MFG Day 2026: Plan Your Event—Expand Your Impact

The Importance of MFG Day

Manufacturing Day is more than a single day on the calendar. It is a national grassroots movement, and you are part of it. 

Each year, manufacturers and their partners across the country open their doors to students, educators, parents and community members to show what modern manufacturing really looks like. Plant tours, hands-on activities, career conversations, classroom visits and community events are changing the way a new generation sees our industry, and this year, we are building on that momentum in exciting new ways. 

The Manufacturing Institute invites you to join us for the first MFG Day webinar of 2026, where we will share everything you need to know to plan a successful event, reach more students and expand the impact of your efforts like never before. 

Whether you are hosting your first MFG Day event or your fifteenth, this webinar is designed for you. 

What To Expect

This session will cover: 

• An overview of MFG Day 2026 and the national vision for student engagement 
• Practical planning steps and timelines for hosting a successful event 
• Ideas for event formats that work for manufacturers of all sizes, from plant tours to career expos to classroom visits 
• Tips for engaging students in meaningful, memorable ways 
• A look at how we are modernizing the way we capture and celebrate participation and impact across the country, including important updates to the event registration process 
• How to think beyond October 2 and build year-round student engagement into your workforce strategy 

Important Notice For Returning Hosts

If you have registered an MFG Day event on our website in past years or have relied on the national event map to track and promote your participation, please plan to attend this webinar. We are making meaningful changes to how we collect and display event data nationally, and we want to walk you through what that means for you and how the new approach will ultimately paint a clearer, more complete picture of MFG Day’s reach and impact across the U.S. 

We know change can come with questions, and we want to answer yours directly. 

Who Should Attend

This webinar is built for anyone who wants to connect students with manufacturing careers, including: 

• Manufacturers and production facility leaders 
• Workforce development boards and career centers 
• Economic development organizations 
• Community and technical colleges 
• K-12 schools and educators looking to partner with industry 
• Chambers of commerce and industry associations 
• Any organization considering hosting or co-hosting an MFG Day event in 2026 

Why It Matters 

The manufacturing industry faces a well-documented talent gap, and the solution starts with changing the story students hear about our industry. MFG Day events give young people a first-hand look at the skills, technology and opportunity that modern manufacturing offers. When you host an event, you are not just filling a calendar date. You are building a pipeline, strengthening your community and investing in the future of American manufacturing. 

This year, we are also encouraging hosts to think bigger. One great event in October is a start. A year-round commitment to student engagement is a strategy. 

Agenda 

• Welcome and 2026 MFG Day Overview 
• What’s New This Year: Registration, Data and National Impact 
• Planning Your Event: Formats, Audiences and Key Considerations 
• Engaging Students Effectively: Tips for K-12 Audiences 
• Resources Available to Hosts 
• Q&A and Next Steps 

MFG Day is an opportunity to inspire the next generation of manufacturing professionals. Let’s make it count!