On the track of commercial aerospace, exhibitions and industry activities are the most direct tools to break the circle: moving policies from behind the scenes to the front, connecting industrial resources, attracting capital attention, and opening channels for international cooperation.
Today let’s talk about: What are the must-attend exhibitions and activities in commercial aerospace?
01
Why are exhibitions so important?
Commercial aerospace is a highly complex industry with an extremely long chain. Its particularity determines the obvious asymmetry of information: companies with technology cannot find markets, companies with customer resources cannot find supply chains, and local governments with policy dividends cannot implement projects. Therefore, exhibitions and industry events are important platforms for information circulation, resource docking and cooperation. However, there are many types of exhibitions and activities on the market, and the quality varies. Which exhibitions are worth attending? NiHaoSpace has screened three types of exhibitions and activities for participants’ reference: Must-visit comprehensive exhibitions in the industry: Covering the entire industry chain, with great influence and high industry attention, it is the first choice platform to display the comprehensive strength of enterprises, obtain policy information, and connect upstream and downstream resources; Professional exhibitions in subdivided fields: Targeting the upstream, midstream and downstream subdivisions of commercial aerospace, intensive technical exchanges are available, and can accurately connect application customers and partners; Activities of chain owner enterprises and localities: Targeting specific industrial chains or regions, it is convenient for enterprises to quickly establish cooperative relationships and realize project implementation.
02
Three “comprehensive exhibitions” that the industry must visit
1. China International Aerospace Expo (Zhuhai Air Show) Sponsor: Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force Time and place: November 10-15, 2026, Zhuhai International Air Show Center Reason for recommendation: China International Aerospace Expo, referred to as “China Air Show”, is also called “Zhuhai Air Show” because it is held in Zhuhai all year round. It is my country’s most internationally influential aerospace professional exhibition. It has been ranked among the top five air shows in the world and is held every two years. For private commercial aerospace companies, the Zhuhai Air Show is not only an important window to enter the mainstream and showcase on the same stage as state-owned enterprises and international giants, but also a strategic highland for obtaining orders, connecting resources, and enhancing brand influence. 2. Zhuhai Forum Organizers: State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, China National Space Administration, Guangdong Provincial People’s Government Time and Place: During the Zhuhai Air Show Reason for recommendation: As a high-end official forum held during the Zhuhai Air Show, the Zhuhai Forum is both policy-oriented and industry-forward. For enterprises, participating in the Zhuhai Forum means being able to directly link industry authorities and leading industry companies, obtain key information, and gain an in-depth understanding of policy dividends, thereby better laying out the market. 3. China Aerospace Conference Organizers: Chinese Astronautical Society, China Space Foundation Time and place: During China Aerospace Day on April 24, 2026 Reason for recommendation: China Aerospace Conference is an authoritative platform for academic and industrial exchanges in the domestic aerospace field. It is held once a year and covers academic seminars, industrial exhibitions, science education and cultural dissemination. Through the conference, enterprises can learn about the country’s aerospace development direction, obtain the latest developments in commercial aerospace, participate in high-level academic discussions, and expand industry network resources.
03
Four major “professional exhibitions” in subdivided fields
1. International Astronautical Congress (IAC) Organizer: International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Time and place: September 29 to October 3, 2025, Sydney, Australia Reason for recommendation: The International Astronautical Congress is the world’s largest and most influential aerospace event, known as the “Aerospace Olympics.” Every year, it brings together space agencies, enterprises and academic organizations from various countries, providing abundant opportunities for technical exchanges and international cooperation. The participation rate of Chinese commercial aerospace companies has been increasing in recent years. If you want to expand overseas markets or seek international cooperation, this is an important platform that you must participate in. 2. Mobile World Congress (MWC) Organizer: Global System Association for Mobile Communications (GSMA) Time and place: March 2-5, 2026, Barcelona, Spain Reason for recommendation: Mobile World Congress is the launch venue and benchmark for the latest technologies in the global mobile communications industry, and is also the annual home venue for global communications operators and equipment manufacturers. In recent years, satellite Internet and non-terrestrial networks have become important topics at the conference. Communication satellite-related companies have the opportunity to deeply connect with global operators and explore cross-border cooperation. 3. China Satellite Application Conference Organizer: China Communications Society Time and Location: October 25-27, 2025, Beijing Reason for recommendation: China Satellite Application Conference is the most authoritative conference in the field of domestic satellite applications. It brings together top experts, scholars and business representatives in the satellite field at home and abroad to discuss new trends and opportunities in the satellite application industry. The “Satellite Application Technology and Equipment Exhibition” held at the same time as the conference focused on demonstrating the latest achievements in my country’s satellite applications and commercial aerospace. 4. Commercial Aerospace Remote Sensing Satellite Application Conference Organizer: China Remote Sensing Applications Association Time and Location: November 19-21, 2025, Nanjing International Exhibition Center Reason for recommendation: The Commercial Aerospace Remote Sensing Satellite Application Conference focuses on remote sensing satellite technology innovation and industrial application implementation. It is an efficient platform for enterprises in the field of remote sensing and geoinformation to accurately connect with downstream industry users, government agencies and scientific research institutions. Participants can obtain the latest technology trends, expand application scenarios and promote project cooperation. It is an important event not to be missed when entering the mainstream commercial remote sensing market.
04
Activities of chain owner companies and localities
In addition to large-scale comprehensive exhibitions and professional exhibitions, in recent years, industry activities led by chain owners and regional conferences promoted by local governments have gradually emerged, forming a “supplementary force” in the industry ecosystem. 1. Industry activities hosted by influential chain owners. Representative activities include Changguang Satellite’s “Remote Sensing and Communication Innovation Conference” and Zhongke Star Chart’s “Air and Space Information Conference”. Such conferences often revolve around the company’s own business chain and are highly professional and biased. For upstream and downstream partners, it is an effective way to enter the industrial chain and deepen cooperation, but for enterprises outside the chain, the value of their participation may be limited. 2. Commercial aerospace industry activities led by local governments. Typical representatives include the Beidou Scale Application International Summit in Zhuzhou, Meishan Satellite Application Industry Development Conference, Jiamusi Satellite Industry Development Conference, China (Wuxi) Commercial Aerospace Industry Development Conference, Xi’an Satellite Application Conference, and the China (International) Commercial Aerospace Summit Forum organized by Wuhan City and Aerospace Science and Industry Group. This type of conference has a certain influence and can promote industrial implementation and resource docking, but it is still inferior to comprehensive or professional exhibitions in terms of sustainability and stability.
Summarize
After all, exhibitions and events are the “circle of friends” of commercial aerospace. Large-scale comprehensive exhibitions are “center stage”, professional exhibitions are “in-depth small circles”, while corporate and local-led activities are more like “industry gatherings”. Different types have their own value. As long as you choose the right one, you can harvest the latest information, partners, and even new market opportunities.
