16 key defence tech events of 2026

In 2026, the global defence industry is expected to see even more exhibitions, hackathons, conferences, and summits. The Defender Media calendar already features more than 130 events from around the world — from Apex Defense in Washington, D.C., to the SAHA 2026 International Defence and Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul.

The editorial team has selected 16 of the most significant events from the list, which, in our view, deserve special attention from defence tech professionals.

DIMDEX 2026

Where: Doha, Qatar
When: January 19-22

One of the leading international exhibitions, bringing together senior officials, industry leaders, experts, and key decision-makers in the defence and security sectors. Over four days, the event serves as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies, sharing strategic insights, building partnerships, and closing important deals.

Apex Defense

Where: Washington, USA
When: January 27-28

A leading defence technology event that brings together military personnel, procurement specialists, startups, small and medium-sized businesses, investors, and industry leaders to address operational challenges collaboratively — from the seabed to space. The event aims to accelerate the adoption of critical technologies for the U.S. Armed Forces and their allies, focusing on addressing urgent needs and implementing practical solutions in the near term. The program is built around real military requirements and creates an environment for collaboration and action-oriented, applied dialogue.

AI in Defence Summit 2026

Where: Brussels, Belgium
When: February 2

The first summit, where leaders in defence, cybersecurity, and institutional sectors will have in-depth discussions on the role of artificial intelligence in defence.

Eight hours of conversation, analysis, and practical planning for executive teams that value substance over spectacle. The summit features targeted discussions and demonstrations of AI in the defence sector.

World Defense Show 2026

Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
When: February 8-12

For the third time, the World Defense Show will bring together leading players from the global defence sector, military representatives, and government officials to discuss key trends and technological shifts across air, land, sea, space, and security domains.

Organized by the General Authority for Military Industries of Saudi Arabia, the exhibition focuses on the future of integrated defence solutions. The WDS 2026 program includes a large-scale display of international innovations, live demonstrations, and professional networking opportunities.

Drone World Expo

Where: Warsaw, Poland
When: March 3-5

Drone World Expo is an industry event dedicated to modern unmanned systems and related technologies. The focus areas include drones, urban air mobility (UAM), AI, Big Data, and unmanned traffic management (UTM) systems.

The event brings together manufacturers, developers, and end-users of solutions applied in technical inspections, logistics, environmental monitoring, and air mobility. It serves as a platform for discussing practical use cases and future industry trends.

London Defence Conference 2026

Where: London, The UK
When: April 10-11

The London Defence Conference 2026 (LDC 2026), taking place for the fourth time, will serve as a platform for discussing key defence and security issues among the United Kingdom’s partner countries. The conference will bring together political leaders, military officials, defence industry representatives, and members of the academic community, creating a space for strategic dialogue amid current geopolitical challenges.

Military Robotics & Autonomous Systems

Where: London, The UK
When: April 13-15

A leading conference on the development, procurement, and integration of unmanned systems. The event organisers emphasise that, in today’s context of heightened instability, the ability to deploy autonomous systems that reduce risk and provide scalability is increasingly critical.

Rising defence spending by the UK and NATO countries is accelerating investment in these technologies. Against this backdrop, the 9th annual RAS conference remains a key event for industry professionals — this year, more than 300 participants from over 25 countries are expected.

SAHA 2026

Where: Istanbul, Türkiye
When: May 5-9

Building on the remarkable success of SAHA EXPO 2024, the International Defence and Aerospace Exhibition SAHA 2026 returns with a significantly stronger and more comprehensive organisation. Last time, SAHA EXPO attracted over 1,470 companies from 120 countries, with participants holding tens of thousands of B2B meetings. The exhibition facilitated more than 130 strategic partnership agreements and generated commercial transactions worth $6.2 billion, marking a significant milestone in the global defence and aerospace industry.

XPONENTIAL 2026

Where: Detroit, USA
When: May 11-15

An annual event that brings together over 8,500 leaders and participants from the unmanned systems and robotics industries. The event provides opportunities to connect with experts from the defence, commercial, and civil sectors, as well as to showcase commitment to teamwork and technological progress.

Organisers note that XPONENTIAL helps industry professionals stay at the forefront of a rapidly evolving technological landscape and navigate constant changes in regulations.

International Drone Show

Where: Odense, Denmark
When: June 3-4

The International Drone Show is Northern Europe’s leading event dedicated to drones and unmanned systems. The event transforms the city of Odense into an international hub for the drone ecosystem, bringing together speakers, exhibitors, and participants from around the world.

In 2025, the show attracted representatives from 36 countries, including Norway, Sweden, the U.S., Germany, the U.K., Ukraine, the Netherlands, Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, and many more.

Eurosatory 2026

Where: Paris, France
When: June 15-19

Eurosatory Paris 2026 will focus on strengthening defence and security capabilities to address a wide range of threats in a world facing global pandemics, large-scale conflicts, and environmental transformation challenges.

DX KOREA 2026

Where: Goyang-si, South Korea
When: September 16-19

The 7th Korea Defence Industry Exhibition (DX KOREA 2026) will take place at the KINTEX Exhibition Center II in September.

DX KOREA was first held in 2014 and has been held biennially since then. The event has become South Korea’s flagship defence industry exhibition and earned a reputation as an international hub for collaboration. For more than ten years, it has brought together global suppliers, government representatives, and senior military officials to explore innovations and shape future defence partnerships.

EUDEX 2026

Where: Essen, Germany
When: September 22-25

The security sector is evolving rapidly, with civil and military aspects increasingly converging, driving the need for innovative solutions. In response, a new exhibition format has been introduced in Germany — EURO DEFENCE EXPO (EUDEX), held alongside the well-known Security Essen, a leading civil security event.

Together, the two exhibitions create a unique platform for integrating civil and military security technologies, engaging key partners, and fostering active knowledge exchange among policymakers, industry, and military technology users at the European level.

UAV Technology Сonference

Where: London, The UK
When: September 28-29

The 11th Annual Unmanned Aerial Systems Technology Conference will take place in London at the end of September. Organisers emphasise that UAVs remain the most dynamic and in-demand military technology of the past decade. The drone market is growing rapidly, with capabilities constantly evolving — from long-range ISR systems and mini-UAVs for field reconnaissance to remotely piloted strike drones for precision attacks. As operational demands increase, technological innovations underpinning these platforms are accelerating, all of which will be discussed at the September conference.

DroneX Expo 2026

Where: London, The UK
When: September 29-30

The largest annual event in the UK for the unmanned aerial systems industry. Held at ExCeL London, the exhibition brings together experts in commercial, military, and emergency drones. The event features presentations and demonstrations of the latest technologies, specialised workshops, and the DroneX Awards ceremony.

AUSA 2026

Where: Arlington, USA
When: October 12-14

The annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Conference is the largest industry exhibition in North America. The three-day event aims to convey the Army’s key messages while showcasing the capabilities of organisations and the broad range of defence industry products and services.

The conference agenda includes up-to-date presentations on the state of the Army, panel discussions and seminars on military and national security issues, as well as numerous professional networking opportunities available to all participants.

Do you know of an event not yet listed in our calendar? Let us know at team@thedefender.media.