iREX 2027 Tokyo: International Robot Exhibition Guide
By Ilyas Kerbal,
The International Robot Exhibition (iREX) is the largest exhibition in the world dedicated purely to robots. Fanuc, Yaskawa, Kawasaki, ABB, Kuka, Denso, Epson and Universal Robots all show their latest machines at once, alongside service, logistics, medical and humanoid robots and the components inside them. The 2025 edition used all of Tokyo Big Sight’s main halls and drew about 150,000 visitors. The next iREX is in December 2027, and the iREX attendee list is one of the best ways to reach automation buyers in Japan and beyond.
iREX key facts
| Industry | Robotics |
| City | Tokyo, Japan |
| Venue | Tokyo Big Sight (East, West and South halls), Tokyo |
| Dates | Early December, biennial (odd years), 2025: 3–6 Dec; next Dec 2027 |
| Frequency | Biennial (odd years) |
| Moves between cities? | No, always Tokyo |
| Typical scale | ~150,000 attendees · ~650 exhibitors |
| Visitor ticket | Free with pre-registration; ¥1,000 at the door |
| App / platform | iREX online exhibition + “iREX GO” discovery service |
| Official website | biz.nikkan.co.jp/eve/irex |
Details checked in October 2026. Dates, prices and venues can change between editions, so confirm on the official iREX website before you book travel.
What is iREX?
iREX is organised by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun and the Japan Robot Association. It covers:
- Industrial robots and cobots
- Logistics, warehouse and material-handling robots
- Service, medical and humanoid robots
- Robot components: reducers, actuators, sensors, vision
- AI, simulation and robot software
- Factory automation and system integration
Live demos are the highlight. You see what robots actually do, not just what brochures promise.
iREX uses all of Tokyo Big Sight’s main halls. Photo: Masato Ohta, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Venue and timing
iREX is held every two years, in odd years, at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, using the East, West and South halls. The nearest stations are Kokusai-tenjijo and Tokyo Big Sight, and free shuttles run between halls. The 2025 show ran from 3 to 6 December; the next one is in December 2027.
Who attends iREX
| Visitor | What they want | Who should target them |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing engineers and production managers | Robots and automation for their lines | Robot makers, integrators |
| Automation system integrators | Robots, components, software | Robot and component manufacturers |
| Procurement teams (automotive, electronics, food, logistics) | Suppliers and pricing | Robot makers, cobot vendors |
| Robot researchers and universities | Technology and partners | Component and software vendors |
| Investors and analysts | Market insight | Startups, research firms |
| International distributors and buyers | Lines to represent | Japanese and global robot makers |
Your competitors are already on the iREX floor plan. I map the exhibitors and visitor profiles for iREX into one clean spreadsheet, so you can see who matters before the doors open. Contact me about iREX
Tickets
| Option | Cost |
|---|---|
| Online pre-registration (Nikkan Kogyo ID) | Free |
| Registration at the venue | ¥1,000 |
| Junior high school age and younger | Free |
Each registration is for one person with a unique email. Lectures and seminars need advance booking.
Online exhibition and iREX GO
iREX runs an online exhibition for about a month around the show, where registered users can browse booths, plus iREX GO, an image-based technology discovery service. Entry uses a QR code from your My Page.
These are good discovery tools. They’re not a prospect list: they won’t sort visitors by company or role, or export contacts for your sales team. With much of the content in Japanese, building that list yourself is slow.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Every top robot maker exhibits at once | Biennial; next edition December 2027 |
| Free entry with pre-registration | Very crowded, especially Friday and Saturday |
| Live demos show real capability | Much content is in Japanese |
| Strong component and supply chain presence | Tokyo hotels are expensive in December |
| Online exhibition extends reach | Students and the public add to crowds |
Same buyers, several shows a year? I can track the iREX audience alongside the other events on your calendar, so repeat prospects and new faces are easy to spot. Talk to me about iREX
Preparing for iREX 2027
- Pre-register online to avoid the ¥1,000 door fee.
- Go early in the week. Friday and Saturday are the busiest days.
- Book seminars in advance; popular ones fill up.
- Target integrators if you sell components or software. They influence many end-user decisions.
- Bring Japanese materials or a Japanese-speaking colleague.
- Use the online exhibition to shortlist booths before you arrive.
FAQ
When is the next iREX?
iREX is biennial (odd years). The 2025 edition ran 3–6 December; the next is in December 2027.
Is iREX free?
Yes, with online pre-registration. Registering at the venue costs ¥1,000.
Where is iREX held?
At Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, Tokyo, across the East, West and South halls.
Can I get the iREX exhibitor and visitor list?
The online exhibition is browsable but not exportable. I can build an enriched iREX list for your team.
Order your iREX attendee and exhibitor list
Past clients have used my lists to fill their meeting calendars before a show and to stop leads going cold afterwards. If you want the same for iREX, tell me what you sell and who you need to reach, and I’ll come back with what I can deliver and when.
Request your iREX list on the home page
Related event guides
- Tokyo International Gift Show: Buyer Guide for 2027
- Japan IT Week Spring 2027: Tokyo IT Show Guide and Leads
- JIMTOF 2026 Tokyo: Machine Tool Fair Guide and Attendee List
Sources
Photo credits
- Cover image: TOPIO 3 by Humanrobo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- In-article image: Tokyo Big Sight at Night by Masato Ohta, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
