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SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE

Tuesday, September 1

7:00 AM – 7:30 PM Registration Hours

9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Conference Sessions*

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Opening Keynote

2:00 PM – 5:30 PM Exhibitor Showcases

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Exhibit Hall Hours

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

UAS SUMMER BASH

Join friends and colleagues for the opening of the Exhibit Hall! Check out the latest UAS solutions, chat with vendors, and make more connections while enjoying the last tastes of summer.

Commercial UAV Expo comes before Labor Day, and we’re leaning into it.

Wednesday, September 2 Thursday, September 3

8:00 AM – 5:30 PM Registration Hours 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM Exhibit Hall Hours 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM Conference Sessions* 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Registration Hours 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Keynote 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM Conference Sessions* 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Exhibit Hall Hours

NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR

Join us at the official Commercial UAV Expo Networking Happy Hour on the show floor! Grab a beverage and connect with colleagues while exploring the latest commercial UAS solutions and innovations.

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

PUBLIC SAFETY HAPPY HOUR

Located in the Public Safety Pavilion SPONSORED BY HOSTED BY

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Last Call in the Hall

*additional purchase required for admittance

WHAT TO EXPECT

Commercial UAV Expo is where commercial drone professionals connect with the industry’s most advanced technology, practitioners, and decision-makers. Walk away with actionable strategies that improve your operations, measure ROI from qualified partnerships, and sharpen your competitive edge.

Powerful Connections THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES

Commercial UAV Expo brings together the full commercial drone community in one place. Build meaningful relationships through conversations on the show floor, expert-led roundtables, and dedicated networking events including the UAS Summer Bash and Networking Happy Hour. Whether you’re a solo operator growing your client base or a program manager building vendor relationships, the connections you make here extend well beyond the show.

Proven Technology

200+ EXHIBITORS

Explore an exhibit hall filled with cutting-edge commercial UAS solutions from across the industry. Whether you’re evaluating your next hardware investment, searching for a software platform to streamline your workflows, or assessing NDAA-compliant alternatives in a shifting supply landscape, Commercial UAV Expo brings the solutions to you. With exhibitors representing every segment of the commercial drone ecosystem.

Practical Insights

50+ SESSIONS

Education at Commercial UAV Expo is built for UAS professionals at every level and across every industry. The conference program features sessions covering surveying and mapping, BVLOS operations, drone law and airspace access, program development, and the future of autonomy and AI.

The DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit delivers specialized programming for first responders and emergency services professionals, with sessions on building public safety UAS programs, counterUAS for first responders, and drone applications in disaster response. The Pilot Institute anchors the Pilot Hub with practical training content covering aviation safety culture, mapping workflows, and deep dives into Part 108. Across multiple stages and roundtable discussions, you’ll leave with insights you can put to work immediately.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

The 2026 Commercial UAV Expo conference program was built from the ground up with the full spectrum of commercial drone professionals in mind. Whether you’re a certified pilot looking to sharpen your skills, a UAS program manager navigating fleet transition and regulatory change, a surveyor pushing the boundaries of what your data can do, or a public safety operator integrating drones into critical response workflows, this year’s programming delivers sessions built around the real challenges you’re facing right now.

Commercial UAV Expo has partnered with DRONERESPONDERS and Pilot Institute to develop custom sessions that go beyond the broad strokes and get straight to the practical, actionable insights that move the needle in the field, in the office, and in the air. Across industries and experience levels, the program is where the commercial drone community comes to solve problems together.

The View From the Field: What Operators, Pilots, and Fleet

Managers

Are Saying About the Commercial Drone Industry

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM PDT

Featuring:

Two Skies, One Conversation: Comparing FAA and EASA Approaches to BVLOS Drone Operations

Thursday, September 3, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

As the commercial drone industry scales globally, no two questions matter more than how fast regulations are evolving and whether operators can count on consistency across borders. This moderated keynote panel brings together leaders from the FAA and EASA for a candid conversation on the state of drone regulation in the United States and Europe.

Panelists will compare progress on BVLOS operations, examining how the FAA and EASA are shaping scalable, routine flight beyond visual line of sight. The discussion will explore how each authority approaches operational waivers and exemptions, where risk-based frameworks like SORA and emerging U.S. approval pathways align, and where meaningful differences remain.

Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of where global regulatory frameworks are heading, what operators should watch for in the next phase of rulemaking, and how the FAA and EASA are learning from each other’s successes and setbacks in building a safer, more scalable drone ecosystem.

*Speakers coming soon!

Matt Collins Commercial UAV News

Greg Reverdiau Pilot Institute

FORUM THEATER PROGRAM

Forum Theater sessions give attendees practical, business-focused insight into the topics shaping day-to-day drone operations, from workforce development and insurance essentials to camera skills, autonomous fleet deployment, and how to spot what’s truly new on the show floor.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Preparing the Workforce for a Rapidly Evolving Industry

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM What Every Drone Pilot Should Understand About Insurance

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM How Drones Were Used in the Recent Venezuelan Earthquakes

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM When One Drone Is Not Enough: The Operational Realities of Swarms and Autonomous Fleet Deployment

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM The Camera Skills Every Commercial Drone Pilot Needs to Master

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Pitch the Press

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Merging UAV and Ground-Based Data: Real-World Challenges and Lessons From the Field

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM How Drone Service Providers Build Visibility and Win More Business

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Building the UAS Workforce: What Companies Need, What Schools Are Missing, and What Comes Next

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Seizing the Moment: Finding Opportunity in the Commercial Drone Market’s Gaps

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Presentation from the Korea Pavilion

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM From Section 2209 to Statewide CUAS Strategy: Building Air Domain Awareness Through Policy, Infrastructure, and DHS Funding

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM What Commercial Drone Operators Can Learn From the Hardest Environments in the World

*The Forum Theater is open to all registrants.

PILOT HUB SCHEDULE

Pilot Hub sessions give attendees practical, business-building skills for running a drone operation, from revenue growth and camera fundamentals to thermography, safety culture, and hard-won lessons from working pilots.

PILOT HUB PROGRAMMING PRESENTED BY

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Essentials for Revenue Growth in 2027

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Your Drone Shots Are Costing You Businees. Here’s Why.

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Thermography Basics: The Niche Worth Learning

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM UAV Empower Scholarship Winners

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Expert Fireside: What I Learned the Hard Way

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM Leveraging Aviation Safety Culture in UAS

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM From Raw Data to Wow-Worthy Deliverables

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Level Up Your Construction Site Safety Knowledge

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Inside Enterprise UAS: How Fortune 500s Launch and Scale Drone Programs

*Pilot Hub, presented by Commercial UAV News & Pilot Institute, is open to all registrants.

UAV EMPOWER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Meet them on Wednesday, Sept 2 at 2:30 PM

COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO PROGRAM

Commercial UAV Expo Program sessions give attendees the regulatory, technical, and business insight to run and scale a drone program, covering everything from NDAA compliance and BVLOS/Part 108 readiness to real-world case studies across energy, construction, transportation, and surveying.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1

COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO PROGRAM

SEPT. 2

DRONERESPONDERS SCHEDULE

DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit sessions give attendees operational insight into running a public safety drone program, from fire and law enforcement deployment strategies to counter-UAS response at major events and the fundamentals of building and scaling a program.

DRONERESPONDERS

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3

10:30

DRONERESPONDERS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT COURSE

The DRONERESPONDERS Program Management Course is designed specifically for public safety and government professionals responsible for building, managing, and leading unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) programs. While the curriculum is grounded in real-world public safety operations, the principles, strategies, and lessons learned are applicable across all industries—making this course valuable for any organization looking to establish or enhance a professional UAS program.

Day One focuses on the operational foundation of a successful program. Attendees will learn how to effectively manage a UAS program, develop comprehensive training frameworks, and build or professionalize standard operating procedures (SOPs). The day also covers regulatory considerations, implementation of safety management systems, and best practices for maintenance programs—providing a structured path to building a safe, compliant, and scalable operation.

Day Two shifts to advancement and strategic growth. Topics include interagency collaboration, leveraging software and data-driven tools, and developing leadership strategies to scale and sustain UAS programs. The course also explores emerging technologies and the future of aviation, including integration with Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), ensuring participants are prepared to lead their programs into the next phase of innovation.

registration & fee required. Includes access to DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit.

ADD-ON WORKSHOPS, COURSES & MORE

The following workshops and courses are available for purchase and require additional payment. The listed hosts are solely responsible for the organization and content of the workshops. See the registration desk for more details.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1

Photogrammetric Mapping with UAS

Hosted by ASPRS | Room 418 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | $295

DRONERESPONDERS Program Management Course

Hosted by DRONERESPONDERS | Room 416

Sept 1, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM & Sept 2, 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM | 2-day Course | $535

Lidar Mapping with UAS

Hosted by ASPRS | Room 418 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | $295

DJI Enterprise Workflows: L3 LiDAR Data Processing & FlightHub 2 Dock Automation

Hosted by DJI Enterprise | Room 107 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | $20

Pix4D For Construction, Inspection, Survey, and Cinema

Hosted by Pix4 & SMG | Unity Ballroom | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM | $299

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2

From Drone Data to Survey Deliverable by Virtual Surveyor

Hosted by Virtual Surveyor | Room 108-109 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3

Night UAV Flight Workshop (Theory + Field)

Hosted by SMG | Unity Ballroom | 2:30 PM – 10:30 PM | $595

DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit Preview: Training, Innovation, and Excellence in UAS

August 4, 2026 @ 10

Commercial UAV News is hosting two pre-event webinars previewing this year’s stage content, so you can plan your schedule and get more out of every session. REGISTER NOW

The Insider’s Guide to Commercial UAV Expo 2026: A Conversation with the Advisory Board

August 11, 2026 @ 10 AM

SPECIAL FEATURES

EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE PRESENTATIONS

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Technology and its capabilities are changing constantly with new features, products, and software designed to make work safer, faster, less expensive, and better performing. Hear from exhibiting organizations who will highlight the latest technologies available to you during the Exhibitor Showcase Presentations.

Indoor Airspace Demonstration Area

FEATURING DEMOS AND TRAININGS FROM

LEVEL UP LOUNGE

The Level Up Lounge is an innovative space dedicated to personal professional and brand development. This space will empower UAV professionals with the best resources, tools, and insights to take their brands to the next level!

Don’t miss comprehensive brand audit consultations and more!

PITCH THE PRESS

Co-Hosted by:

Pitch the Press gives you a front-row seat to the conversations shaping event coverage, as leading industry journalists dig into the top products and solutions on display across the Exhibit Hall. Open to all attendees, this session lets you hear the questions the press is asking and get an early look at the innovations generating the most buzz. It’s one of the most efficient ways to cut through the noise and zero in on what’s truly new at the show.