ITS America Conference & Expo has released the full programme for its 2026 Detroit event, which is expected to bring together more than 3,000 transportation leaders from 23 countries, regions and territories.
The four-day event at Huntington Place will feature more than 100 conference sessions, plenary presentations and roundtable discussions involving State Departments of Transportation. The programme covers connected vehicle deployment, AI-led traffic management, accessible transport and smart infrastructure.
Nearly 200 exhibitors and sponsors are expected in the exhibition hall, featuring companies focused on traffic management, autonomous mobility, connected vehicle systems and infrastructure. Two new sections have been added to the show floor: the Cybersecurity & Data Zone and the StartUp Zone.
The cybersecurity section will include 10 exhibitors focused on protecting digital transport networks and connected infrastructure. Palo Alto Networks is among the companies listed, with technology aimed at securing connected transportation systems.
The StartUp Zone will give early-stage companies a dedicated space to present products to public agencies, investors and procurement teams. Companies named for the section include Mobito, Neuweb, Inex.net, ASX, ViaSight and Intreelligent.
Live demonstrations
Outdoor demonstrations are a major part of the programme, with five experiences set to take place outside the venue. They include the I-94 Freeway Experience, focused on vehicle-to-everything communication and cloud-based systems, and the M-1 Intelligent Woodward Experience, which uses connected intersections and sensors along Woodward Avenue.
Attendees will also be able to ride autonomous shuttles through 31 V2X-equipped intersections on Woodward Avenue, according to programme details. Another feature, Emergency Response Tech & Demo Day, will showcase incident warning systems, drone delivery integration for emergency operations and an autonomous freight vehicle from TORC.
Three Tech Tours will take smaller groups to regional transport sites. One stop is Integral Blue's Auburn Hills operations centre, where visitors will see equipment integration, V2X applications and incident response systems in operation.
Public-private mix
The event draws a broad cross-section of the transport sector, including architects, engineers, public agency officials, State Transport Departments, Metropolitan Planning Organisations, investors and mobility companies. Attendance typically splits evenly between public and private sector participants.
A Transportation Hub on the exhibition floor will host fireside chats, a live podcast recording and networking sessions. A Future Leaders Program will connect students and young professionals with industry figures through workshops, essay competitions and mentoring sessions.
Laura Chace, President and Chief Executive Officer of ITS America, said the event is intended to bring transport decision-makers together at a time of rapid technological change.
"The ITS America Conference & Expo is where our industry comes to move forward, together," Chace said. "The pace of change in transportation technology demands that leaders gather each year to share what works and build the relationships that drive real-world deployment. Detroit is the right city for this conversation, and the 2026 program reflects the depth, urgency and opportunity that defines this moment in mobility."
Jaime McAuley, Event Vice President of ITS America Events, highlighted the balance between conference sessions and practical demonstrations.
"From the plenary stage to the exhibit floor to the streets of Detroit, attendees will see, experience and discuss the technologies reshaping how people and goods move across our communities," McAuley said. "Every session, demonstration and Tech Tour is designed to give attendees practical knowledge and new perspectives they can bring home and put to work immediately. This is where the industry comes to learn what is next and how to get there."