What's New in 2026

Each year, XPONENTIAL evolves to meet the needs of the full autonomy ecosystem. For our 2026 event, we’ve expanded programming and partnerships to accelerate adoption, connect manufacturers and operators, and deliver greater value to every sector advancing autonomy.

Government-Led Roundtables
Facilitated conversations between agency leaders, OEMs, and industry stakeholders will align policy and procurement priorities across air, ground, and maritime domains. These roundtables create direct pathways for defense, commercial, and public sector participants to shape regulatory clarity and scale adoption.

Session Formats Built for Engagement
XPONENTIAL 2026 introduces new session formats that encourage participation and collaboration. Expect more roundtables, hands-on demonstrations, audience-driven panels, and technical deep dives that move beyond presentations and into problem solving. Attendees will gain practical insights from operators, developers, and investors addressing real world challenges.

MDEX Co-Located Event
The Michigan Defense Expo (MDEX) joins XPONENTIAL 2026 in Detroit to connect the autonomy ecosystem with the defense innovation community. Attendees will gain access to DoD buyers, industry exhibits, and one-on-one matchmaking with procurement and acquisition leaders. Together, XPONENTIAL and MDEX strengthen ties between manufacturing, defense, and autonomy, expanding opportunities for collaboration and growth.

End-User Workshops
New end user workshops will bring together operators, regulators, and technology developers to address real world challenges and accelerate adoption across key sectors. Each half day, interactive session will feature expert insights, case studies, and collaborative discussions designed to produce practical strategies for deploying autonomy at scale.

Workshops will focus on areas such as agriculture, security, inspections and critical infrastructure, surveying and mapping, and construction, as XPONENTIAL continues to expand programming around emerging applications of autonomy. These sessions are designed to help end users translate innovation into operational results and drive adoption across the autonomy ecosystem.

XPONENTIAL 2026: Where Autonomy Leads the Way

Together, these new features strengthen XPONENTIAL’s role as the meeting place for the autonomy ecosystem. They bring innovation, policy, and operations together to move the industry forward.

Join the global community advancing uncrewed innovation.