BEDEX 2026, the inaugural Brussels European Defence Exhibition & Conference, officially opened this morning in Belgium, reports Bob Morrison
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte opened this new European Defence and Security event this morning in the Belgian capital. Although comparatively hastily organised my first impressions are that this fledgling expo is a winner and for the next couple of days pounding the hall floors is going to be my first priority so there might not be as much fresh content posted on JOINT-FORCES as normal. In the meantime the following extracts from the pre-event press release might give readers a flavour of what is happening.
Defenture’s MAMMOTH Multirole Platform inside Hall 7 at BEDEX 2026 [© Bob Morrison]
Press Release, Brussels, 11 March 2026: BEDEX – Brussels European Defence Exhibition & Conference will for the first time bring together industry leaders, institutional stakeholders and international delegations at Brussels Expo from 12 to 14 March 2026. The event is now structured with more than 200 exhibitors and more than 27 national representations.
Official delegations, senior defence executives, procurement authorities, institutional stakeholders and industry leaders will gather in Brussels for three concentrated days of networking, curated matchmaking and high-level strategic conferences. Hosted in the political capital of Europe, BEDEX aims to foster dialogue, industrial cooperation and technological innovation within the European defence ecosystem. The event will also highlight the growing role of technology and industry in shaping Europe’s defence capabilities. According to sector estimates referenced in BEDEX communications, the defence and technology ecosystem could generate up to 8,000 job opportunities in Belgium in the coming years.
“BEDEX aims to become one of the major international defence events. As the headquarters of NATO and the capital of Europe, Brussels deserves, if not demands, such an event. Bedex also aims to showcase the innovation and excellence that are the hallmarks of the Belgian defense industry.” Yassine Rafik & Joan Condijts, Founders & Organisers – BEDEX
BEDEX – Brussels European Defence Exhibition & Conference is a European platform dedicated to the defence industry and related technologies. Hosted at Brussels Expo, BEDEX brings together:
defence industry leaders
institutional stakeholders
procurement authorities
international delegations
technology companies
research centres and innovative start-ups
The event aims to create a European meeting point for dialogue between industry, policymakers and innovation actors.
Why Brussels? Brussels represents a strategic location for a European defence industry event.
The city hosts:
the European Union institutions
NATO headquarters
numerous international organisations
This proximity creates a unique environment for dialogue between governments, institutions and industry.
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