Control Engineering 2026 editorial calendar, determined by subscriber research, is provided in this document. Link to how to contribute and full media kit.
Control Engineering 2026 editorial calendar insights
- Control Engineering research determines 2026 editorial topics; share your knowledge with your peers.
- Link to the Control Engineering media kit and locations on controleng.com where content appears.
To determine 2026 coverage, Control Engineering asked subscribers what they need to do their jobs better. Research results create the annual editorial calendar list in this document: Thank you to those who participated. Control Engineering focuses on the control loop (sense, decide, actuate) to help others measure, make decisions and improve operations and facilities with automation, controls and instrumentation. The Control Engineering niche statement and media kit are available:
2025 https://marketing.wtwhmedia.com/2025-control-engineering-media-guide
2026 https://www.mediakit.controleng.com/print-media/
Submitted and created content may be used online, in the print/digital edition, in newsletters and eBooks, webcasts and for international editions. Learn more about each:
https://www.controleng.com/ebooks
https://www.controleng.com/webcasts
Note: Webcast instructors must be system integrators, consultants, from an association, research or training firm (not an automation vendor, supplier or distributor).
For international editions: https://www.controleng.com/magazine/international-editions
The following calendar is organized based on topic pages at www.controleng.com. Not every topical area has an article topic every month. Coverage is not limited to topics and months here. More than one article may be submitted per topic. With each month is the editorial deadline. (Webcast, research and advertising deadlines differ.) Research, metrics and awards articles are staff written. Gary Cohen is senior editor, Control Engineering, WTWH Media, [email protected]. Amanda Pelliccione, marketing research manager, WTWH Media and Control Engineering, helped gather the research for the 2026 Control Engineering editorial calendar.
2026 Control Engineering editorial calendar topics, January through December
JANUARY – Oct. 1 editorial submission deadline
Control systems
Research: The Future of Industrial Automation: 2026 Insights
Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)
Automated mobile robots (AMRs)
Data acquisition (DAQ), data management
Industrial cybersecurity outlook
Industrial networking: Ethernet; Wireless; I/O systems, I/O modules
Best of 2025: CE July-December, second half tally
FEBRUARY – Nov. 3 editorial deadline
CE: Best of 2025
Automation applications
Edge and cloud computing
Motors and drives industries, applications
Process instrumentation: Critical advice
System integration
Industrial cybersecurity
Webcast: Control system integrator advice maximizes automation investments (Feb. 24)
Industrial networking protocol review
Digitalization, digital transformation: How’s it going?
CE Roundtable: Discrete control systems: PLCs, PACs, HMIs and IPCs
MARCH – Dec. 1 editorial submission deadline
PLCs/PACs: What’s new?
Research: AI in control systems
Industrial internet of things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 progress
Motor-drive systems and energy efficiency
Process safety: How technologies help
Project management help wanted
Best automation topics from Engineering.com
APRIL – Jan. 5 editorial submission deadline
Open, next-generation DCS
Generative AI integration with automation
Variable frequency drive (VFD) technology advances
Webcast: Ways to manage retrofit strategies for motors and drives (April 28)
Mechatronics design, motion control advances
Cybersecurity best practices
Industrial I/O modules and I/O systems
Analytics and better decision making
CE Roundtable: Discrete Manufacturing: Motors, drives and robotics
MAY – Feb. 2 editorial submission deadline
Programming help for automation
AI examples and benefits in automation
Process sensing applications
Industrial cybersecurity: Sequence of events
Best automation topics from Design World
JUNE – March 2 editorial submission deadline
Human-machine interface (HMI), operator interface (OI)
Webcast: How to apply industrial controllers for automation and controls (June 30)
ML examples and benefits in automation
Motor-drive matching
Machine vision or discrete sensors: Advice for applications
Data acquisition application examples
Research: Salary and career survey
Workforce development spotlight
Industrial wireless
Digital twins: Bridging physical and digital
CE Roundtable: Industrial Networking: Ethernet, wireless, protocols and more
JULY – April 1 editorial submission deadline
Advanced process control (APC), proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control
Edge and cloud computing application examples
Power quality, drives, harmonics
Webcast: Ways to mitigate common issues in motors and drives (July 22)
Industrial cybersecurity: From 101 to master-level operations
Best of collaborative robotics
AUGUST – May 1 editorial submission deadline
Control systems applications and integration
Webcast: How to integrate new HMI or SCADA with existing automation (Aug. 13)
AI in robotics
Motors and drives when integration makes sense
Collaborative robotics: Application diversity
Advances in process sensors
Cybersecurity technology advances, examples/AI in cyber
Industrial Ethernet: SPE, APL, other developments
Virtualization, cloud analytics
Research: Product of the Year
CE Roundtable: Process control systems: DCS, SCADA, instrumentation and safety
SEPTEMBER – June 1 editorial submission deadline
PLM, control design
Machine learning technologies for machine health
Process simulation for workforce training
Industrial cybersecurity tips and tricks
Best of Mobile Robotics, AMRs
OCTOBER – July 1 editorial submission deadline
PLCs/PACs
Research: PLCs, PACs
Manufacturing IT, MES: Connecting to controls, automation
Motor technology advances: What you need to know
Machine safety technology roundup
Engineering Leaders Under 40
Industrial device-level networks
Data, info management for automation
Webcast: Practical tips for controls and automation on IIoT, cloud, digital transformation (Oct. 15)
CE Roundtable: Digital transformation: AI/ML, IIoT for Engineers and Industry 4.0/5.0
NOVEMBER – Aug. 3 editorial submission deadline
DCS, SCADA, controllers
Machine learning technologies for machine optimization
Temperature, pressure, level, flow
Industrial cybersecurity procedures, training
DECEMBER – Sept. 1 editorial submission deadline
Programming advances
Research: Motors and drives (with Plant Engineering)
AI in machine vision
UPS applications for reliable automation
Webcast: Motor and drives technology advances for automation, motion controls (Dec. 9)
Research: Motors and drives advances
Discrete manufacturing: Industrial robotics
Process instrumentation integration with process controls
Industrial cybersecurity: Throwback attack 2026 edition
Industrial network applications, tips
Mobile human-machine interfaces
CE Roundtable: System integration: Cybersecurity, project management and workforce development
*Special edition, December
Global System Integrator Report
System Integrator of the Year (August deadline)
System Integrator Giants (September deadline)
System integrators: Specific project advice on how to automate
How to find a system integrator
Quantified benefits of how to automate from system integrators
Global System Integrator Database; click on SYSTEM INTEGRATORS at www.controleng.com
Mark T. Hoske is editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, WTWH Media, [email protected].
