16th China Airshow to Set New Records in Scale

Organizers of the 16th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition announced on October 13 that the event will reach unprecedented scale, with a record indoor exhibition area, more than 3,000 pieces of equipment on display, and the first joint public showing of lunar soil collected from both the near and far sides of the Moon. The airshow will run December 7-13, 2026, in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, Xinhua reported.

The announcement was made at a press conference in Beijing attended by Zhang Hu, Executive Vice Governor of Guangdong Province; Wu Zetong, Mayor of Zhuhai; Yi Lin, Deputy Director of the News and Publicity Center of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA); and Gao Xiang, Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the PLA Air Force.

Record Scale and a New Layout

Zhang Hu said the indoor exhibition area will reach 135,000 square meters, with more than 3,000 pieces of equipment on display. “First exhibition” and “first show” items will account for roughly 10 percent of exhibits, the main exhibition zone will host more than 170 aircraft, and more than 1,100 companies from nearly 50 countries and regions have already registered.

For the first time, the airshow will adopt a “one exhibition, three zones” layout. In addition to the main venue at the Zhuhai International Airshow Center, organizers will set up the Lianzhou unmanned equipment display zone and the Gaolan maritime equipment display zone, where dynamic drone-countermeasure demonstrations and active-duty naval equipment will be featured.

Lunar Soil Takes Center Stage

One of the most anticipated exhibits will be lunar soil samples gathered by Chang’e-5 from the near side of the Moon and by Chang’e-6 from the far side, displayed together in the same frame for the first time. “Visitors can observe the differences between the two up close on site,” Yi Lin said.

The display underscores China’s expanding lunar exploration program, which in recent years has brought back material from both hemispheres of the Moon — a distinction that has drawn significant scientific and public interest.

Aerobatic Teams and Service Branches

Wu Zetong said Russia’s “Russian Knights” and the United Arab Emirates’ “Fursan Al Emarat” aerobatic teams will take the stage, joining China’s PLA Air Force August 1st aerobatic team for what he described as an “aerial ballet.” China’s Air Force, Army, and Navy, along with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and France’s Airbus, will send active-duty aircraft and flagship models.

Gao Xiang said the Air Force booth will, for the first time, set up a “digital intelligence” section, with some cutting-edge equipment open for hands-on experience. “Letting more domestically-produced new-type fighter jets meet the public at zero distance, and letting the story of the People’s Air Force reach every household — this is the Air Force’s unchanging commitment,” he said.

A Showcase for Industry

This year marks both the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the 30th anniversary of the airshow, which was founded in 1996. A range of products representing the latest indigenous innovations in aerospace and defense technology will be on display.

Among the corporate exhibits, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CAST) will show models of a heavy-lift launch vehicle first-stage engine and the Tianwen-2 main probe; the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) will present an integrated air-defense system and an anti-drone system; and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) will bring more than 370 products spanning complete aircraft and airborne systems — an increase of more than 30 percent over the previous edition. The Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) will display nearly 90 types of aero engines and advanced materials, while the China Electronics Technology Group (CETC) will present a full-spectrum, system-based electronic countermeasure system.

Context and What’s Next

The 15th China Airshow, held in November 2024, drew 1,022 companies from 47 countries and regions, featured 261 aircraft, and saw agreements worth about 285.6 billion yuan signed, along with 1,195 aircraft deals and nearly 590,000 visitors, according to the Guangzhou Daily. That edition also marked the public debut of key platforms such as the J-35A stealth fighter and the lunar far-side sample from Chang’e-6.

The 2026 event represents a notable scheduling change. The 15th airshow’s closing report announced the 16th edition would take place November 10-15, 2026, but the October 2026 official announcement set the dates at December 7-13 — a shift that organizers have not publicly explained.

The 2026 Zhuhai Forum is planned to be held concurrently with the airshow, focusing on commercial space, space medicine and human health, and expounding China’s position on the peaceful use of outer space.

Wu Zetong extended a public invitation: “In December, Zhuhai has pleasant weather and beautiful scenery; we look forward to meeting in Zhuhai to share this blue-sky grand event.”

With record participation and its 30th anniversary milestone, the 16th China Airshow will serve as a high-profile platform for China to display advances across its aerospace and defense sectors — and a key test of how far its exhibit lineup and international draw have grown since 2024.