As the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show prepares to stage its largest-ever exhibition at Punchestown this November, we trace the remarkable evolution of an event that has become a cornerstone of Ireland’s agricultural-machinery industry.
When the first FTMTA Farm Machinery Show opened its doors at Dublin’s RDS in February 1989, few could have imagined the scale of the event that would emerge almost four decades later.
What began as an ambitious initiative by the farm machinery trade has evolved into Ireland’s flagship, dedicated agricultural machinery exhibition, attracting thousands of farmers, contractors and industry professionals from across the island.
This November, the show will reach another milestone when more than 180 exhibitors gather at Punchestown Event Centre, Co Kildare, for what will be the largest dedicated farm-machinery exhibition ever held in Ireland.
With over 18,000 square metres of indoor exhibition space across nine halls, the 2026 event will be more than 4,000 square metres larger than its hugely successful predecessor in 2024.
Yet, despite its growth, the philosophy behind the exhibition remains unchanged: it is a show organised by the machinery industry to serve the needs of farmers, contractors and the wider agricultural sector.
Where it all began
The roots of the exhibition lie in the Farm Tractor & Machinery Traders Association (FTMTA), the history of which stretches back to 1913.
Established to represent businesses involved in the manufacturing, distribution, sale and servicing of agricultural machinery, FTMTA recognised the need for a dedicated exhibition, at which the trade could showcase its products in a professional environment.
That ambition became reality on 6 February 1989, when the inaugural Farm Machinery Show opened in the Simmonscourt Pavilion at the RDS.
The initiative was driven by an FTMTA show committee chaired by John Perry, with Geoff Daly, Shay Lynch and Pat Keogh among those instrumental in bringing the idea to fruition.
The first exhibition attracted approximately 9,000 visitors and filled more than 90% of the available exhibition space, immediately demonstrating the appetite for a specialised machinery event.
By 1991, the exhibition had filled the available space, while visitor numbers continued to rise. Attendance reached approximately 13,500 by 1993, firmly establishing the show on the agricultural calendar.
A new home at Punchestown
As the exhibition expanded, the limitations of its Dublin location became increasingly apparent. Growing machinery dimensions, demand for larger stands and increasing traffic congestion made the RDS a progressively more challenging location for exhibitors and visitors.
In 2003, the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show relocated to the newly developed Punchestown Event Centre near Naas, Co Kildare.
The move proved transformative.
Punchestown offered extensive hardstanding areas, excellent access, substantial parking and the flexibility to accommodate the increasingly sophisticated displays demanded by machinery manufacturers.
The development of additional facilities, including the Trackside Pavilion in 2011 and Hunt Stand in 2018, further strengthened the venue’s appeal.
By 2017, the exhibition was attracting approximately 21,000 visitors, underlining its position as a major gathering for the agricultural machinery industry.
A successful return and a new direction
Like so many major exhibitions, the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, its return in November 2024 marked more than simply the resumption of a familiar event. It represented a significant rethink of how and when the exhibition should take place.
The show moved from its traditional February slot to November, to better reflect the changing requirements of farmers, contractors and machinery businesses.
February frequently coincides with the demanding spring-calving and lambing seasons, while machinery dealerships are often occupied with deliveries and preparations for the busy months ahead.
November offers a different opportunity.
For many farmers and contractors, the main seasonal workload has eased, providing time to consider investment decisions and explore the latest machinery developments.
For dealerships and manufacturers, it is also an important period for discussing customer requirements and planning machinery orders for the following year.
The decision to switch seasons was emphatically vindicated in 2024, when more than 160 exhibitors and over 20,000 visitors attended the relaunched event.
The show also adopted a biennial schedule, deliberately alternating with the Agritechnica event in Germany and allowing the Irish industry to maintain its own major machinery showcase without competing directly with Europe’s largest agricultural machinery exhibition.
The biggest show yet
Building on that momentum, preparations for the 2026 event have taken the exhibition to an entirely new level.
The show will occupy nine indoor halls, including two enormous temporary structures, Halls D and E, each measuring 40 metres wide by 155 metres long.
These structures rank among the largest marquees erected in Ireland, demonstrating the scale of the infrastructure required to accommodate modern agricultural machinery.
All exhibition areas will be indoors and heated, creating a comfortable environment for visitors regardless of November weather conditions. Furthermore, the venue will offer free parking for up to 17,000 cars, alongside café and restaurant facilities; toilets and Wi-Fi connectivity.
A significant development this year is the arrival of FBD Insurance as show sponsor, providing further recognition of the exhibition’s importance to Irish agriculture.
A unique connection between manufacturers and farmers
What distinguishes the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show from many other agricultural events is its direct connection with machinery manufacturers and their national importers and distributors. Rather than relying primarily on local dealership displays, the exhibition brings the businesses responsible for designing, manufacturing and supplying machinery face to face with the people using it.
For farmers and contractors, this creates an invaluable opportunity to speak in person with product specialists, technical experts and senior industry personnel.
For manufacturers, it provides equally important feedback from customers operating machinery in real-world Irish conditions.
The exhibition is also deliberately specialised. Its focus remains firmly on agricultural machinery, technology, components, spare parts, tyres and associated professional services. All of this ensures that visitors can concentrate on the products at hand and the expertise most relevant to their farming or contracting operations.
Celebrating Irish engineering and innovation
The exhibition also provides a major platform for Ireland’s indigenous agricultural machinery manufacturers.
Irish engineering businesses have developed an international reputation for producing innovative, practical and robust machinery, with many exporting equipment to markets far beyond Ireland.
Their contribution forms part of a substantial national industry.
A recent economic report commissioned by FTMTA and prepared with ifac estimated the value of Ireland’s farm machinery sector at approximately €5 billion, supporting around 25,000 jobs.
At Punchestown, that economic contribution becomes visible through the machinery, engineering expertise and businesses represented across the exhibition halls.
Increasingly, innovation is focused on helping farmers achieve more, even with fewer resources available.
Precision application systems, intelligent machinery controls, automation and digital technologies are improving efficiency, reducing unnecessary inputs and supporting more sustainable agricultural production.
The 2026 exhibition will give visitors an opportunity to explore these developments first-hand and understand how they can deliver practical benefits on farms.
Investing in the next generation
Another important milestone for 2026 is the introduction of a dedicated Education Hub.
Recognising the growing need for skilled technicians, engineers and machinery professionals, FTMTA has brought together leading education and training providers to showcase the many opportunities that are available within the sector.
Participants will include Teagasc; CAFRE; SOLAS; Munster Technological University; Cavan and Monaghan ETB; Macra Agricultural Skillnet; AGCO NexTech and Ohio State University. Students and prospective entrants will be able to explore apprenticeships, engineering qualifications, agricultural education and the many career pathways available within the machinery industry.
It is an important investment in the future of a sector that depends as much on skilled people as it does on advanced technology.
Looking to the future
From its modest beginnings in the RDS in 1989 to the vast exhibition halls of Punchestown in 2026, the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show has continually evolved alongside the industry it represents.
Its enduring success reflects the importance of bringing manufacturers, suppliers, farmers and contractors together in an environment dedicated entirely to agricultural machinery.
As the industry navigates changing technologies, environmental expectations and evolving farming practices, that connection is arguably more valuable than ever.
And with its biggest exhibition yet, new sponsorship partnership and renewed emphasis on education and innovation, the 2026 show promises to be another defining chapter in a remarkable history.
The FTMTA Farm Machinery Show takes place at Punchestown Event Centre, Naas, Co Kildare, on Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November 2026.
