be MODEX 2028.
The Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) anchors downtown Atlanta’s convention district address is at 285 Andrew Young International Boulevard NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. Contact the venue at (404) 223-4000 or communications@gwcc.com.
The GWCC is the world’s largest LEED Gold certified convention center, offering 3.9 million total square feet with 1.4 million square feet of prime exhibit space. MODEX 2026 will utilize approximately 600,000 square feet spanning all three exhibition halls (A, B, and C)—a feat first accomplished at record-breaking MODEX 2024. Key venue specifications include 40-foot ceiling heights, 350 lbs./sq ft floor load capacity, 12 exhibit halls, 106 meeting rooms, two grand ballrooms, and 7,000 parking spaces.
The venue sits adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with excellent access to Atlanta’s MARTA public transit system and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world’s busiest.
MODEX organizes exhibitors into solution-specific zones across the three halls.
The educational theater system spans multiple locations strategically positioned throughout the show floor:
Each standard theater holds approximately 100 participants on a first-come, first-served basis with no standing room permitted. The Thomas Murphy Ballroom (Building B, Level 5) serves as the primary venue for keynotes and the MHI Industry Night entertainment event.
MHI Industry Group sessions—featuring expert panels from groups like ASRS, Conveyor & Sortation Systems, Mobile Automation, and Robotics—rotate through various theaters and consistently generate high attendance due to their multi-company perspective format.
MODEX registration is completely free, covering access to all exhibit halls, 200+ educational seminars, four keynote presentations, and general networking events. Register online at modexshow.com/register.
Free registration includes access to over 70 solution categories spanning traditional manual equipment to AI-powered automated systems—robots, AMRs, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality systems, storage and retrieval systems, conveyors, sortation equipment, warehouse management software, and last-mile logistics solutions.
Premium ticketed events include the Women in Supply Chain Forum ($125, Monday 12:00-5:00 PM) and MHI Industry Night with Jim Gaffigan (ticketed at approximately $50, including beverages and hors d’oeuvres). The MHI Young Professionals Network Event requires a nominal $10 fee.
MHI (Material Handling Institute) owns and produces the MODEX Trade Show along with its Chicago-based sister show ProMat. Founded in 1943 during World War II to assist with wartime goods transportation, MHI rebranded from “Material Handling Industry of America” (MHIA) in 2013. The organization is headquartered at 8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201, Charlotte, NC 28217, with John Paxton serving as CEO.
MHI operates as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit representing approximately 800 member companies—material handling equipment manufacturers, systems and software providers, consultants, systems integrators, 3PLs, and publishers. The organization encompasses 17-19 MHI Industry Groups representing specialized equipment and solution categories including the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI), Automated Storage/Retrieval Systems (ASRS), Conveyor & Sortation Systems (CSS), Automatic Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS), Mobile Automation (MAG), and The Robotics Group (TRG).
MHI’s tagline—”The Industry That Makes Supply Chains Work”—reflects its position as the authoritative voice for the $200+ billion material handling sector.
MODEX attendance has grown dramatically since the show’s 2012 launch. The most recent edition, MODEX 2024, achieved record-breaking results: 48,733 registered attendees (32% increase from 2022), 1,164 exhibitors, and 580,000 net square feet of exhibition space—filling all three GWCC halls for the first time in the show’s 12-year history.
Historical attendance progression demonstrates consistent growth: 28,000+ (2016), 30,944 (2018, +25% growth), 35,000+ (2020), 37,047 (2022), and the record 48,733 (2024). Trade Show News Network (TSNN) named MODEX to its “Fastest-Growing Trade Shows” list three times: 2014, 2016, and 2018.
The attendee profile skews heavily toward decision-makers: 86% are key decision makers and 76% hold corporate, senior, middle, engineering, or IT management positions. Perhaps most significant for exhibitors, 81% of attendees visit MODEX exclusively, not attending competing trade shows. Collectively, MODEX attendees spend $45-50 billion annually on material handling systems, equipment, and services.
Industry representation includes 80% of the top 100 retailers and 70% of the top 100 consumer goods companies, plus strong Fortune 500 presence. Attendees arrive from 100+ countries across six continents, with international delegations organized through the U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Event Partnership Program.
MODEX launched February 6-9, 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center, created by MHI to serve as ProMat’s southeastern counterpart. Prior to MODEX, MHI operated the North American Materials Handling Show in Detroit and later Cleveland. Then-CEO George Prest announced at the inaugural opening: “The baby is born. The excitement out there is fantastic.”
The show’s growth trajectory has been remarkable.
A major 2020 floor redesign added 100,000 square feet connecting Halls B and C into one contiguous space, improving traffic flow, and enabling the “single floor” experience attendees now enjoy.
MODEX education spans nine major tracks: Automation & Robotics (~55 sessions), Distribution & Warehousing (~54 sessions), E-Commerce Fulfillment & Last Mile Logistics, Emerging Trends & Technology, Manufacturing Planning & Sourcing, Risk Mitigation & Resilience Planning, Sustainability & Alternative Energy, Transportation & Logistics, and Workforce & Labor.
Sessions are classified by difficulty level—Level I (Beginner), Level II (Intermediate), and Level III (Advanced)—enabling attendees to build progressive learning paths. Session topics range from WMS selection and implementation to warehouse automation ROI calculation, AGV/AMR safety regulations, AI in warehouse operations, and ergonomics in modern manufacturing.
Special programs include Student Day (Wednesday) bringing 300-400+ students for guided tours and career networking. ISD always participates as a student site sponsor.
StartUp Pitch Contest (Tuesday 3:00-4:00 PM), and the MHI Innovation Awards ceremony. All presentations are captured as PDFs with audio recordings posted online post-show, extending educational value beyond the live event.
Integrated Systems Design (ISD) is a verified material handling automation company headquarters is at 29659 West Tech Drive, Wixom, MI 48393. Founded in the 1900s, the privately-held company is a sister company to Andersen Material Handling (AMH) of Wixom, MI. The corporation employs approximately 350 people.
ISD operates as a systems integrator and OEM providing automated material handling solutions including Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), including URBX and UltraStore Mid-Load ASRS (Made in USA), conveyor systems, sortation systems, AMRs, AGVs, robotics, and Warehouse Control System (WCS) software. Notable clients include Amway, Caterpillar, Ford, General Motors, Tesla, Honeywell, and Frito-Lay.
ISD’s MODEX participation is documented: the company exhibited at MODEX 2014 (Booth 9534) and is registered for MODEX 2026 at Booth B8032 (Building ABC, Level 1).
MODEX Trade Show 2026 represents the premier opportunity for supply chain professionals to evaluate solutions, attend world-class education, and network with industry leaders—all at zero registration cost. The April 13-16, 2026 dates position the show perfectly for Q2 budgeting and project planning cycles.
For exhibitors, booth placement matters significantly given the solution-center organization across three halls. Companies like ISD demonstrate that consistent MODEX presence builds industry visibility and positions firms for speaking opportunities. With 86% of attendees holding decision-making authority and collectively controlling $45-50 billion in annual spending, exhibitor ROI potential remains substantial.
For attendees, the combination of 200+ free educational sessions, hands-on equipment demonstrations across 580,000+ square feet, and high-profile keynotes creates an unmatched professional development opportunity. The theater system’s strategic positioning enables efficient movement between learning and sourcing activities, while the MODEX mobile app and My Show Planner tools help maximize limited time on the show floor.
