BY OJO SAMSON AYOMIDE
SAHA 2026, International Defence and Aerospace Exhibition organised by SAHA Istanbul, will take place at the Istanbul Expo Center from May 5 to 9, 2026, bringing together more than 1,700 companies, official delegations, hosted buyers, universities and sector representatives in a 10,000-square-metre exhibition space.
The event is being positioned not only as a trade platform, but as a strategic meeting point for defence and aerospace stakeholders at a time when governments and industry are reassessing supply chains, security partnerships and access to advanced technologies.
The exhibition builds on the previous edition’s commercial and diplomatic scale. According to event materials, SAHA EXPO 2024 brought together 1,478 companies from 120+ countries, generated more than 25,000 organised business meetings, produced 133 signing ceremonies and led to $6.2 billion in business volume.
For 2026, organisers are expanding the format with a broader exhibition footprint, targeted B2B, G2B and G2G meetings, and a programme designed to connect procurement demand with industrial capability across 53 sectors.
For international media and industry observers, the news value lies in the event’s growing function as a convergence point for commerce, defence, diplomacy and technology policy. SAHA 2026 is backed by a wide range of public institutions in Türkiye and is described in official materials as internationally certified by UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
The programme is expected to include international panels, keynote sessions, roundtables, product launches, signing ceremonies and dedicated thematic and national pavilions, alongside NATO NIF-related activity and structured networking for cross-border cooperation.
The exhibition will place particular emphasis on operationally relevant technologies and live demonstration formats. Organisers say the programme will include the FPV Drone Zone, the SAHA UGV Challenge and the SAHA Rover Challenge, while the Outdoor and Naval Exhibition Area has been redesigned to be larger and more accessible following strong interest in the previous edition.
Across the venue, participants are expected to see systems and solutions spanning land, naval, missile, aerospace, unmanned and space-based domains, alongside robotics, air defence and military electronics.
“SAHA 2026 is more than a trade exhibition—it is a strategic platform showcasing Türkiye’s impressive advancements in defence and aerospace, highlighting its expanding global role,” said Haluk Bayraktar of SAHA Istanbul in a recent interview released as part of the event’s international communications.
“We are entering a new era in defence and aerospace—shaped by vision, collaboration, and trusted partnerships,” Bayraktar said. He added that SAHA 2026 is intended to serve “not just as a showcase, but a platform for partnerships, technology transfer, and lasting trust.”