Commercial UAV Expo 2026 brought the commercial drone industry together September 1–3 in Las Vegas, Nevada, welcoming 3,800 attendees and more than 250 exhibitors for three days of education, networking and a packed exhibit hall.

This year’s event came at an important moment for the rapidly evolving UAS industry, with conversations focused on changing regulations, advancing technology and the opportunities and challenges facing commercial drone operators.

The opening keynote featured Matt Collins, Content Manager for Commercial UAV News, and Greg Reverdiau, co-founder of Pilot Institute, who explored findings from the 2026 State of the Industry Survey and what they reveal about the issues operators are navigating today. The discussion touched on the regulatory landscape, manufacturing, affordability and how the industry is preparing for its next phase of growth.

Innovation was also on display through the annual Pitch the Press competition, where 14 exhibitors presented new products and solutions to leading industry journalists. Harris Aerial, Skyline Nav AI and UtopiaCompression were selected as this year’s winners for technologies addressing needs ranging from U.S.-made drone systems to GPS-independent navigation and aircraft detection.

The opening keynote also included the presentation of the annual Officer Eric Talley Memorial Award to Greg Whiting, sUAS Program Manager for the Texas Military Department, recognizing his leadership in public safety UAS operations and training.

Commercial UAV Expo returns to Las Vegas September 7–9, 2027.

About Commercial UAV Expo
Commercial UAV Expo, presented by Commercial UAV News, is an international conference and expo exclusively focused on commercial UAS integration and operation. The event will take place September 1-3, 2026, at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, visit www.expouav.com.