More news on this day
Aerospace Tech Week is set to stage its first UK edition at ExCeL London in November 2026, partnering with industry trade body ADS Group to create a new hub for aviation and aerospace technology professionals converging in the British capital.
A Major New Date in the UK Aerospace Calendar
The decision to bring Aerospace Tech Week to ExCeL London marks a significant expansion for the long-established conference and exhibition brand, which has traditionally anchored its flagship events in continental Europe. The 2026 gathering will run from 11 to 12 November at the Royal Docks venue, adding a dedicated aviation technology showcase to London’s growing roster of specialist trade events.
Organisers are positioning the show as a high-level meeting point for airlines, maintenance and repair organisations, original equipment manufacturers and technology suppliers focused on everything from avionics and flight operations IT to connectivity, predictive maintenance and data-driven airline operations. With around 1,500 senior executives and technical leaders expected, the UK edition aims to replicate the density of decision-makers that has helped its European counterpart become a fixture on the sector calendar.
Hosting the event at ExCeL London places it at the heart of one of Europe’s most active aerospace and defence markets. The UK’s wider aviation and space ecosystem, from major primes and engine manufacturers to an extensive supply chain of software and systems specialists, gives the show a large domestic base while offering international exhibitors a direct route into new partnerships.
ADS Group Partnership Anchors Industry Support
The new UK edition is underpinned by a formal partnership with ADS Group, the national trade association representing more than 1,000 companies across aerospace, defence, security and space. ADS plays a central role in policy advocacy, export promotion and technology programmes for the sector, and its involvement signals strong institutional backing for the London launch.
ADS has increasingly sought to connect members with technology-led growth opportunities, from digitalisation and data analytics to greener operations and net-zero targets. Aligning with Aerospace Tech Week gives the organisation another platform to connect policymakers, primes and small and medium-sized enterprises around practical use cases and future capability needs in areas such as avionics upgrades, integrated fleet IT and cyber-resilient aircraft systems.
For visiting buyers and engineers, the partnership is expected to translate into a robust conference programme and curated networking, drawing on ADS networks that span leading airframers, engine manufacturers, systems integrators and a broad SME base. It should also help ensure that the content reflects both the UK’s industrial strategy priorities and the fast-evolving regulatory environment for safety, data and environmental performance.
What Visitors Can Expect at ExCeL London
The 2026 edition will follow Aerospace Tech Week’s established format of combining multiple specialist conference tracks with a technology-rich exhibition floor. Attendees can expect focused streams on avionics, flight operations IT, MRO IT, connectivity, passenger experience, and increasingly critical themes such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and sustainability in aircraft operations.
Exhibitors are set to range from global systems providers and hardware manufacturers to niche software firms offering solutions for electronic flight bags, airline operations control, predictive maintenance, digital twins and real-time data integration between cockpit, cabin and ground systems. Live demonstrations on the show floor are likely to showcase how integrated platforms can cut fuel burn, reduce unplanned downtime and improve situational awareness for crews and dispatchers.
As with other major trade gatherings at ExCeL, visitors will benefit from purpose-built conference theatres adjacent to the exhibition halls, allowing quick transitions between technical sessions and vendor meetings. Informal networking zones, hosted buyer programmes and drop-in briefings will be designed to make it easier for delegates to compress multiple supplier evaluations, knowledge updates and partnership discussions into two intensive days.
Why London and Why Now
Choosing London for the first UK edition reflects both the city’s status as a global aviation hub and the UK’s ambition to stay at the front of aerospace innovation. The country’s aerospace sector supports tens of thousands of highly skilled jobs and ranks among the world’s largest in areas such as wings, engines and advanced systems. Proximity to Heathrow, Gatwick, London City and major airline headquarters means decision-makers are within a short journey of the exhibition floor.
The timing also aligns with a critical phase for aviation technology investment. Airlines and lessors are accelerating cabin and cockpit retrofits, connectivity upgrades and data modernisation projects as they respond to renewed passenger demand, tighter sustainability targets and a more complex operating environment. Bringing a specialised technology show to London offers a neutral ground where operators, regulators, manufacturers and digital innovators can compare approaches and pressure-test new concepts.
For overseas visitors, the ExCeL location in the Docklands places the event within a broader innovation corridor that includes financial services, technology firms and other industry expos. The venue is directly served by the Docklands Light Railway and the newer Elizabeth line via nearby interchanges, making it accessible from central London and major airports while providing a convenient base for meetings, site visits and additional networking in the city.
Planning Your Visit: Travel, Logistics and Experience
Located in East London’s Royal Docks, ExCeL offers a range of practical advantages for international and domestic delegates planning a short, intensive business trip built around Aerospace Tech Week. London City Airport is only a few minutes away by public transport or taxi, while Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are all connected by rail links that feed into the capital’s Underground, DLR and Elizabeth line services.
The immediate area around the venue has seen rapid development in recent years, with an expanding mix of branded hotels, serviced apartments, casual dining options and coffee shops aligned to the needs of trade show visitors. Many hotels sit within a short walk of the exhibition halls, allowing attendees to move easily between morning keynotes, afternoon briefings and evening networking without lengthy transfers across the city.
For those extending their stay, the Docklands location offers quick connections to cultural and leisure highlights from the historic heart of the City and the West End’s theatres to riverside walks along the Thames. This makes it straightforward to combine a packed two-day schedule at Aerospace Tech Week with client dinners in central London or side trips to museums and galleries, reinforcing the capital’s appeal as a business and travel destination.