Comparison matrix
Two to four shows, side by side, on the numbers that decide a booth: delegations, attendance, floor space and what a credible stand costs. Rows marked estimate come from the research layer, not from an organiser price list.
| Attribute | European Defence Tech Hackathon (EDTH)Remove European Defence Tech Hackathon (EDTH)17–18 Oct 2026 | NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2026Remove NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 202619–20 Sept 2026 | Carpathian Drone Summit 2026Remove Carpathian Drone Summit 202629–30 Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | 17–18 Oct 20262 days | 19–20 Sept 20262 days | 29–30 Sept 20262 days |
| Registration | 1 Oct 2026Closes in 5W | — | 31 Aug 2026Closes in 4D |
| Location | Munich, Germany | Ostrava, Czech RepublicLeoš Janáček Ostrava Airport (Mošnov) | Rzeszów, PolandZEN.COM Expo – Centrum Wystawienniczo-Kongresowe Województwa Podkarpackiego, Jasionka 953 |
| Format | Hackathons & innovation challengesEuropeNATO | Trade shows & exhibitionsEuropeNATO | Conferences & summitsEurope |
| Attendanceestimate | 200-400 participants | ~100,000 visitors in 2025 (25th edition); organizers historically cite up to ~200,000 | Not yet published (inaugural edition) |
| Exhibitorsestimate | — | — | Not yet published (inaugural edition) |
| Delegationsestimate | — | Under flags of 17 partner nations and NATO in 2025; distinguished guests include Czech government, NATO/EU officials, ambassadors and military attachés | Military and public-administration representatives confirmed; numbers not disclosed |
| Floor spaceestimate | — | — | ZEN.COM Expo offers ~16,000 sqm of exhibition space; event allocation not specified |
| Budget tierestimate | — | — | Mid |
| Exhibitor costestimate | — | — | On request; no published per-sqm or flat rate found |
| Visitor costestimate | free | Free admission for all visitors (both days) | Not publicly disclosed; registration via carpathiandrone.pl (Gridaly platform) |
| Audience | StartupsInvestorsSMEs | PrimesInstitutionsSMEs | SMEsStartupsInvestorsInstitutionsPrimes |
| Topics | C-UASAIISR & SensorsDual-use | AirLand systemsAir & Missile DefenceUAS / Drones | UAS / DronesC-UASDual-useAutonomy & RoboticsAI |
| Organiser | European Defense Tech Hackathon | Jagello 2000 (with the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces and regional integrated rescue services) | Marshal's Office of Podkarpackie Voivodeship (Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Podkarpackiego) |
| Editionestimate | — | 26th NATO Days & 17th Czech Air Force Days in 2026 (first held 2001) | 1st edition (inaugural, 2026) |
| Patronageestimate | — | Held under the auspices of the President of the Czech Republic and under NATO flags; supported by the Czech MoD, MFA and NATO's Public Diplomacy Division | Podkarpackie Voivodeship Marshal Władysław Ortyl; Drone Valley initiative cited by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen |
| Why it matters | The fastest way for engineers and early founders to plug into the European defence-tech builder scene, meet operators and get noticed by funds active in the space. | As NATO's flagship public-communications event in Central Europe, it puts allied air, land and rescue capabilities in front of national leadership, ambassadors, military attachés and hundreds of thousands of visitors, giving suppliers high-visibility exposure alongside primes and government forces. The Special Partner Nation mechanism (Germany in 2026) has historically opened industrial and political cooperation opportunities, and the show serves as a debut platform for new platforms and modernization programs relevant to Czech and allied procurement. | Podkarpackie is one of Central Europe's most established aerospace manufacturing bases, and this summit is the region's strategic move to pivot from aviation to drone/dual-use technology — directly relevant to defence suppliers and SMEs seeking to enter or expand in the UAS and dual-use market. The co-located Dual Use Challenge pitch finals offer startups direct access to VC funds, investors, and industrial primes on a single day. For defence-adjacent firms, the live airfield showcase at Stalowa Wola–Turbia — including counter-drone systems — provides rare hands-on demonstration access in a NATO-ally operational context. |
| Links | DossierOfficial site | DossierOfficial site | DossierOfficial site |
Estimates are compiled from public organiser material and press coverage, and are indicative only. Confirm pricing with the organiser before committing budget. Research confidence: European Defence Tech Hackathon (EDTH) — not researched; NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2026 — medium; Carpathian Drone Summit 2026 — low.