World ATM Congress 2026
World ATM Congress 2026 brought the global air traffic management community to IFEMA Madrid for three days of exhibition and conference programming — the industry's largest annual marketplace for ANSP technology, surveillance, datalink, and airspace optimisation solutions.
What is World ATM Congress?
World ATM Congress is the world's largest international air traffic management exhibition and conference. Organised through a partnership between CANSO (the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) and ATCA (Air Traffic Control Association), it serves ANSPs, ATM technology vendors, airlines, airports, regulators and military airspace users.
The event combines a large trade exhibition with a multi-track conference covering operational optimisation, surveillance modernisation, datalink, UTM, cybersecurity, and environmental performance — the full stack of procurement categories Gulf ANSPs (GCAA, GACA, QCAA, Oman CAA) evaluate on multi-year capex cycles.
World ATM Congress 2026 Madrid — highlights
The 2026 edition ran 10–12 March 2026 at IFEMA Feria de Madrid. Industry coverage emphasised sustainability through technology — including fuel and CO₂ reduction via optimised routes and altitudes, and contrail-aware routing initiatives that use precise airspace management to mitigate aviation's non-CO₂ climate impact.
Exhibitor and delegate participation remained at scale: 10,000+ attendees and 300+ exhibitors per organiser estimates, maintaining World ATM Congress as the ATM sector's primary annual deal-making floor.
- Operational optimisation for ANSPs and airlines
- Sustainability: fuel burn, CO₂, and contrail-aware routing
- Surveillance (ADS-B, WAM, multilateration) modernisation
- Datalink, SWIM, and digital tower programmes
- Cybersecurity and resilience for ATM systems
Who attends
Delegates span national ANSPs, airport operators, airline flight operations, military ATM, technology OEMs (Thales, Indra, Frequentis, Saab Sensis, Harris), systems integrators, and regulators. For vendors, it is the highest-density week for reaching GCC ANSP procurement teams alongside European and Asia-Pacific buyers in one hall.
Industry context — Airspace World
CANSO also runs Airspace World (Lisbon, May 2026) as a complementary global showcase. Some industry directories now reference Airspace World as the evolving brand in the CANSO portfolio — but World ATM Congress Madrid remains the established March ATM expo anchor in the calendar. Track both when planning ATM vendor outreach.
Key themes
Audience mix
GCC ANSP procurement at World ATM Congress
Gulf ANSPs are among the world's most active ATM buyers — new airports (RUH, Jeddah, Muscat expansion), en-route modernisation, and hot/high operational requirements. World ATM Congress is where those teams benchmark Thales vs Indra vs Frequentis vs Saab on the same demo floor.
Use Madrid exhibitor lists as a seed for your approved vendor bench: verify each supplier's GCC install references, local support entity, and cybersecurity accreditation on Aviation Souk before sole-source awards.
- Map sustainability sessions to your contrail and fuel-optimisation RFP language
- Treat surveillance upgrades as multi-year programmes — not single-box buys
- Confirm in-country maintenance and spares before signing ATM integrators
- Cross-reference WAM/ADS-B proposals against existing GCC sensor footprints
Venue & logistics
- IFEMA Feria de Madrid — large exhibition campus with dedicated congress facilities
- Madrid-Barajas (MAD) airport is the main international gateway
- March weather mild — typical daytime 15–18°C
Travel tips
- IFEMA is well served by metro and taxi from central Madrid
- Book hotels near IFEMA or Chamartín for early stand setup
- EU Schengen visa rules apply for non-EU delegates
Frequently asked questions
When was World ATM Congress 2026?
10–12 March 2026 in Madrid, Spain at IFEMA.
How many people attend World ATM Congress?
Organiser estimates cite 10,000+ attendees and 300+ exhibitors.
Who organises World ATM Congress?
A CANSO and ATCA partnership — the ATM and ANSP community's flagship expo.
What topics dominated ATM Congress 2026?
Operational optimisation, sustainability (fuel/CO₂ and contrail-aware routing), surveillance modernisation, and digital ATM systems.
Is World ATM Congress relevant to GCC ANSPs?
Yes — GCAA, GACA, QCAA and regional ANSPs regularly attend; it is the primary global ATM vendor marketplace.
Related categories
Suppliers to know
Going to World ATM Congress 2026?
Describe what you’re sourcing — Souk surfaces ranked supplier shortlists per category and flags which exhibitors at this show are worth your meeting time.
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