Euronaval

History and origin

Created in 1968 to showcase the French naval construction industry, Euronaval progressively opened to European and then global manufacturers. Over more than 50 years it has become the global benchmark event for naval defence, adapting each edition to the prevailing geostrategic and technological environment. The show has consistently attracted the most important official naval delegations worldwide, a feature that distinguishes it from regional competitors. The biennial format was maintained throughout the Cold War and into the post-2014 return of great-power maritime competition, making each edition a de facto barometer of global naval procurement priorities.

The 2026 edition: 30th anniversary

The 2026 edition marks the 30th Euronaval, a milestone the organiser is positioning as a celebration of the show's role in shaping naval procurement for over five decades. Organisers project more than 500 exhibitors from around 30 countries and approximately 26,000 professional visitors. The SEAnnovation innovation zone will again provide 200 square metres dedicated to start-ups presenting naval technology concepts to a panel of experts. The Euronaval Awards will recognise outstanding innovations declared by exhibitors. The Euronaval Conference 2026 -- a pre-show conference held in Brussels (the first session took place 13 January 2026 at Square Brussels, focussed on "Maritime Superiority: The Quantum and Artificial Intelligence Shift") -- extended the show's programmatic reach before the November exhibition opens.

Where Euronaval sits in the defence calendar

Euronaval occupies the early-November slot in odd-numbered years, alternating with DSEI (September, London) and other biennial shows. No other event combines the same density of naval procurement decision-makers under one roof: in 2024, 150 official delegations from 79 countries attended, including ministers of defence, ambassadors and chiefs of staff. The show is recognised as a procurement event rather than merely an industry showcase, meaning contracts and letters of intent are regularly signed on the exhibition floor.

Who attends Euronaval

Exhibitors range from prime contractors -- naval shipbuilders, systems integrators, weapons manufacturers -- to specialist sub-system suppliers and innovative start-ups. The visitor base spans ministers of defence, ambassadors, secretaries of state for defence, chiefs of staff, senior naval officers, national procurement administrations, coastguard chiefs, customs representatives, maritime coastguard representatives, defence attaches, and representatives of multilateral organisations. In 2024, 55% of exhibitors came from outside France. Journalists numbered 350 accredited representatives.

What the Euronaval format includes

The exhibition floor in Hall 6 at Paris Nord Villepinte hosts nearly 500 exhibitors across the full spectrum of naval and maritime security technology. The SEAnnovation zone (200 sqm) is a curated innovation area where selected start-ups present next-generation naval concepts. The Euronaval TV Studio broadcasts live from the show floor throughout all four days, extending reach to the global naval community. Formal BtoB business meetings -- pre-arranged and facilitated by the organiser -- allow exhibitors and visitors to conduct structured commercial discussions: 1,250 such meetings were held in 2024. Official delegations receive tailor-made visit programmes managed by dedicated accompanying officers. The Euronaval Innovation Awards ceremony recognises exhibitors declaring a novel technology in the naval defence, naval security or maritime sector.

What Euronaval covers

Core technology and capability domains include: surface warships and submarines; naval weapons and guided munitions; surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence (maritime domain awareness); underwater warfare and mine countermeasures; naval aviation and UAVs; cyber security for naval platforms; propulsion and naval engineering; communications and electronic warfare; unmanned surface and underwater vehicles; port and coastal security; and dual-use maritime technologies.

The 2026 edition in numbers (organiser-declared)

The venue: Paris Nord Villepinte

Paris Nord Villepinte is the largest exhibition centre in France, located at ZAC Paris Nord 2, 93420 Villepinte. It sits 15 minutes by road from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and approximately 30 minutes from central Paris. By rail: RER B line from Paris (Gare du Nord or CDG) to Parc des Expositions station, which is directly connected to the exhibition halls. Hall 6 is the dedicated venue for Euronaval, providing a large, modern single-floor exhibition space well suited to heavy naval equipment, scale models and large system demonstrations.

The organiser: SOGENA / GICAN

GICAN (Groupement des Industries de Construction et Activites Navales) is the French naval industry trade association, grouping major French naval construction companies and their supply chains. SOGENA is its specialist events subsidiary, responsible solely for Euronaval. The show is held under the high patronage of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and receives support from the Direction Generale de l'Armement (DGA), the French Navy (Marine Nationale) and the Secretariat de la Mer.

First time at Euronaval? How to prepare

• Register and arrange your badge well in advance. Euronaval is a major international event; online registration closes before the show opens. If you represent an official delegation, contact the organiser early to benefit from the tailored delegation programme with dedicated accompanying officers.
• Prioritise the BtoB meetings service. The pre-arranged BtoB meeting programme is one of the most productive features of the show. Sign up through the exhibitor portal or visitor registration system once it opens to schedule meetings with specific companies or delegations before you arrive.
• Navigate Hall 6 with a plan. Nearly 500 exhibitors occupy a single large hall; without a map and a shortlist of priority contacts, it is easy to lose time. Download the exhibitor list (available at euronaval.com/2026-exhibitors-list/) and identify your top-priority stands before travelling.
• Attend the SEAnnovation zone. The 200-sqm innovation area showcases naval-tech start-ups selected by an expert panel. For procurement officers and investors, this is an efficient way to identify early-stage capabilities that are not yet on the main show floor.
• Book CDG-area accommodation immediately. Hotels around Paris-Charles de Gaulle and in the immediate Villepinte area are in short supply during Euronaval. The show organisers link to accommodation partners, but independent booking through major hotel aggregators as early as possible is advisable.
• Follow the Euronaval Talks pre-show series. SOGENA has extended the show's intellectual programme with pre-show Brussels Conferences and quarterly online Talks. Watching replays (available on the Euronaval YouTube channel) before November will orient you on the key debates -- autonomy, AI, quantum -- that will dominate conference sessions on the floor.