UAV Show · 2026

Agoris analysis · updated May 2026

Key takeaways

• UAV Show is the European professional trade show for drones and autonomous systems, organised in Bordeaux by Bordeaux Technowest (aeronautics technology park), with BEAM (Bordeaux Events And More) as event operator.
• 9th edition in 2026: 7 to 9 October 2026 at Palais 2 l'Atlantique of the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux. The 7th and 8th of October are devoted to the exhibition, round tables and workshops, with the 9th of October given over to the Demo Day (flight demonstrations).
• Held in 2025 (8th edition, 14 to 16 October): 4,000 professionals and more than 100 exhibitors, with attendance up 50%, the number of exhibitors up 17% and net exhibition space up 62% compared with the previous edition (source: aerobuzz.fr, nae.fr). Expected in 2026: 110 exhibitors.
• The trade show covers civil, defence and dual-use drones. After the 2025 edition, marked by a strong rise in the defence dimension, the event moved to an annual rhythm to keep pace with the acceleration of innovation in the sector (source: aerobuzz.fr).
• A trade show reserved for professionals, certified to ISO 20121 (responsible event management).

Who exhibits

Typical profile

Drone manufacturers and industrial players, operators, project owners and contracting authorities, defence forces, internal security and civil protection forces, innovation and research ecosystem players, French and European public institutions, local authorities and infrastructure operators, sector-specific users (agriculture, construction). Strictly professional attendance.

Notable exhibitors

Exhibitor catalogue on the official website: uavshow.com. The 2025 edition brought together major players from the civil, dual-use and defence drone sector.

Quality of the attendees

• 4,000 professionals gathered in 2025, up 50% compared with the previous edition (source: nae.fr)
• A stronger presence of the French armed forces, security forces and public contracting authorities, against a backdrop of civil-military convergence
• A complete ecosystem: industrial players, operators, researchers, start-ups and institutions

Events & community

Conference programme

Round tables, keynotes and workshops addressing the sector's challenges over the first two days. In 2025, the round tables devoted to defence saw their attendance double compared with 2023 (source: nae.fr).

Demo Day

The 9th of October 2026 is dedicated to the Demo Day: outdoor flight demonstrations in real-world conditions, organised with the CESA Drones cluster, allowing professionals to showcase their latest innovations.

Community and networks

A major UAV Show evening brings together institutions, industrial players, armed forces and start-ups around the regional aeronautics ecosystem (source: technowest.com).

On site: what you need to know

Access, parking and accommodation: see the listing for the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux.

Specific to the trade show:

• Venue: Palais 2 l'Atlantique, within the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux. The Demo Day takes place at a dedicated outdoor site for flight demonstrations.
• Visitor badge: access reserved for professionals, on presentation of the visitor badge and proof of identity. Prior online registration required.

How much it costs to exhibit

Exhibitor rates not published: exhibitor packages and sponsorship are provided on request via the official website or at contact@uavshow.com. Figures not publicly available.

Preparing your visit

For the exhibitor

• 9 months out: making contact with the organising team, choosing the exhibitor package and positioning (civil, defence, dual-use).
• 6 months out: preparing the stand and demonstrations, and a possible application to the Demo Day for real-world flights.
• 3 months out: activating institutional partnerships and meetings with contracting authorities and defence forces.
• 6 weeks out: confirming business meetings and commercial briefing.

For the decision-making visitor

• Pre-register online with proof of professional activity (trade show reserved for professionals).
• Plan for the Demo Day on 9 October to see the drones in real flight conditions.
• Target the round tables and keynotes in advance according to your scope (civil, defence, dual-use).

Policy & CSR initiatives

UAV Show is certified to ISO 20121, the international standard dedicated to the responsible management of event activities (source: uavshow.com). The detail of further commitments is not published to date on the trade show's website.

How the trade show has evolved

Trajectory analysis

The 2025 edition marked a clear acceleration: attendance up 50%, exhibitors up 17% and net exhibition space up 62% compared with the previous edition. This momentum, driven by the convergence of civil and military drone uses, led the organisers to move UAV Show from a biennial to an annual rhythm from 2026, in order to keep pace with the acceleration of innovation and the geopolitical context of the sector.

Unless otherwise stated, all factual data in this listing comes from the organiser's official website (uavshow.com).