Following the success of its second edition in February 2024, World Defense Show 2026 has registered huge early demand from international exhibitors, with floorspace for the event already 50 percent sold.
World Defense Show 2024 saw a record number of 773 exhibitors, showcased on an expanded floorspace, that sold out six months before the event opened. The third edition looks to be selling even faster and expects greater demand from exhibitors, visitors and delegations.
Andrew Pearcey, Chief Executive Officer, World Defense Show, said: “The demand has been phenomenal. Just four months after the second edition of the show closed, to global industry approbation, we have already sold 50 percent of the floorspace for the third edition. Many of the industry’s leading multi-domain businesses booked their stands for 2026 during the 2024 event. I am in no doubt that World Defense Show 2026, will be an essential event for global companies across the defense supply chain.”
The WDS team is attending Eurosatory, held from 17-21 June at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, giving potential exhibitors an opportunity to find out more about the 2026 event, and book their space, while it is still available.
Pearcey said: “This news further cements our position as the emerging global hub for the defense industry. We have grown each year, in the size of our event, in the number of exhibitors and visitors, but also in the depth and breadth of expertise and influence of those taking part in our panels, presentations and discussions.
“Our impact is effected in two ways, as a gateway to partnership and collaboration with the Saudi Arabian defense industry, but more importantly as a truly global networking and policymaking event, welcoming senior delegations from around the world to meet representatives of the international defense industry in a confidential and impartial setting,” he added.
WDS 2026 will see the return of many of the event’s acclaimed networking features and programs, including the highly successful ‘Meet the KSA Government’ program, which shares the latest developments on the Kingdom’s business guidelines, investment requirements and partnership processes.
The show’s growing Delegations Program will also return. In 2024, the program matched high-ranking officials from 441 delegations representing 112 countries to exhibitors looking to expand into their specific markets. And the extended B2B Connect will once again facilitate meetings between buyers and suppliers across the supply chain.
Other successful signature features as well as an abundance of new show themes and ways to network will be announced on WDS 2026 over the coming months.
Founded by Saudi Arabia’s defense industry regulator, the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), WDS serves as the global stage for innovation and technological advancement in the defense industry across four key domains: air, land, sea and security. The third edition will take place between 8-12 February 2026 in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.
The event, covering every sector and tier of the defense industry, will deliver networking programs with high-profile attendees, live air and ground displays of advanced defense solutions, and knowledge-sharing segments that will generate opportunities for local and global military industries sectors at the centre of the global supply chain. World Defense Show will be held in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s key leadership, international delegations and prominent industry decision makers from around the world. To learn more about the show, visit www.worlddefenseshow.com
The founder of World Defense Show, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, is the regulator, enabler and licensor for the Kingdom’s military industry. GAMI is responsible for domestic defense sector development in line with KSA’s commitment to Vision 2030 and to localize 50 percent of domestic defense equipment and services expenditure by 2030.
