HUMANOID ROBOT FORUM AT AUTOMATE SHOW
Hosted as part of Automate 2026, this two-day forum brings together robotics leaders, engineers, and researchers to examine the real-world development, deployment, and commercialization of humanoid technologies.
Event at a glance
Dates: June 23, 2026 – June 24, 2026
Duration: 2 Days
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Event status: PAST
Main themes
Humanoid robotics
Robotics software and simulation
Industrial automation
Intelligent robotics and research
Why this event matters
The Humanoid Robot Forum is the third annual specialized conference hosted as part of Automate 2026, North America's largest robotics and automation trade show. Taking place on June 23-24, 2026 (Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons), this two-day paid forum brings together robotics leaders, engineers, and researchers to examine real-world development, deployment, and commercialization of humanoid technologies. The forum offers in-depth programming focused specifically on humanoid robot development, deployment, and enabling technologies, covering topics including safety standards development, pathways to adoption, use-case selection, integration requirements, cost models, collaborative workflows, human factors in shared spaces, and case-driven insights from applied humanoid deployments. Attendees can also access the free NVIDIA-sponsored Humanoid Robot Pavilion on the show floor. The forum is generating tremendous interest across the automation ecosystem as humanoid robotics moves from concept to production reality.
Speakers and community
The forum typically features speakers from leading robotics companies, technology providers, research institutions, and end-user organizations. Based on previous editions and the broader Automate conference, speakers have included executives and technical leaders from companies such as Agility Robotics, Diligent, NVIDIA, Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, ASTM International, and major industrial companies. The program includes robotics developers, researchers, AI experts, safety professionals, and representatives from manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare sectors who are advancing humanoid systems and deployment strategies. The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) produces the event.
Venue and setting
The forum takes place at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, located at 2301 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. 6 million square feet of exhibit space across four state-of-the-art buildings along Chicago's stunning lakefront, just minutes from downtown. Chicago is centrally located between the East and West coasts with two airports and excellent transportation options. The city offers a vibrant food scene, iconic architecture, world-class museums, live entertainment, diverse neighborhoods, and breathtaking green spaces. Automate 2026 expands into two halls at McCormick Place with over 1,000 exhibitors and is expected to attract upwards of 50,000 automation professionals.
Previous editions
The second annual Humanoid Robot Forum was held September 23, 2025, at the Sheraton Grand Seattle. This one-day immersive event brought together industry leaders, engineers, and top automation experts, featuring keynote speakers from Diligent (Andrea Thomaz, CEO), Agility Robotics (Pras Velagapudi, CTO), NVIDIA Corporation (Amit Goel, Head of Robotics Ecosystem), PSYONIC (Aadeel Akhtar, CEO/founder), Apptronik (Jeff Cardenas, Co-founder/CEO), and GXO (Adrian Stoch, Chief Automation Officer). The forum explored how humanoid robots combined with machine vision, artificial intelligence, and motion control are transforming manufacturing and logistics, offering actionable insights from those pioneering in the field.
