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Türkiye will host the next edition of its flagship defense and aerospace exhibition, SAHA Expo 2026, in Istanbul next May, bringing together leading global and domestic defense companies to foster new partnerships and highlight Türkiye’s expanding defense capabilities.
The biennial event, organized by SAHA Istanbul, the country’s and Europe’s largest industrial cluster, has become a major platform for defense, aviation, and space industries since its launch in 2018.
SAHA Expo has evolved from a showcase of Türkiye’s national defense production into a global meeting point for cooperation across defense, aviation, maritime, space, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
The first expo in 2018 hosted 183 companies from 12 countries and 13,000 visitors. By 2021, participation rose to more than 600 firms from 30 countries, attracting 25,000 visitors.
In 2022, the event welcomed 957 companies from 109 countries and 80,000 visitors, where 114 agreements worth over $1 billion were signed.
Last year’s SAHA Expo 2024 broke records, hosting 1,478 companies from 121 countries in a 90,000-square-meter venue. It drew more than 101,000 visitors, unveiled 208 new products, and saw 133 agreements signed worth $6.2 billion.
The exhibition will highlight Türkiye’s growing defense ecosystem, showcasing AI-powered systems, unmanned land, air, and naval vehicles, autonomous technologies, electronic warfare solutions, and advanced ammunition designs.
SAHA Expo serves as a venue for international defense leaders to engage with Turkish firms, explore joint opportunities, and integrate Turkish defense manufacturers into the global supply chain.
SAHA Expo 2026 aims to host 1,500 companies from more than 120 countries in a 100,000-square-meter area. Organizers expect over 25,000 business-to-business (B2B) meetings and more than 200,000 visitors.
The event will include international panels, expert analyses, and interactive technology showcases featuring advancements in unmanned systems, space technologies, and AI-powered platforms.
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