Axios’ Future of Defense Summit 2026 will bring defense, national security, military, intelligence, and policy leaders together in Washington, D.C., to examine the technologies, tactics, and alliances influencing the future of warfare.
Returning for its third annual edition, the summit will focus on U.S. defense priorities during a period of geopolitical competition and military modernization. Discussions will cover Army readiness, intelligence operations, defense technology, congressional defense policy, and national security strategy.
Image credit: Axios’ Future of Defense 2025
The event is aimed at defense industry executives and government contractors, national security policy professionals, senior military and intelligence officials, congressional staff and policy advisers, and defense-focused investors and technologists.
When is Future of Defense Summit 2026?
Future of Defense Summit 2026 will take place on November 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST.
Prospective attendees can request an invitation to attend the summit in Washington, D.C.
Themes
The summit will examine developments affecting U.S. defense and national security, with an emphasis on the relationship between emerging technology, military capabilities, government policy, and geopolitical strategy.
Key themes include U.S. defense strategy and modernization, Army readiness and capability development, intelligence operations and national security, defense technology and innovation, congressional defense policy and oversight, and geopolitical risk and strategic competition.
What’s On?
The afternoon program will feature discussions with senior figures from government, the military, intelligence organizations, Congress, and the defense technology sector.
Sessions will examine the trajectory of U.S. defense priorities, including military modernization and readiness, intelligence operations, technological developments, and the role of alliances and policy in responding to international strategic competition.
Speakers
Axios Future of Defense Summit 2026 will feature senior figures from government, the military, intelligence, defense policy, and the defense technology sector, including:
- Sec. Dan Driscoll — U.S. Army
- Dep. Dir. Michael Ellis — C.I.A.
- Michèle Flournoy — WestExec Advisors
- Mike Gallagher — Palantir
- William LaPlante — U.S. Department of Defense
- Dan Magy — Firestorm
- Brian Schimpf — Anduril
- Trae Stephens — Anduril
Other speakers include members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, as well as representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Security Council. The wider speaker lineup covers congressional defense policy, national security, military and intelligence priorities, and defense technology.
Where is Axios Future of Defense Summit 2026?
Axios Future of Defense Summit 2026 will be held in Washington, D.C., United States.
To learn more about Future of Defense Summit 2026, to register to attend or exhibit, please click below .
