Last updated: January 2026 – dates and programs may change
The drone industry is increasingly growing and moving beyond experimentation. In 2026, unmanned systems are increasingly finding their footing in surveying, mapping, GIS, conservation, infrastructure, security, urban planning and logistics. Discussions and decisions made at these conferences around regulations, airspace integration, accuracy standards, training & certification, data workflows, and enterprise solutions will shape how drone and geospatial professionals work for years to come.
This article serves as a reference hub for global drone events in 2026, bringing together the most important conferences and expos worldwide for drone and geospatial professionals.
The global calendar is informed by internationally recognized industry tracking (Drone Industry Insights) and is curated here specifically for surveyors, GIS specialists, drone pilots, operators, planners, and regulators.
Africa
Africa’s drone events in 2026 highlight a continent moving decisively from experimental projects to operational deployment. The focus is on solving real problems from conservation, land management, security, and commercial data collection while strengthening regulatory frameworks and regional collaboration.
Explore: Drone Events in Africa 2026
- Emphasis on drones for conservation and environmental monitoring
- Kenya is positioned as a policy and innovation hub (Nairobi and Konza Technopolis)
- Business focus is growing in Nigeria, especially in enterprise and mapping solutions
- South Africa is linking the use of civilian UAVs to aerospace and defense
- Clear shift towards regulated, scalable drone operations
Asia: Manufacturing Powerhouses and Rapid Innovation
Asia continues to dominate the global drone ecosystem, driven by large-scale manufacturing, fast innovation cycles, and deep integration of drones into industry and urban infrastructure. Events across the region showcase the full UAV value chain, from components to deployment.
Explore: Drone Events in Europe 2026
- China (Shenzhen) is at the forefront of drone production and supply chains.
- Japan and South Korea are concentrating on advanced mobility and robotics.
- India is increasing the use of drones in surveying, agriculture, and defense.
- Southeast Asia is becoming a testing ground for urban air mobility and regulatory frameworks.
- There is significant involvement from original equipment manufacturers, startups, and investors.
Middle East: Defense, Counter-UAS, and Smart Cities
Drone events in the Middle East are shaped by security priorities and government-led innovation. This sector places less emphasis on consumer drones and more on strategic applications involving infrastructure security, surveillance and future urban mobility.
Explore: Drone Events in the Middle East 2026
- UAE anchoring regional events in unmanned systems and air mobility
- Heavy focus on counter-UAS and defense technologies
- Saudi Arabia is investing in local manufacturing and AI-driven UAVs
- Israel and Jordan are advancing surveillance and autonomous systems
- Strong alignment with smart city and national security agendas
Europe: Regulation, Urban Airspace, and Integration
Europe’s 2026 drone calendar reflects its role as a global leader in regulation and airspace integration. The program’s focus is on how drones and eVTOLs can operate safely in dense, controlled airspace while meeting strict compliance requirements.
Explore: Drone Events in the Americas 2026
- Germany, UK, Italy, France and Poland are hosting major UAV events
- Strong focus on U-space and airspace integration
- Cooperation between regulators, operators and manufacturers
- Increase in counter-drone and security-focused conferences
- Europe is setting global standards for drone operations
North America: Policy, Enterprise UAVs, and Scale
North America’s drone events are largely policy-driven, with an emphasis on enterprise deployment and regulatory clarity. The United States leads discussions on expanding drone operations within the controlled airspace and critical infrastructure environments.
Explore: Drone Events in North America 2026
- High concentration of FAA policy and regulatory events
- Strong focus on counter-UAS and homeland security
- Major expos targeting energy, infrastructure and public safety
- Enterprise UAV adoption given priority over experimental use
- Close cooperation between government and industry
South America: Expanding Commercial Adoption
South America’s drone ecosystem is growing steadily, with events focused on practical commercial applications. Agriculture, mapping, mining, and environmental monitoring are driving adoption across the region.
Explore: Drone Events in South America 2026
- Brazil is taking the lead in large-scale drone and robotics expos
- Argentina and Chile are hosting international drone congresses
- Strong focus on agriculture, surveying, and infrastructure
- Increasing regional collaboration and knowledge sharing
- High growth potential despite a smaller event footprint
Oceania: Safety, Research, and Specialized Operations
Drone events in Oceania emphasize safety, research, and operations in challenging environments. Australia and New Zealand are particularly active in testing UAVs for long-range, emergency, and remote-area missions.
Explore: Drone Events in Oceania
- Focus on airspace safety and regulatory alignment
- Discussion on advanced air mobility and UAV integration
- Strong presence of search-and-rescue and emergency response use cases
- Challenge-based programs that promote innovation
- Ideal area for testing and research-driven deployment
Conclusion
As the drone industry moves toward widespread use in work environments, both technological advancements and current information must be maintained by professionals. The events listed in this article reflect where meaningful conversations are happening about regulation, standards, operational practice, and the future direction of unmanned systems.
This global events calendar is informed by the Global Drone Events 2026 dataset compiled by Drone Industry Insights.
