The Oct. 20-22 business aviation gathering will combine major OEM displays with more than 70 education sessions, career programming and a redesigned main-stage experience.
NBAA-BACE 2026 will take place Oct. 20-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with Aircraft Connection at Henderson Executive Airport on Oct. 20-21.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- NBAA-BACE 2026 will run Oct. 20-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with Aircraft Connection at Henderson Executive Airport operating Oct. 20-21.
- The announced manufacturer lineup spans major business aviation OEMs, while the current aircraft directory includes models such as the Bombardier Global 8000, Dassault Falcon 6X and Gulfstream G800.
- The new Horizon Stage will bring headline speakers onto the exhibition floor, alongside the returning Flight Deck and more than 70 education sessions.
- Expanded maintenance, career and military-transition programs will give technicians, job seekers and transitioning service members dedicated programming throughout convention week.
(NEWS) LAS VEGAS, Nevada, United States, 2026-Sep-01 — /Travel PR News/ — Business aviation’s annual gathering in Las Vegas is taking shape as a broader mix of aircraft showcase, technology exhibition, professional education and workforce development. The 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) will run Oct. 20-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, while its outdoor Aircraft Connection at Henderson Executive Airport will operate Oct. 20-21.
Organized by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the convention is expected to bring together more than 17,000 industry professionals. This year’s format places particular emphasis on giving attendees direct access to aircraft, new systems and decision-makers while also expanding the event’s education, maintenance and career-development programs.
“In business aviation, we’re not waiting for the future, we’re building it,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said as the association outlined the latest plans for the show.
Aircraft display brings new-generation business jets to Henderson
The aircraft lineup is one of the clearest indicators of the scale of the 2026 event. NBAA says manufacturers represented across the convention and airport display will include Aviat, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier, Cirrus Aircraft, Daher, Dassault, Epic, Gulfstream Aerospace, Honda Aircraft, Piaggio Aero, Pilatus, Piper, Robinson Helicopter, SyberJet and Textron Aviation.
The published Aircraft Connection directory, which NBAA says will continue to grow as additional aircraft are confirmed, already includes the Bombardier Global 8000, Global 6500 and Challenger 3500; Dassault Falcon 6X and Falcon 8X; Gulfstream G800, G700, G600 and G400; HondaJet Elite II; Pilatus PC-12 PRO and PC-24; Piaggio P.180 Avanti EVO; SyberJet SJ30 and SJ36; and several Cessna Citation models from Textron Aviation.
The outdoor showcase is intended to give operators, pilots, buyers and flight-department teams a closer look at cabins, flight decks, avionics and operating equipment. Access to individual aircraft remains at the discretion of exhibitors, and NBAA recommends pre-arranged appointments for prospective buyers who want to board specific aircraft.
Inside the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall, exhibitors will cover the wider business aviation supply chain, including avionics, engines, cabin interiors, ground-handling equipment and other operational technologies. NBAA has also published a video series with exhibitors previewing what they plan to bring to this year’s show.
Horizon Stage moves headline programming onto the show floor
A notable change for 2026 is the introduction of the Horizon Stage, which will place headline speakers and major convention moments directly on the exhibition floor rather than separating them from the main show activity. NBAA is positioning the new stage as a central meeting point for discussions about the future of business aviation.
Among the announced speakers are aerospace entrepreneur and aviation financier Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, recipient of the 2026 NBAA Meritorious Service to Aviation Award, and aviator and business executive Ross Perot Jr. The returning Flight Deck will provide a more interactive forum for discussions on technology, regulation, market conditions and workforce issues.
Education remains a substantial part of the convention. NBAA says the program will include more than 70 sessions, with dedicated content addressing safety, tax issues and other operational concerns. The current program framework is organized across 12 education tracks, including artificial intelligence, emerging technology, maintenance, operations, regulatory affairs, safety, leadership and workforce development.
Maintenance and workforce programs gain more space
For maintenance teams, the convention will offer a three-day Maintenance Track designed for aircraft maintainers, technicians and operations directors. Eligible technicians will be able to earn Inspection Authorization renewal credit, while the expanded program will also incorporate the Gulfstream Operator Forum with maintenance and operations sessions aimed at professionals responsible for Gulfstream aircraft.
The Career Zone will address another persistent industry priority: attracting and developing talent. Planned services include one-to-one career coaching, scholarship and résumé reviews, professional headshots and workshops on LinkedIn and other job-search skills. The area will also host a Military Connect meetup and an event with members of the 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 class.
Military Connect will begin on the Horizon Stage and focus on helping transitioning service members move into civilian business aviation roles. Sessions will cover the cultural shift from military to commercial workplaces, translating military experience into civilian résumés and building organizations that can better recruit and retain former service members.
The Creator Studio, sponsored by Signature Aviation, will return to the convention center atrium as a workspace and meeting point for podcasters, digital creators and other aviation media personalities. Its continued presence reflects the growing role of specialist digital media in how aircraft, technology and industry careers are presented to new audiences.
A convention increasingly built around business meetings as well as exhibits
NBAA is also setting aside dedicated time for networking and commercial meetings on the show floor, reinforcing the event’s role as a marketplace as much as an exhibition. That approach is especially relevant for operators and buyers who can compare aircraft and systems at Henderson, then continue discussions with manufacturers, suppliers and service providers inside the convention center.
The indoor exhibition runs across all three show days, while Aircraft Connection is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday only. NBAA says additional speakers, features and program details will be announced in the weeks before the convention.
For attendees planning travel, the two-venue structure remains an important practical consideration: the main exhibition is at the Las Vegas Convention Center, while the aircraft display is at Henderson Executive Airport. NBAA plans shuttle transportation between the sites during Aircraft Connection hours, allowing visitors to divide their time between the indoor technology exhibits, education sessions and the outdoor aircraft lineup.
With new aircraft entering service, rapid development in avionics and digital systems, and continued pressure on the sector to recruit skilled workers, NBAA-BACE 2026 is being structured around several of business aviation’s most immediate priorities at once. The result is a show that extends beyond product display into operations, workforce planning, professional development and the commercial decisions shaping the next phase of the industry.
