EXPONAVAL 2026 is an international naval and maritime exhibition and congress held every two years. The event has taken place since 1998 and brings together Latin American navies with organizations from the defense industry, shipbuilding, maritime technology, security and telecommunications sectors.
The event provides a setting for companies, naval and defense authorities, suppliers and operators to examine developments across the naval sector. Its stated areas of focus include shipbuilding, naval equipment, propulsion systems, maritime security, technology transfer, automation and the development of new systems.
Image credit: ExpoNaval 2026
The 2026 edition also includes an International Congress examining contemporary defense and naval issues, including naval drones, maritime unmanned systems, defense industrial capacity and naval construction.
When is EXPONAVAL 2026?
EXPONAVAL 2026 will take place from December 1–3, 2026.
Themes
EXPONAVAL 2026 will address technological and operational developments affecting the naval and defense industries. Topics identified by the organizers include shipbuilding, naval equipment, propulsion systems, maritime security, marine renewable energy, digitalization, automation and new systems.
The International Congress will examine lessons from contemporary conflicts, with discussion covering naval drones and maritime unmanned systems, industrial resilience during long-duration and high-intensity conflicts, munitions and supply chains.
Further subjects include Chile’s defense industry and strategic autonomy, the roles and capabilities of ASMAR and FAMAE, public-private integration, technology transfer and budgetary challenges. Naval construction sessions will consider technology transfer, offset and financing arrangements, local supplier development and naval export strategies.
What’s On?
The event combines an exhibition with networking activities, meetings with official delegations and an International Congress.
International Congress
The congress is designed around presentations and panels addressing current challenges facing naval, maritime-port and defense industries.
On December 2, the program includes an inaugural masterclass followed by three scheduled panels. The first considers industrial lessons from contemporary conflicts, including naval drones, maritime unmanned systems and defense supply chains. The second examines defense industry and strategic autonomy in Chile, while the third compares approaches to naval construction.
Networking Events
Supplier companies present at the fair will be able to promote new technologies and solutions across a range of subjects related to the naval sector.
Meetings with Delegations
Exhibitors will be able to access a comprehensive agenda of meetings with national and international official delegations attending the event.
Speakers
The December 2 congress agenda identifies Fernando Barros Tocornal, Minister of National Defense, as the presenter for the inaugural masterclass.
Admiral Sir Antony David Radakin, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Defence Staff, is listed as an invited speaker.
The three scheduled panels will be moderated by Marcelo Masalleras, Dr. John Griffiths and Matías Purcell, respectively.
Where is EXPONAVAL 2026?
Espacio Riesco
Av. El Salto 5000
Huechuraba
To learn more about ExpoNaval 2026, to register to attend or exhibit, please click below .
