Today, the United Kingdom hosts the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, one of the world's largest and most important aviation, space, and defense exhibitions, with wide participation from global companies and decision-makers in the aviation sector. Expectations are high that this edition will witness historic deals potentially exceeding $150 billion, driven by growing demand for commercial aircraft and airlines' race to expand their fleets.

The airshow runs until July 24, with notable Saudi and Gulf participation. Industry circles anticipate potential announcements from Saudia, Riyadh Air, and flyadeal, along with several Gulf carriers, regarding new aircraft orders or strategic partnerships with major global manufacturers.

Farnborough, which held its first edition in 1948, is one of the world's two largest airshows alongside the Paris Air Show. The two events alternate every two years, with Farnborough considered the world's largest B2B exhibition dedicated to aviation, space, and defense industries.

The 2026 edition marks a record participation, featuring about 1,600 exhibitors from over 100 countries, with international companies accounting for about 63% of total participants, reflecting the global stature of the event as a key platform for deals and showcasing the latest technologies and innovations in aviation.

This edition also records the largest exhibition area in the show's history, after adding a sixth hall to accommodate the growing demand from global companies. All exhibition spaces were sold out about a year before the event opened.

The airshow attracts tens of thousands of specialists and decision-makers. The previous edition saw over 100,000 specialist visitors, more than 420 official delegations representing governments, air forces, and aviation authorities, as well as over 1,700 journalists from around the world. These numbers are expected to be exceeded in the 2026 edition.

Farnborough's importance lies in being the premier platform for announcing orders for civil and military aircraft, and launching the latest innovations in sustainable aviation, engines, artificial intelligence, drones, and space and defense systems.

The 2024 edition saw deals announced exceeding $105 billion. Industry estimates suggest this year's edition could break that figure, possibly exceeding $150 billion, driven by record demand for new aircraft and delivery delays at Airbus and Boeing.

The Saudi presence this year draws special attention given the boom in the Kingdom's aviation sector under the Saudi Vision 2030 targets, and the significant expansion in air fleets, airports, and international destinations, making any announcements of new deals from national carriers one of the most anticipated events during the show days.