Startup Events

Top 10 Startup Events on Defence Tech in 2027

Defence tech is the fastest-growing corner of European venture capital, and the buyers are ministries, armed forces and large prime contractors who rarely answer cold emails. These are the ten best defence tech events of 2027 for start-ups, from Munich, Brussels, Madrid, Helsinki, Vilnius, London and Nice to Abu Dhabi and Tampa.
We picked events with a start-up programme, a pitch, investor matchmaking or a hall full of defence buyers, with Europe first when quality is equal. We checked every date on the organiser's own website and mark each one as Confirmed (date on the official site), Announced (reliable second source only) or Expected (based on past editions only). All ten below are Confirmed for 2027. Many defence events are invitation-only or vet every visitor, so apply early and read the access rules before you book travel.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.

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Top 10 Defence Tech Startup Events of 2027 at a Glance

#EventDatesWhereBest forStatus
1IDEX and IDEX NXT25–29 Jan 2027Abu Dhabi, UAEGulf buyers, AI hubConfirmed
2SPARTA11 Feb 2027Munich, GermanyStart-up and buyer matchmakingConfirmed
3MSC Frontier Tech Hub12–13 Feb 2027Munich, GermanyMunich Security Conference accessConfirmed
4AI in Defence Summit1 Mar 2027Brussels, BelgiumPitch to EU and NATO officialsConfirmed
5SOF Week3–6 May 2027Tampa, USADrones and autonomy demosConfirmed
6FEINDEF 2718–20 May 2027Madrid, SpainSpanish defence marketConfirmed
7ARCTIC15 Defence Tech Summit16–17 Jun 2027Helsinki, FinlandCheap start-up ticket, deal roomConfirmed
8Baltic Miltech Summit29 Jun 2027Vilnius, LithuaniaBaltic and eastern-flank buyersConfirmed
9DSEI UK7–10 Sep 2027London, UKEurope's biggest defence showConfirmed
10DSR Investment Summit: Riviera28–30 Sep 2027Nice, FranceFundraising with revenueConfirmed

The 10 best defence tech events of 2027

1. IDEX and IDEX NXT: 25–29 January 2027, Abu Dhabi

📅 IDEX 2027Confirmed
Dates25–29 January 2027
WhereADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, UAE
TypeInternational defence exhibition and conference with an innovation hub
Who it's forDefence companies, government delegations, buyers and AI start-ups
TicketsVisitor terms on idexuae.ae; IDEX NXT places by enquiry
Official siteidexuae.ae
IDEX opens the defence year and runs in odd years. Its IDEX NXT hub showcases AI-driven defence technology and is the part of the show built for young companies; you join it by enquiry. An older ADNEC press release gave 21–25 January, but the official site now says 25–29 January.

2. SPARTA: 11 February 2027, Munich

📅 SPARTA 2027: Defence Innovation SummitConfirmed
Dates11 February 2027, 12:00–17:30
WhereDeutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum, Neuhauser Str. 2, 80331 Munich, Germany
TypeInvitation-only innovation summit and matchmaking
Who it's forDefence and dual-use start-ups, primes, military and public buyers, investors
TicketsApply for an invitation; no price published
Official sitedeeptech.build
SPARTA is the most founder-focused event of Munich Security Conference week. Deep Tech Momentum and TUM Venture Labs run it to match start-ups with the people who can deploy, procure, fund or integrate their technology, and you apply for an invitation. See our list of startup events in Munich.

3. MSC Frontier Tech Hub: 12–13 February 2027, Munich

📅 MSC Frontier Tech Hub 2027Confirmed
Dates12–13 February 2027
WhereChamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria (IHK), Munich, Germany
TypeInvitation-only start-up and investor platform
Who it's forFounders, investors, industry and government decision-makers
TicketsBy invitation only
Official siteunternehmertum.de
The former MSC Startup Hub is an official part of the Munich Security Conference (12–14 February 2027), run with UnternehmerTUM and TUM Venture Labs within walking distance of the Bayerischer Hof. It expects about 1,000 guests, and the 2027 programme is not out yet. Go with SPARTA the day before. See our guide to startup events in Germany.

4. AI in Defence Summit: 1 March 2027, Brussels

📅 AI in Defence Summit 2027Confirmed
Dates1 March 2027, 09:30–19:00
WhereSQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre, Mont des Arts, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
TypeOne-day summit with a start-up competition
Who it's forDefence AI founders, investors, EU and NATO officials and primes
TicketsEvery registration is reviewed; free for NATO, EU defence bodies and defence ministries
Official siteaidefencesummit.eu
The second AI in Defence Summit expects about 1,000 people in Brussels. Three Startup Awards finalists pitch to the full audience, in front of the officials who shape EU defence spending; in 2026, 11 start-ups pitched. See our guide to startup events in Belgium.

5. SOF Week: 3–6 May 2027, Tampa

📅 SOF Week 2027Confirmed
Dates3–6 May 2027 (exhibition 4–6 May)
WhereTampa, Florida, USA
TypeSpecial operations convention and exhibition
Who it's forSpecial operations forces, buyers and defence technology companies
TicketsBadge options on sofweek.org
Official sitesofweek.org
SOF Week is where the US special operations community meets industry, and special forces are among the fastest buyers of drones and autonomy. New for 2027, the All Domain Autonomous Systems Zone gives companies a space to demonstrate drones, counter-drone systems, unmanned vessels and vehicles, and AI.

6. FEINDEF 27: 18–20 May 2027, Madrid

📅 FEINDEF 27Confirmed
Dates18–20 May 2027
WhereIFEMA Madrid, Spain
TypeInternational defence and security exhibition
Who it's forDefence companies, start-ups, universities, technology centres and government buyers
TicketsExhibitor and visitor terms on feindef.com
Official sitefeindef.com
FEINDEF is Spain's largest defence and security exhibition and runs in odd years. Start-ups, universities and technology centres take part in its innovation and technology transfer area, a way into a defence budget that is growing fast. See our list of startup events in Madrid.

7. ARCTIC15 Defence Tech Summit: 16–17 June 2027, Helsinki

📅 ARCTIC15 Defence Tech Summit 2027Confirmed
Dates16–17 June 2027
WhereFinlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland
TypeDefence and dual-use summit inside a start-up conference
Who it's forDefence and dual-use founders, investors, primes and Nordic government stakeholders
TicketsStartup ticket €99 plus VAT; €49 plus VAT after the SiRA assessment; a Business ID is required
Official sitearctic15.com
ARCTIC15 has the cheapest founder ticket on this list and builds investor matchmaking in: sector speed-networking, a one-to-one deal room, on-stage pitches and a Startup Village. Finland shares a long border with Russia and has built a strong dual-use scene. See our list of startup events in Helsinki.

8. Baltic Miltech Summit: 29 June 2027, Vilnius

📅 Baltic Miltech Summit 2027Confirmed
Dates29 June 2027
WhereLITEXPO, Vilnius, Lithuania
TypeDefence industry and innovation summit with an exhibition
Who it's forDefence and security businesses, investors and tech developers from the EU and NATO
Tickets2027 prices not published yet
Official sitebalticmiltech.com
Innovation Agency Lithuania runs the Baltic Miltech Summit on NATO's eastern flank, where defence budgets are among the highest in Europe as a share of the economy. It is a good place to meet Baltic ministries and buyers; speakers can apply on the official site.

9. DSEI UK: 7–10 September 2027, London

📅 DSEI UK 2027Confirmed
Dates7–10 September 2027
WhereExCeL London, UK
TypeDefence and security trade show
Who it's forDefence buyers, armed forces, primes, suppliers and innovators
TicketsVisitor registration on dsei.co.uk
Official sitedsei.co.uk
DSEI is Europe's biggest defence trade show and runs in odd years. Its Tech Zone covers digital and defence innovation. Check the visitor registration rules early, because access is for professionals in the sector. See our list of startup events in London.

10. DSR Investment Summit: Riviera: 28–30 September 2027, Nice

📅 DSR Investment Summit: Riviera 2027Confirmed
Dates28–30 September 2027
WhereOCEANICE congress centre, Nice, France
TypeInvestor summit with a defence and dual-use expo
Who it's forInvestors and post-revenue defence, security and resilience companies
TicketsPasses through the official site; professional verification is mandatory
Official sitedsrinvestmentsummit.com
Nord Sloane's summit is built for fundraising: investors meet defence and dual-use companies that already have revenue, and an expo runs alongside. If you are pre-revenue, start with SPARTA or ARCTIC15. See our guide to startup events in France.

Also worth a look

  • Cybertech Global TLV, Tel Aviv, 25–27 January 2027: cyber and defence technology. cybertechisrael.com See our list of startup events in Tel Aviv.
  • Masters of Digital, Brussels and online, 3–4 February 2027: DIGITALEUROPE's conference with the Future Unicorn & Dual Use Awards. mastersofdigital.org
  • Enforce Tac, NürnbergMesse, Nuremberg, 1–3 March 2027: security and defence trade fair. enforcetac.com
  • UDT Europe, SEC Glasgow, 6–8 April 2027: underwater defence technology. udt-europe.com
  • Paris Air Show, Paris-Le Bourget, 14–20 June 2027: aerospace and defence; Paris Air Lab start-up details for 2027 are not out yet. siae.fr
  • MSPO, Targi Kielce, Poland, 31 August–3 September 2027: Poland's defence industry exhibition. targikielce.pl See our guide to startup events in Poland.
  • TechBBQ, Bella Center Copenhagen, 8–9 September 2027: start-up 2-day pass €299; the 2026 edition had a Defence & Dual-Use Summit, but the 2027 one is not announced yet. techbbq.dk
  • Milipol Paris, Paris Nord Villepinte, 16–19 November 2027: homeland security. milipol.com
Also confirmed for 2027: DEFEA in Athens (18–20 May), IDET in Brno (26–28 May), Deep Tech Momentum in Berlin (12–13 May) and Seoul ADEX (19–24 October).

Dates not announced yet

  • Brave1 Defense Tech Valley, Ukraine: the 2026 edition in Lviv was postponed, with new dates and format to be announced.
  • European Defense Tech Hub hackathons and the EU's EUDIS Defence Hackathon: no 2027 dates yet; the last EUDIS edition ran on 15–17 October 2026.
  • NATO DIANA demo days: the 2027 cohort starts in January 2027; no demo day date yet.
  • Resilience Conference and London Defence Tech Week, Defense Tech Week (US) and Reindustrialize (Detroit): no 2027 dates yet.
  • Women in defence tech: we found no women-focused defence tech event with 2027 dates. If you run one, send it to us.

Why defence tech events matter: the numbers

  • European defence, security and resilience start-ups raised a record $8.7 billion of venture capital in 2025, 55% more than a year earlier, according to Dealroom and the NATO Innovation Fund. Munich kept its place as Europe's top hub for the sector, and AI was behind 44% of the funding.
  • That figure includes dual-use companies. Counting defence tech in the narrow sense, European funding passed $1.5 billion in 2025, and the US has taken 85% of defence tech venture funding among NATO allies since 2019, according to Resilience Media.
  • Women are rare at the top: only 11.2% of C-level roles in European defence tech are held by women, according to data reported by Resilience Media.
Raising for a defence or dual-use company? Read our guide to venture capital for women founders, and see our lists of Top 10 Startup Events on Cybersecurity in 2027 and Top 10 Startup Events on Space Tech in 2027.

How to choose a defence tech event

  1. Check access first. SPARTA and the MSC Frontier Tech Hub are invitation-only, the DSR summit verifies every delegate, and trade shows such as DSEI and IDEX vet visitors. Apply weeks ahead.
  2. Pitch or sell? The AI in Defence Summit's Startup Awards and ARCTIC15's on-stage pitches put you in front of judges; DSEI, IDEX, FEINDEF and SOF Week are for meeting buyers.
  3. Match the event to your stage. Pre-revenue founders get more from ARCTIC15 and SPARTA; companies with revenue and a fundraising plan fit the DSR Investment Summit.
  4. Plan Munich as one trip. SPARTA (11 February) and the MSC Frontier Tech Hub (12–13 February) sit next to the Munich Security Conference.
  5. Use the cheap tickets. ARCTIC15's €49–€99 start-up ticket and TechBBQ's €299 start-up pass cost a fraction of an exhibitor stand at a big trade show.

List your event

Do you organise a defence tech or dual-use summit, pitch competition, demo day or hackathon in 2027? Send us the name, dates, city and official link, and we'll check whether it fits this list.
This article is regularly updated with new events. Do you know about an event that needs to be added? Send us some info and we will see if it's a fit.

🔗 Add an awesome event

More startup event lists

FAQ

What are the best defence tech events for startups in 2027?

Our top picks are IDEX in Abu Dhabi, SPARTA and the MSC Frontier Tech Hub in Munich, the AI in Defence Summit in Brussels, SOF Week in Tampa, FEINDEF in Madrid, the ARCTIC15 Defence Tech Summit in Helsinki, the Baltic Miltech Summit in Vilnius, DSEI in London and the DSR Investment Summit in Nice.

When is DSEI 2027?

On 7–10 September 2027 at ExCeL London. DSEI runs in odd years.

When is the Munich Security Conference 2027?

On 12–14 February 2027. Its start-up platform, the MSC Frontier Tech Hub, runs on 12–13 February, and SPARTA runs on 11 February.

Which defence tech events have startup pitch competitions?

The AI in Defence Summit in Brussels, where three Startup Awards finalists pitch, and the ARCTIC15 Defence Tech Summit in Helsinki, with on-stage pitches and a deal room.

What is the cheapest defence tech event for founders?

The ARCTIC15 Defence Tech Summit: the start-up ticket costs €99 plus VAT, or €49 plus VAT after the SiRA assessment.

When is IDEX 2027?

On 25–29 January 2027 at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, with the IDEX NXT hub for AI-driven defence technology.

How much did European defence tech startups raise in 2025?

European defence, security and resilience start-ups raised a record $8.7 billion, 55% more than in 2024, according to Dealroom and the NATO Innovation Fund.

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
2026-10-31 12:19 By type