Vertical Aviation International (VAI) drew the global vertical aviation community together at Verticon 2026 in Atlanta this week, hosting 12,852 attendees alongside hundreds of exhibitors and aircraft displays.

Held at the Georgia World Congress Center, the event featured 280,000 square feet of exhibit space, 684 exhibitors and 64 aircraft on display. The show floor included hands-on demonstrations such as an indoor drone cage while exhibitors reported strong visitor traffic and numerous announcements of products, agreements and purchase orders.

“Verticon is where the vertical aviation community meets to do business, sharpen skills and advance safety,” says François Lassale, president and CEO of VAI. “This year's turnout, aircraft presence and depth of education reinforced the strength of our industry and our shared focus on professional excellence.”

Senior regulatory leaders also took part in the programme. FAA administrator Bryan Bedford and EASA executive director Florian Guillermet joined Lassale for a fireside chat focused on balancing innovation with safety and public trust, improving international alignment and managing rapidly expanding low-altitude airspace.

Speaking to VAI members, Lassale highlighted the need for the sector to adapt as airspace becomes more complex and increasingly busy.

“We will define this critical point in vertical aviation by uniting the industry and using shared data and disciplined strategy to guide decisions and policy engagement,” Lassale adds. “The result will be stronger safety performance, a sustainable workforce, measurable industry growth and a more credible voice for aviation.”

Additional speakers included Axios co-founder Mike Allen and US Air Force Col. (ret.) Merryl Tengesdal, who addressed communication, operational decision-making and aviation safety leadership.

Verticon also delivered an extensive education programme. Industry experts taught 24 Elevation courses while volunteers led 66 Foundation sessions, many eligible for FAA WINGS and AMT credits. The show also hosted 30 technical briefings from OEMs and other organisations covering maintenance practices and product updates.

Workforce initiatives formed another central part of the event. The Mil2Civ Workshop supported nearly 300 military personnel transitioning to civilian aviation careers while the VAI Career Fair connected more than 500 job seekers with over 30 companies recruiting across the sector.

Verticon 2027 will take place in Anaheim, California from March 15–18, 2027.