01. Port, Maritime & Subsea Autonomy
How autonomous and uncrewed systems secure, optimise, and transform maritime operations – from protecting subsea infrastructure to enabling autonomous shipping across Europe’s busiest ports and waterways.
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Accelerating Autonomous and Unmanned Systems
in Europe's Critical Domains
Quay 102, Antwerp: 15 September 2026
Part of
Port of the Future Week: 15-17 September 2026
accelerating autonomous & unmanned systems innovation
Europe’s Multi-Year Cross-Port Summit
DroneHorizon 2026 is the second edition of a multi-year European collaboration between three leading port and innovation ecosystems: the Port of Rotterdam, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg Port Authority, DronePort Rotterdam, and The Beacon. Taking place on 15 September 2026 in Antwerp, DroneHorizon opens Port of the Future Week — three days of groundbreaking innovations in autonomous and sustainable technology in port environments, featuring live demos, showcases, expert insights, and international collaboration.
An International Platform for Action
DroneHorizon convenes high-level European and international stakeholders, connecting policy, industry, and tech leaders to set shared priorities and accelerate deployment. Alongside Europe’s own innovation community, the welcomes attendees from over a dozen countries, making it a truly cross-continental platform for collaboration and action.
Part of Port of the Future Week
DroneHorizon kicks off two days of autonomous innovation on 15 September with keynotes, strategic debate, and live demonstrations, before handing over to the Autonomous Summit on Day 2, where the port becomes the stage for a full day of live demos, technology showcases, and cross-sector collaboration exploring cutting-edge autonomous solutions, from drones and autonomous shipping to self-driving vehicles.
DroneHorizon 2026 Themes
02. Dual-Use Innovation & Security
Civil–military collaboration, counter-drone capabilities, and strategies to protect critical infrastructure while ensuring interoperability and governance in complex environments.
03. Ecosystem, Policy & Strategy
The policies, funding, skills, and partnerships needed to move autonomy from pilots to large-scale deployment and build a resilient European innovation ecosystem.
dronehorizon 2026 line-up
Meet Our Speakers
We’ve brought together a strong line-up of speakers at DroneHorizon 2026: key thinkers, decision-makers, and innovators from across Europe. These are the names and faces behind the strategies that are influencing the future of digital and strategic autonomy, defence and dual-use innovation, and port security and resilience.
DroneHorizon 2026 x Autonomous summit: join us on 15-16 September
Two Events, One Mission
DroneHorizon (15 September) and the Autonomous Summit (16 September) form a two-day programme dedicated to autonomous and unmanned systems innovation. DroneHorizon opens with inspiring keynotes, expert speakers, and live demonstrations — bringing together Europe's leading voices in one room. The Autonomous Summit then takes the technology outside, with over 30 live demonstrations on water, land, and in the air. Join us for two days where autonomous innovation is not just discussed, but demonstrated.
Date: 15 September 2026
A Leading Global Platform in Autonomous Systems Innovation
DroneHorizon is a B2B and B2G platform for knowledge exchange and international matchmaking, focused on strategic discussion on autonomous and unmanned systems innovation in critical domains. Keynotes and expert sessions set the strategic context, while live demonstrations put the technology front and centre. This is where Europe's autonomous future is not just discussed, but shown.
Date: 16 September 2026
Port of the Future — Autonomous Summit: Autonomy in Action at the Port
The Autonomous Summit is a full-day showcase dedicated to autonomous technology in port and logistics environments. Bringing together technology companies, port operators, and policymakers, the summit puts autonomous solutions on display across every dimension of port operations – from drones and vessels to container shuttles, self-driving vehicles, and rail. Across more than 30 live and interactive demonstrations on water, land, and in the air, visitors experience how autonomy is already reshaping port operations, and where it is headed next.
First-ever autonomous truck ride in Belgium during the Port of the Future – Autonomous Summit 2025
DroneHorizon Organizers
Strategic Partners
Innovation Partners
ADDRESS
DronePort Rotterdam
Maaskade 127A
3071NK ROTTERDAM
The Netherlands