Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the eyes of military decision-makers and technology experts will turn to the Istanbul Exhibition Center (IFM), where the activities of the international exhibition SAHA EXPO 2026 for the defense, aviation and space industries will officially open.
Details of the upcoming event tomorrow:
Launch date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (continues until May 9).
Location: Istanbul Exhibition Center (Yeşilköy), with a total area exceeding 100 thousand square meters.
Opening Ceremony: High-level attendance is expected including senior Turkish officials and defense ministers from allied and partner countries.
What are we expecting in the 2026 edition?
Unprecedented participation volume: The exhibition brings together more than 1,700 exhibiting companies from more than 50 countries, making it a unique global platform connecting the three continents of the world.
Partnerships and agreements: The organizers of the exhibition stated that the current edition aims to exceed previous records in the volume of contracts signed, with a focus on technology transfer and joint production agreements.
The first live shows: Tomorrow a series of live technical shows will begin, most notably:
Drone Challenge (FPV): to demonstrate the speed of maneuvering in complex environments.
Intelligent Ground Vehicle (UGV) Challenge: To test the capabilities of combat and logistics robots.
Rover Challenge: dedicated to space exploration technologies.
Days programme:
The first three days (5 - 7 May): dedicated to official delegations, bilateral meetings (B2B) and professionals in the sector.
The last two days (May 8 - 9): The doors will be opened to the general public to see the latest Turkish and international innovations.
This edition comes under the slogan “Discovering Turkey’s Rising Power,” where major Turkish companies such as “Beykar,” “Aselsan,” and “Roketsan” will display their latest productions of air defense systems, advanced drones, and defense cyber solutions.