Think Big – A preview of the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM 2026
How can 100,000 commercial drone operations per day become everyday practice in Europe? There’s no doubt that the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM on March 24, 2026, aims for big thinking. The guiding motto: Think big. The lineup of speakers is already impressive. The EDF26 will be opened by Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder and EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet. Belgium’s Minister of Transport, Jean-Luc Crucke, has also confirmed his attendance.
How can the remaining obstacles to the commercial use of UAS be eliminated? What next steps are needed to achieve full societal acceptance and widespread deployment of unmanned aerial systems for the benefit of all? And how will visions turn into viable business models? It’s the approach focused on constructive-critical dialogue and practical solutions that distinguishes the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM as Europe’s most important conference for commercial UAS use.
Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder will speak at the opening of the event (Photo: Federal Ministry of Transport | Tobias Koch)
The secret to its success lies in the fact that all parties are not only open to direct exchanges on equal footing but actively seek them out, as ultimately, all can benefit. The industry can directly communicate its needs and hopes, while representatives of national and European regulatory authorities gain valuable insights from practical feedback to inform their ongoing work. In short, Düsseldorf will host a unique mix of decision-makers and those who will work based on their decisions.
Townhall Debates
To get to the point and transparently discuss differing viewpoints, the Townhall debate format introduced in 2023 has firmly established itself. It is especially appreciated by both the participants and the audience as being particularly effective. Led by a moderator, two debaters discuss current regulatory and structural issues in the industry without lengthy preambles and with active audience involvement, particularly focusing on how to resolve them. Due to the high interest in these sharp, constructive debates, their share of the overall program for the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM has been increased.
In addition to the stage program, networking also plays an important role at the most significant conference of its kind in Europe
This year’s themes will primarily focus on airspace integration and UAS applications for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations. Excitement particularly surrounds the debates concluding both segments. On the topic „A Common Challenge: Paving the Way to a Fully Integrated Airspace“, Bobby Healy (Manna Drones), Alexandra Florin (Wing), and Philip Kenul (ASTM International) will take center stage. Under the leadership of UAV DACH Board Member Michael Wieland, Dannick Riteco (SORA Consulting, DAE) and Jukka Savo (DG Move, EU Commission) will debate the guiding question of the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM 2026: „Think Big: How to Get 100,000 UAS Operations per Day in the EU Done.”
The European Drone Forum will take place on March 24, 2026, and is part of the conference program of XPONENTIAL Europe. Tickets are available at bit.ly/EDF26-Ticketshop. The complete EDF program can be accessed at www.eudroneforum.org/program-2026.
Disclosure: The magazine Drones is a media partner of the EUROPEAN DRONE FORUM.
