The American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) TRANSform & EXPO 2026 returns Oct. 4 to 7 at McCormick Place in Chicago, bringing together thousands of public transportation professionals, manufacturers, consultants, technology providers, policymakers, and business leaders for four days of education, networking, and innovation.

Widely regarded as North America's premier public transportation conference and trade show, TRANSform comes at a time when agencies are balancing major capital investments with the need to improve everyday service.

From artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies to zero-emission fleets, cybersecurity, workforce development, safety, and customer experience, the conference agenda reflects the issues occupying transit leaders across the country.

Tackling Transit’s Biggest Issues

The educational program will feature keynote presentations, executive forums, technical sessions, workshops, and committee meetings designed to provide practical strategies and real-world case studies. Attendees will hear directly from transit agency executives, industry experts, elected officials, and technology leaders about the policies, innovations, and partnerships shaping public transportation's future.

While the conference delivers insight, the EXPO floor provides a look at that future in action.

More than 800 exhibitors are expected to showcase the latest buses, rail vehicles, charging systems, fare payment technologies, passenger information systems, maintenance equipment, software platforms, and mobility solutions. For many agencies, the exhibit hall serves as an opportunity to evaluate new products, compare technologies, and build relationships with suppliers before making major procurement decisions.

Artificial intelligence is expected to be one of the dominant themes throughout this year's event.

As agencies increasingly explore AI-powered predictive maintenance, customer communications, scheduling optimization, and security applications, TRANSform will offer attendees opportunities to examine both the promise and practical implementation of these technologies.

Sustainability also remains a key focus, with sessions highlighting battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, charging infrastructure, resiliency planning, and strategies for meeting long-term environmental goals.

Connecting the Transit Industry

The event also emphasizes one of the industry's greatest strengths: collaboration.

Transit agencies facing similar operational challenges often find their most valuable takeaways through conversations with peers. Networking receptions, committee meetings, technical tours, and business sessions provide opportunities for attendees to exchange ideas, share lessons learned, and develop partnerships that extend well beyond the conference.

Chicago offers an ideal setting for those discussions. Home to one of North America's largest multimodal transit systems, the city has long been recognized as a transportation hub, with an extensive network of heavy rail, commuter rail, bus, intercity passenger rail, aviation, and freight operations. Attendees will have opportunities to experience that network firsthand through technical tours and other conference activities.

For suppliers, TRANSform represents one of the year's most important opportunities to connect directly with agency decision-makers. For transit systems, it offers a chance to evaluate emerging technologies, identify operational best practices, and better understand where the industry is headed.

As public transportation continues to evolve amid changing mobility demands and technological disruption, APTA TRANSform & EXPO 2026 promises to showcase not only the industry's newest products and ideas, but also the collaborative spirit that has long driven innovation in transit.

For agencies planning their next investments — or simply looking to stay ahead of the curve — Chicago will once again be the place where the future of public transportation takes shape.

To register now, click here.