BALTEXPO – International Maritime and Military Fair is the leading biennial meeting of the maritime economy and naval/military sectors in Central and Eastern Europe, held at AMBEREXPO in Gdansk, Poland. In its 24th edition (5-7 October 2027), it brings together shipbuilders, defence primes, naval forces, port operators, offshore industry and maritime technology companies from across the Baltic and beyond. The 2025 edition (23rd) gathered nearly 300 exhibitors from 23 countries and over 10,000 visitors.
BALTEXPO – Balt Military Expo and Baltexpo International Maritime and Military Fair is a biennial trade fair held in Gdansk, Poland at the AMBEREXPO Exhibition and Convention Centre. Organised by Gdansk International Fair – AMBEREXPO, it is the leading maritime and military event in Central and Eastern Europe, bringing together exhibitors and visitors from the shipbuilding, naval, offshore, port services, maritime technology, defence and security sectors. The event has a history of over 40 years and its 24th edition is scheduled for 5-7 October 2027.
The fair combines two formally related events on one site: BALTEXPO (the broad maritime industry fair) and Balt Military Expo (the military and naval systems component), organised in close partnership with Poland's General Command of the Branches of Polish Armed Forces and the Inspectorate for the Navy.
BALTEXPO has been operating for over four decades, making it one of the oldest continuously running maritime and defence fairs in the Baltic region. It began as a Polish maritime industry trade show and gradually incorporated a dedicated military and naval component as Poland's NATO membership (1999) and its naval modernisation programmes gained prominence. The event has been held biennially since its early editions, alternating with other significant years in Poland's defence calendar (notably MSPO, which runs in Kielce in odd years). The addition of the Balt Military Expo strand gave the event a clear dual identity: merchant maritime on one side, naval and military on the other. The fair is organised by AMBEREXPO (Gdansk International Fair), which also operates other major Gdansk trade events and has deep roots in the city's shipbuilding and port heritage.
BALTEXPO 2027 is scheduled for 5-7 October 2027 at AMBEREXPO in Gdansk. Pre-registration is open via a Microsoft Forms link on the official website. The 24th edition will continue the programme structure established in recent years: a multi-day industry conference covering maritime economy and naval security, a Safety Day on the final day (live crisis and rescue demonstrations by military and emergency services), an Education, Career and Work Day connecting employers with future maritime and military professionals, and the Golden Anchors awards ceremony recognising contributions to the maritime sector. The Salmon Evening networking gala is expected to return as the social highlight for the maritime community.
Exhibitors confirmed for BALTEXPO 2025 and likely to return in 2027 included Remontowa Holding, Port Gdansk, Port Gdynia, CRIST, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (Polish Armaments Group), SAAB, DNV Poland, Kongsberg, Damen, Boskalis, Hanwha Ocean, Babcock, EuroTorp, Schneider Electric and Orlen Petrobaltic.
BALTEXPO occupies a distinctive position in the European defence and maritime calendar. Its October biennial slot sits after the major autumn defence period (DSEI in September in odd years, MSPO in Kielce in September in odd years) but before the end-of-year review period. Because Poland hosts MSPO (the national defence show in Kielce) and BALTEXPO (the naval/maritime show in Gdansk) in the same biennial cycle, companies targeting Poland's defence procurement must plan for both. BALTEXPO's naval and maritime scope makes it more comparable to Euronaval (France, biennial in Paris) than to land-focused shows like Eurosatory. Its size (~300 exhibitors) places it in the mid-tier of European defence fairs.
The dual maritime-military character produces a broad attendance base:
Exhibitors: Polish shipyards and repair yards (Remontowa, CRIST), European and global defence primes (SAAB, Kongsberg, Damen, Hanwha Ocean, Babcock), Polish state defence companies (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa), port operators, offshore technology companies, classification societies, maritime equipment and systems suppliers, and academic and research institutions.
Visitors: Representatives of Poland's Ministry of Defence and Naval Inspectorate, Polish Navy command, Baltic state naval forces, port authority officials, shipowners and fleet managers, maritime engineers, researchers from maritime academies, and students on the Education Day. Countries represented in the 2025 exhibitor list included Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Norway, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Italy, USA, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Japan, Latvia, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and others.
BALTEXPO runs across three days with the following programme structure:
Key sector themes at BALTEXPO include:
| Dates | 7-9 October 2025 |
| Edition | 23rd |
| Venue | AMBEREXPO, Gdansk |
| Exhibitors | nearly 300 |
| Countries represented | 23 |
| Visitors | 10,000+ |
| Exhibition area (2023 comparison) | 12,000 m2+ |
The two brands refer to the military/naval strand (Balt Military Expo) and the broader maritime fair (BALTEXPO). They run simultaneously at the same venue during the same three days. In practice, most promotional material, ticketing and logistics operate under the single "BALTEXPO" brand, with the military component clearly delineated within the exhibition floor and conference programme. Official communications use both names together.
No. While Polish companies, ports, shipyards and naval programmes are prominently featured, BALTEXPO is an international fair. The 2025 exhibitor list includes companies from 23 countries spanning Europe, Asia and North America. Baltic region nations (Germany, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Lithuania) are strongly represented both as exhibitors and visitors. The Nordic-Polish Baltic Security Dialogue is an explicit Baltic multilateral event within the BALTEXPO programme.
BALTEXPO is biennial. After the 2027 edition (5-7 October 2027), the next edition would be in 2029. Dates are typically announced approximately one year in advance via baltexpo.eu.
AMBEREXPO (Gdansk International Fair) is located at ul. Zaglowa 11, 80-560 Gdansk, on the Gdansk waterfront in the Letnica district. The centre has modern exhibition halls with a combined area well in excess of 20,000 sqm of indoor space, plus outdoor areas. It is accessible by tram from Gdansk city centre (approximately 15 minutes), by bus, and by car with ample parking on site. Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport (GDN) is approximately 15 km away (30 minutes by taxi or bus). The venue is also served by intercity rail via Gdansk Glowny station, with connections to Warsaw (approximately 3 hours) and other Polish cities. The proximity to Gdansk's historic shipyard district reinforces the venue's symbolic resonance with maritime industry.
AMBEREXPO is the principal exhibition operator for Gdansk and the Pomerania region, operating the AMBEREXPO Exhibition and Convention Centre. As a regional fair operator with roots in Poland's shipbuilding and port history, AMBEREXPO has longstanding relationships with the Polish Ministry of Defence, the Polish Navy, and the maritime industry sector. For BALTEXPO, AMBEREXPO coordinates the Balt Military Expo component in formal partnership with Poland's General Command of the Branches of Polish Armed Forces and the Inspectorate for the Navy. Contacts: Jacek Dawidowski (project manager), Wojciech Mundt (military sector coordinator), Ewelina Michalowska (international affairs). Enquiries: via contact form at baltexpo.eu/en/contact/ or directly at the AMBEREXPO office.
BALTEXPO is the Baltic Sea's premier defence and maritime industry gathering -- a rare dual-track event where naval procurement and merchant shipping sit on the same floor, shaped by four decades of Polish maritime tradition.
Pre-registration for BALTEXPO 2027 is open via the Microsoft Forms link at baltexpo.eu. Full ticket and exhibitor pricing for 2027 had not been published as of June 2026. For BALTEXPO 2025, ticket information was available at baltexpo.eu/en/tickets with a tiered pricing structure (reduced tickets available online in advance). Exhibitor stand enquiries should be directed to the AMBEREXPO sales team (contact details at baltexpo.eu/en/contact/). National pavilion coordination is available for groups of companies from the same country.
Poland is a Schengen Area member. Citizens of EU/EEA countries do not need a visa. Citizens of many other countries (USA, Canada, UK, Japan, South Korea, etc.) can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Other nationals should check Polish consulate requirements. All visitors should carry valid ID or passport.
Polish is the dominant language on the exhibition floor and in most sessions. The main conference has simultaneous interpretation for key sessions (English at minimum, sometimes other languages). International exhibitor stands operate in English. The Safety Day and demonstration activities are partially in Polish; signage is bilingual.
AMBEREXPO does not publish an official hotel list for BALTEXPO 2027 on its website as of June 2026, but does provide an access and parking page. Gdansk has a full range of accommodation from international chain hotels (Sheraton, Radisson, Sofitel) in the city centre to budget options. Book early, especially for the Salmon Evening gala which tends to fill premium rooms. The Tri-City area (Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia) offers a wide geographic choice within easy transport reach of AMBEREXPO.
| Official website | https://baltexpo.eu/en/ |
| Pre-registration (2027) | https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=96lw8qPS40ujtj-jw4HBDAY1pya3lhhBiJyAjvN6NT9UNFhNNlZBTlU0WVZQOTQ2NVJFTEhUTjdGRCQlQCN0PWcu |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/baltexpo-international-maritime-fairs-and-conferences | |
| https://www.facebook.com/BALTEXPOtargi/ | |
| X | not disclosed |
| Programme (2025 reference) | https://baltexpo.eu/en/program/ |
| Exhibitors 2025 | https://baltexpo.eu/en/exhibitors-2025/ |