XPONENTIAL is the world’s largest annual conference and exhibition for autonomy, uncrewed systems, and robotics, powered by the global reach of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and co-hosted with Messe Düsseldorf North America. The 2026 edition takes place May 11-14 in Detroit, Michigan at Huntington Place, with education programming running all four days and exhibits open May 12-14. Hosting XPONENTIAL in the Motor City underscores the event’s focus on progress and transformation, channeling Detroit’s industrial legacy and its growing role in next-generation mobility and autonomous technologies. The conference attracts 8,500+ global experts and leaders from over 60 countries across 20+ industries including defense, commercial aviation, public safety, infrastructure, energy, logistics, agriculture, maritime operations, and space. The comprehensive program features 100+ sessions curated across six strategic tracks: Policy Governance & Global Strategy, Strategic Resilience, Technology in Motion, Enterprise Operations & Ecosystem Integration, Building the Workforce of Autonomy, and Autonomy in Action. Keynote speakers have included leadership from FAA, Shield AI, UPS Flight Forward, MITRE, Zipline, U.S. Army DEVCOM, NASA, Wisk Aero, Department of Homeland Security, Skydio, and NOAA, delivering insights on regulation, engineering, public safety, defense innovation, infrastructure integration, and commercial operations. The expanded XPO Hall includes outdoor demonstration space, themed pavilions, the XPO+ Launcher Startup Pavilion, and the Defense Technologies Zone featuring 10,000+ square feet showcasing the latest military technologies across air, land, and sea domains. AUVSI Defense programming brings together military leaders, program managers from all service branches, and public security agencies to address unmanned technology integration for critical missions. The Michigan Defense Exposition (MDEX) hosted by NDIA Michigan Chapter operates in the dedicated AUVSI Defense Theater, fostering engagement between DoD buyers, prime contractors, and innovative small businesses. The Innovation Theater explores autonomy applications for inspections, critical infrastructure, and business transformation. STEM programming supports 350+ local, national, and international students and educators through hands-on initiatives. Co-located events provide specialized training in public safety, weather monitoring, defense acquisition, and MRO operations. Past exhibitors include major defense primes, autonomous vehicle developers, drone manufacturers, sensor providers, software companies, and robotics startups advancing capabilities across all domains.