For more than 35 years, RAPID + TCT has brought together the biggest names and the brightest minds in additive manufacturing (AM). As North America’s largest AM and industrial 3D printing event, RAPID + TCT’s reputation is rooted in its ability to evolve alongside the industry. In 2026, that evolution will continue with a new host city and expanded programming. This includes three dedicated expo showcases: the AeroDef Manufacturing Showcase, the StartUp Showcase, and the Healthcare Showcase.
Here’s a preview of what each will bring to the floor.
The AeroDef Manufacturing Showcase
Industrial 3D printing is quickly becoming a critical capability in the aerospace and defense industries. In fact, the U.S. Department of War’s 2026 budget request allocates $3.3 billion to AM-related projects — an 83% increase from 2025. As workforce constraints and supply chain gaps place increased pressure on the industrial base, AM offers a practical way to accelerate production while reducing reliance on traditional processes and suppliers.
However, the defense sector demands precision and compliance — and finding qualified suppliers can be a challenge. The AeroDef Manufacturing Showcase is designed to simplify that process, serving as a centralized hub for technology providers, service bureaus, and equipment builders. Exhibitors will include Siemens, a global leader in automation and digital manufacturing software, and VulcanForms, whose integrated production systems combine scalable laser metal AM with machining and heat treatment. The Center for Advanced Production Technologies at MIT will also exhibit, highlighting its role in connecting academia with industry to develop and deploy new production workflows.
Meanwhile, the Knowledge Bar will host small group sessions led by APEX Accelerators and key exhibitors especially-versed in meeting public-sector demands. Here, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss best practices for conducting business safely and securely within the defense industry and other federal departments.
The StartUp Showcase
Along with attracting established names, RAPID + TCT prides itself on nurturing the next generation of AM talent. The StartUp Showcase creates space for emerging players bringing bold ideas, novel applications, and cutting-edge software and hardware to market. On the floor, attendees can meet founders, ask questions, and explore technologies at their earliest commercial stages.
Among the exhibitors will be Niche 3D LLC, which specializes in product development and CAD design optimized for industrial 3D printing; New Collar AI; and Unlayered 3D, which focuses on bringing multi-planar 3D printing to the mass market. For attendees seeking early visibility into up-and-coming technologies, the StartUp Showcase offers the opportunity to evaluate new concepts and examine their potential use cases in real time.
The Healthcare Showcase
As a global hub for the life sciences and healthcare, Boston is where many of the major advances in industrial 3D printing for medical devices, surgical tools, and biocompatible materials are taking place. The region’s hospitals, research institutions, and manufacturers are pioneering new applications of AM for patient-specific implants, surgical planning, and regenerative medicine.
The Healthcare Showcase will foreground this work, uniting researchers, surgeons, engineers, clinicians, and manufacturers who are working at the forefront of AM in healthcare. Exhibiting companies will include Carbon, known for its Digital Light Synthesis™ process, Park Dental Research Corp, and NanoVoxel GmbH, which specializes in producing high-precision micro parts. At the Knowledge Bar, experts will facilitate conversations exploring key challenges and emerging innovations in healthcare AM.
Boston as the Backdrop
2026 will be a big year for RAPID + TCT. It will mark the event’s Boston debut, situating North America’s premier AM event in one of the nation’s most important hubs for research, technology, and advanced manufacturing. It’s fitting, then, that this year’s showcases reflect some of the region’s defining strengths. Boston is a global healthcare center, home to leading hospitals and research institutions. The city draws startup talent from institutions such as Harvard University and MIT. And Massachusetts boasts one of the country’s largest aerospace and defense manufacturing clusters.
All of these strengths will contribute to a vibrant show floor and the most robust conference programming in the event’s history, setting the stage for what promises to be a landmark year for RAPID + TCT.
RAPID + TCT 2026 will take place from April 13 to 16 at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston.