Crane and transport events in 2026

To help you and your teams plan your working year this list of more than 30 events worldwide with a crane and transport-related element is a good place to start.

The most prominent 2026 shows will be ConExpo-Con/Agg in Las Vegas, USA, coming up fast in early March and Bauma China, in Shanghai, late November but there are many other must-attend events. Most of the events listed below have an international scale or level of interest but do remember the many other smaller, even local, events that take place, often organised by industry associations and other trade bodies. 

To help readers navigate the global events programme, the following selection are the most significant industry trade shows and conferences taking place around the world in 2026. Together, they reflect where investment, innovation and policy discussion are likely to be concentrated across the industry.

The list sets out chronologically what’s coming up and offers a practical guide for planning the year ahead.

Heavy Equipment Connect Forum and Expo

2 to 4 February 2026

Dhahran Expo, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s largest exhibition for heavy machinery takes place at Dhahran Expo in the port city of Dammam on Saudi Arabia’s east coast. Organised under the patronage of the National Industrial Development Center (NIDC) and supported by ICST, ACT and CTB publisher KHL Group, HEC 2026 covers more than 40,000 square metres of exhibition and live demonstration space.

It promises more than 200 exhibitors from global and regional brands, outdoor demonstration areas, and a three-day conference called HEC Forum. Specialised pavilions, including the ‘Built in Saudi for the World’ Pavilion, will highlight localised manufacturing and industrial innovation.

SC&RA Specialized Transportation Symposium

24 to 26 February 2026

Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Each year, the Specialized Transportation Symposium brings together leading specialized transportation professionals and government permitting officials to discuss permitting harmonisation, safety, regulations, compliance and some of the most pressing topics in specialized transportation today. It also includes a lineup of high level education sessions and speakers, plus an exhibit centre with 60 booths.

ConExpo-Con/Agg

3 to 7 March 2026

Las Vegas, USA.

North America’s largest construction show returns to Las Vegas, with 2,000 exhibitors and 150 education sessions. It aims to give more than 139,000 construction professionals an overview of emerging technologies, workforce trends, and sustainability practices shaping the future of the construction industry. New for 2026 will be the Ground Breakers Keynote Stage, which promises to spotlight the people, policies, and technologies driving construction forward. KHL Group’s team of journalists will be at the show, delivering all the key news and insight.

Futurebuild

3 to 5 March 2026

Excel, London, UK.

Taking place at the same time as ConExpo but in Europe, Futurebuild 2026 marks its 21st iteration. The three-day event promises exhibits and demonstrations focused around innovation in construction, thought-leading conference sessions, and CPD-accredited seminars.

34th International Crane Conference

16 and 17 March 2026

Ruhr-Universität, Bochum, Germany.

The 34th International Kranfachtagung follows an annual tradition dating back to 1993. Supported by the specialist institutes of the universities of Magdeburg, Dresden and Bochum, it is an established forum for research results and practical innovation covering all key topics around crane technology and material flow.

LES Expo

7 to 9 April 2026

Istanbul, Turkey.

LES-Expo is a specialized trade show dedicated to load engineering services. It promises to bring together the industry’s most influential names from Europe, Asia and Africa under one roof. It unites sectors that require advanced engineering solutions for lifting, transporting, and installing heavy, wide, long, and high-value loads. From wind energy to infrastructure investments, maritime to logistics, it is a showcase for companies operating in a broad range of fields.

International Offshore Crane and Lifting Conference (IOCLC)

14 and 15 April 2026

Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Over the last 28 years the IOCLC has established itself as an important meeting place for professionals in the field of offshore cranes and safe lifting operations. It is organised by the Norwegian Society of Lifting Technology (NSLT) in co-operation with the Offshore Mechanical Handling Equipment Committee (OMHEC). Topics include offshore cranes and lifting technology, offshore wind, subsea and heavy lifting, crane standardisation and regulatory and industry safety initiatives.

SMOPyC 2026

15 to 18 April 2026

Zaragoza, Spain.

Spain’s long-established construction equipment exhibition now in its 20th iteration.

ESTA Awards of Excellence

ESTA Awards winners. Photo: ESTA

16 April 2026

Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, Noordwijk, Netherlands.

Established as the premier annual industry gathering in Europe, the ESTA Awards of Excellence celebrate groundbreaking achievements in heavy lift, crane operations and specialized transport. Each year more than 50 submissions from across Europe compete in 10 award categories.

Arizona Biltmore hotel, home to the 2025 SC&RA Annual Conference. Photo Alex Dahm/KHL Group

SC&RA Annual Conference

20 to 24 April 2026

Amelia Island, Florida, USA.

Attracting industry owners, CEOs, top managers and leaders, the SC&RA Annual Conference includes top level education sessions and speakers. All are part of a week-long schedule that includes committee meetings, receptions and many networking opportunities.

Hanover Messe

20 to 24 April 2026

Hanover, Germany.

Known for decades as the world’s largest industrial exhibition, as far as cranes and transport goes, this event is now more about the technology behind things and integrated systems rather than lifting equipment itself but it is still interesting.

World of Modular

20 to 23 April

Las Vegas, USA.

Modular construction is a persistent and growing theme in the construction industry and has serious implications for cranes and transport. This event’s organiser, the Modular Building Institute, said it expects more than 2,000 attendees at what is the world’s biggest modular construction event. There will be more than 200 exhibitors and 60 speakers from around the world.

IAPA Awards & IPAF Summit 2026

21 and 22 April 2026

Istanbul, Turkey.

The IAPA Awards and IPAF Summit in Turkey involve four events over two days: A site visit organised by IPAF, the IPAF and IAPA welcome reception, the IPAF Summit where senior representatives from the access industry hear from industry experts on the latest developments in the sector, and the IAPA dinner and awards honouring the best of the powered access sector.

Samoter Academy is new for 2026. Photo: Samoter

SaMoTer

6 to 9 May 2026

Verona, Italy.

Italy’s triennial international construction equipment trade fair returns for its 32nd iteration. This year’s show features SaMoTer LAB, an exhibition space promising to bring innovation to life, a demonstration area highlighting the benefits of connectivity and automation called Digital Construction Site, and the SaMoTer Academy with training programmes and activities for students, technicians, and young professionals.

TOC Europe

19 to 21 May 2026

Hamburg, Germany.

If you are involved in lifting and transport in ports, with shipping containers or perhaps marshalling wind turbine components, then this is a worthwhile event.

CTT (STT) Expo

26 to 29 May 2026

Crocus Expo, Moscow, Russia.

While this show will likely be shunned by most western visitors and exhibitors amid Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine and associated sanctions, exhibitors from Russia itself, as well as China, India, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, and Kazakhstan, are all expected to show up. Last year’s event was claimed to have more than 66,000 attendees.

Crane Rental Association of Canada Annual Conference

2 to 4 June 2026

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Annual Canadian crane and lifting conference organised by the Crane Rental Association of Canada.

APEX and International Rental Exhibition (IRE)

2 to 4 June 2026

Maastricht, Netherlands.

APEX is an international trade event for the powered access industry. It is expected to attract more than 6,000 attendees to explore a wide range of cutting-edge equipment, including powered access, telehandlers, advanced components, and rental technology. Alongside the show, the International Rental Exhibition is a must-attend event for all those involved in equipment rental.

Komatek

3 to 6 June 2026

Istanbul Expo Center, Istanbul, Turkey.

The major construction show for the Turkish market, which also attracts visitors from the surrounding region, wider Asia and Europe. Its official supporters include IMDER and ISDER which are the main trade associations for equipment distribution and rental.

32nd AIST Crane Symposium

7 to 10 June 2026

Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Presented by the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST), the 32nd Crane Symposium is dedicated to advancing industrial crane technology in the steel manufacturing industry. Highlights include modernisation, electrification, automation, and sustainability in crane operations.

Tower Cranes North America

10 and 11 June 2026

Music City Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

The conference and networking event for North America’s tower crane industry, TCNA brings the industry together to network and discuss important topics, including safety, product innovation, crane productivity, and site planning.

HCEA Convention and Old Equipment Exposition

28 to 30 August 2026

Kansas, USA.

The USA-based Historical Construction Equipment Association’s annual convention and exhibition of interesting old machinery in Concordia, Kansas.

Vertikal Days

9 and 10 September 2026

Newark Showground, UK.

This 19th iteration sees industry professionals from suppliers, manufacturers and equipment users throughout the lifting and access industries meet for two days on the Vulcan Runway at the Newark Showground in the English Midlands.

IAA Transportation

15 to 20 September 2026

Hanover, Germany.

Leading exhibition for the specialized transport, commercial vehicles, and logistics sectors worldwide.

JDL Expo

16 to 18 September 2026

Beaune, France.

A cranes and access industry event in the heart of historic rural France.

SC&RA Crane and Rigging Workshop

22 to 24 September 2026

Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Conducted annually, the Crane & Rigging Workshop is claimed as the industry’s premier crane and rigging event of the year. It brings together hundreds of top managers, safety directors, legal experts, operations personnel and crane operators from many of the industry’s foremost companies. Covering everything from legal education, consensus standards and regulatory updates to cutting-edge technology and safety practices, Workshop sessions also emphasize training, equipment maintenance and current issues affecting the industry.

CICA Conference 2026

28 to 30 October 2026

Lovedale, NSW, Australia.

The Crane Industry Council of Australia’s annual exhibition, conference and awards event.

Bauma ConExpo India

28 September to 1 October 2026

India Expo Centre, Greater Noida.

Bauma ConExpo India returns after last taking place in 2024. That iteration comprised 135,000 square metres of exhibition space, with nearly 1,000 exhibitors from 30 countries and more than 51,000 attendees from 83 countries.

World Demolition Summit

3 to 5 November 2026

Novotel Madrid Center, Madrid, Spain.

The World Demolition Summit has grown into one of the major annual events for the demolition industry since it started in 2009. This year, it heads to Madrid, Spain, for a high-level technical conference about some of the world’s most challenging demolition projects. A highlight is the World Demolition Awards recognising excellence and best practice.

Crane Safety 2026 (Institution of Mechanical Engineers)

10 November 2026

Manchester, UK.

Marking its first ten years in 2026, the Crane Safety seminar will once again offer a forum to support and inform anyone involved in lifting projects. Presentations and case studies will show a diverse range of projects, new technologies and innovations to enhance safety and reduce risk of incidents across all lifting operations. The event brings together engineers, safety professionals, equipment designers, industry regulators and service providers.

Cranes and Transport Middle East Conference (CATME)

November 2026

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

After four successful CATME conferences in Dubai, CATME 2026 moves to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the first time. It brings the region’s leading lifting and specialized transport forum into ones of the world’s fastest-growing hubs of construction and development. Alongside CATME, International Construction Live2026 will also take place for the first time. Look out for more details to be announced later in the year.

Big 5 Global

23 to 26 November 2026

Dubai World Trade Centre.

Organisers expect 85,000 people from around the world to attend this large show. Around 2,800 exhibitors will show around 60,000 products at the show, which takes place in more than 20 of the halls at the Dubai World Trade Center.

Bauma China

24 to 27 November 2026

Shanghai, China.

Bauma China returns to reveal the latest in construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles. It is expected to attract more than 3,500 exhibitors and around 280,000 visitors.