Navalia heads into its tenth edition with over 600 exhibitors, consolidating its position as an international benchmark in the shipbuilding industry.
The event, which will take place from May 19th to 21st, continues to grow at a rate close to 15% and maintains a strong international presence, highlighted by the increase in Asian companies, especially from China.
Navalia’s organizers held their final Executive Committee meeting this Wednesday ahead the tenth edition of the trade fair, which will be held from May 19th to 21st at the IFEVI (Vigo’s Exhibition Institute). During the meeting, organizers presented the final figures and forecasts for an edition that will once again position Vigo as the epicentre of the international shipbuilding industry.
Navalia director Javier Arnau emphasized the particularly positive momentum currently experienced by both the fair and the sector itself, highlighting the growth achieved for this edition. In 2026, Navalia will host 602 exhibitors, compared to 533 at the previous edition, representing an increase of nearly 13%, while using all available exhibition space across the venue’s four halls.
This growth is also reflected in the event’s technological and commercial scope, with represented brands rising from just over 1,000 in 2024 to nearly 1,200 this year, reinforcing the fair’s ability to generate business opportunities and attract innovation. Arnau also stressed the global character of the exhibition, noting a significant increase in international participation, particularly from Asia, as well as the addition of new countries such as Bulgaria, Chile, Egypt, Hong Kong, and Ireland.
During his speech, Arnau stated that “this is not only growth in numbers, but also in positioning,” emphasizing that the fair has consolidated itself as a tool serving the industry, capable of attracting investment, opening markets, and setting trends.
Two Decades of Work
For his part, Navalia president José García Costas highlighted the significance of this tenth edition, which coincides with the fair’s twentieth anniversary. Mr García Costas underlined that Navalia is “the result of two decades of collective and continuous work in service of shipbuilding industry,” stressing its evolution alongside the cycles and challenges faced by the sector.
The event president noted that Navalia’s growth has been “sustained, balanced, and aligned with industrial realities,” enabling it to strengthen its position as Spain’s leading naval trade fair and one of the most important in Europe. He also pointed to the need to continue advancing in strategic areas such as energy transition, digitalization, and defence, “within a context that requires greater public-private collaboration and stronger support for industry.”
New Features
Among the new features for this edition, the organizers highlighted the addition of a new area dedicated to the nautical sector, led by the Rías Baixas Nautical Cluster. This space will feature more than 450 square meters of exhibition area, showcasing specialized equipment solutions and several recreational vessels, thereby expanding the fair’s reach into a sector with growing economic and industrial importance.
Another key development is the expansion of the Innovation Zone promoted by the Vigo Free Trade Zone Consortium. This area will double its size compared to 2024, reaching 400 square meters, further strengthening its commitment to talent, entrepreneurship, startups, and new technologies.
In addition, Navalia will once again focus on knowledge-sharing through a program of more than 30 technical conferences addressing the sector’s main challenges. Topics will include defence, maritime transport decarbonization, energy transition, digitalization through artificial intelligence, as well as the development of solutions related to safety, energy efficiency, and sustainability.