GLOBAL DRONE® PROGRAM
Three Days.
Two Congress Rooms.
One Stadium Full of Possibility.
Global Drone® 2026 brings Congress, Expo and Drone Zone live demonstrations together at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 November.
The three-day Congress runs across two concurrent rooms and features six congress streams, global speakers, expert panels and daily premium Keynote Luncheons.
Throughout the event, the Expo connects visitors with 200 exhibitors, while the Drone Zone presents live demonstrations on the stadium field.
Friday features Future Careers Day, connecting students and educators with industries, technologies and career pathways already shaping the workforce.
Three Days of Congress, Innovation and Live Experience
Program at a Glance
WEDNESDAY11 NOVEMBER 2026
ROOM 1
9AM-5PM
Advanced Air Mobility Congress
Focus: eVTOLs, cargo drones, air taxis, zero-emission transport, vertiports and Queensland’s readiness for Brisbane 2032.
Panel: Amelia Evans (Queensland Airports) & Liesl Haris (GAP Drone)
ROOM 2
9AM-5PM
Agri-Business Congress
Focus: The importance of Agri drones and innovations across robotics and BVLOS, plus likely future trends focusing on crop monitoring, precision spraying, stock management and water management.
THURSDAY12 NOVEMBER 2026
ROOM 1
9AM-5PM
Defence Robotics & Counter-UAS Congress
Keynote: Brigadier Chambers, Director General Joint Warfare.
Panel: DroneShield, Marion Charlton (Queensland Airports) and Inspector Simon Pekaj (Protective Security Olympic & Paralympic Games Group, Queensland Police Service).
Focus: Defence robotics, uncrewed systems, counter-UAS, critical infrastructure protection and national security.
ROOM 2
9AM-5PM
Technology, Ecology, Conservation, & Natural Disaster Response
Showcasing the integration of uncrewed autonomous systems (UAS) into emergency response mechanisms. Swift transportation of medicines, vaccines, blood products and diagnostic mapping to remote communities will improve healthcare accessibility, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure or during natural disasters.
Natural disaster relief operations including fire and flood response, keeping frontline workers safe and providing real-time overwatch.
Technology, Ecology and Conservation: a focus on surveying and controlling feral pests while protecting endangered species. It will explore evidence-based approaches to integrated coastal ecosystem and land management, with a focus on practical implementation, adaptive management and long-term conservation outcomes.
FRIDAY13 NOVEMBER 2026
ROOM 1
9AM-5PM
Future Invest
Presented by Beaten Zone Venture Partners
Focus: PitchFest – a ‘shark tank’ style funding platform where innovators of robotics and autonomous systems across defence, space and aerospace compete for corporate funding for their ideas.
ROOM 2
9AM-5PM
Entertainment & Sport
Panel: Led by Baz Luhrmann’s Bazmark Productions.
Entertainment Focus: The use of drones has transformed modern filmmaking and our perspective of the world. The keynote explores the ways drones have revolutionised filmmaking over the past 10 years.
Sport Focus: Cutting-edge drones, known for their speed and agility, now capture dynamic action scenes in environments such as ski slopes, race tracks and large ocean waves. With Brisbane 2032 approaching, the capture of sporting action is in focus.
Mining, Construction & Asset Management
Focus: The real-world deployment of autonomous systems across mining, construction and asset management, from onsite construction robotics and multi-modal platforms for asset inspections to autonomous mining operations. Expert panels will explore the technology, safety, operational, regulatory and workforce considerations shaping adoption, reliability and deployment at scale.
ADDITIONAL
FRI-13 NOV
Future Careers
In partnership with Defence Kidz
A dedicated student day featuring prominent educational institutions, universities, government representatives and industry leaders. It explores the integration of AI, robotics and autonomous technologies into the workforce of the future.
Important
Ticket Information
- Congress sessions require a valid Congress Pass.
- The Expo and Drone Zone can be accessed with an eligible ticket.
- Keynote Luncheons are a premium experience and require a seperate ticket.
- Program sessions, speakers and demonstration times remain subject to change.
BEYOND THE CONGRESS
What Else Is Happening Each Day
Alongside the Congress program, delegates and visitors can explore the Expo, watch live Drone Zone demonstrations, attend Keynote Luncheons and take part in day-specific networking and Future Careers activities.
Wednesday 11 November
- Expo
- Drone Zone live demonstrations
- Congress streams
- Keynote Luncheon
- Networking / stakeholder activity
Thursday 12 November
- Expo
- Drone Zone live demonstrations
- Congress streams
- Keynote Luncheon
- Networking / stakeholder activity
Friday 13 November
- Expo
- Drone Zone live demonstrations
- Congress streams
- Keynote Luncheon
- Future Careers Day
Be Part of Global Drone® 2026
Choose your pathway and be part of Global Drone®, the world-first event platform bringing drones, robotics, AI, Advanced Air Mobility, defence, agritech, investment, education and live demonstrations together on the Gold Coast, Australia.
Global Drone® is an 18+ event, with all attendees subject to security screening.
Students under 18 may attend Future Careers Day on Friday 13 November as part of a registered school group, or accompanied by a parent or guardian.