Space is filling up fast for the 2026 edition of World Defense Show (WDS), which will take place from February 8-12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The show will be bigger and better compared to previous editons, with many new features.
The event, founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) in Saudi Arabia, is attracting unprecedented interest from both local and international defense stakeholders, with companies from as many as 80 countries expected to exhibit products and capabilities. According to the WDS team that is attending the ongoing IDEF 2025, the event, founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) in Saudi Arabia, has already secured 90% of its exhibitor space for its upcoming edition.
Turkey is the 3rd largest participating country at WDS 2026, with Turkish exhibitors currently occupying 4,400 sqm of exhibition space. Turkish participation is expected to grow considerably from 2024 to 2026, underscoring the significant global momentum building behind WDS as a premier defense exhibition.
To be held under the theme of ‘The Future of Defense Integration,’ WDS will once again serve as a vital platform for showcasing the latest advancements across all five defense domains — air, land, sea, space, and security. WDS 2026 is expected to feature exhibitor participation from an estimated 80 countries, including new participants such as but not limited to, Japan, Portugal, Uzbekistan and Finland.
"The overwhelming demand for exhibition space is a testament to the show's growing reputation as a must-attend event for those shaping the next era of defense and global security," said Andrew Pearcey, CEO. "Our presence at IDEF provides an excellent opportunity to connect with key industry players and highlight the remarkable progress we've made in preparing for WDS 2026.”
The Content Theater themes of WDS 2026 include Translating Operational Requirements into Technological Advantage, Accelerating Breakthrough Technologies in Defense, Integrating and Operationalizing Emerging Technologies at Speed, and Powering National Production and Defense Exports. The key show feature, which explores critical topics driving the industry, will take place from Day 2-5 of the event.
The Content Theater program complements a suite of show features, including the new Future Defense Lab, Unmanned Systems Zone, Naval Zone, Saudi Supply Chain Zone, and WDS News Network.
For more information about the World Defense Show, visit https://www.worlddefenseshow.com/
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