The official launch of ExpoNaval 2026 took place on Monday, 17th at the National Agricultural Society (SNA) building. The 13th edition of the fair, which will be held between December 1st and 3rd, 2026, in Valparaíso, is establishing itself as a regional business center that promotes the development of public-private partnerships and international cooperation.

In its nearly 30-year history, ExpoNaval has become a benchmark for dialogue between navies, industries, shipyards, defense institutions, and technology companies from more than 45 countries. With this positioning, the 2026 edition is expected to bring together more than 120 international exhibitors, including shipyards, designers, and leading manufacturers.

The 2026 edition will be marked by the implementation of the Continuous National Shipbuilding Plan, a strategic policy of the Chilean government aimed at manufacturing the ships required by the Navy in the country, strengthening sovereignty, industrial autonomy, and technological development.

Thus, the fair is part of a collective effort to create the Collaborative Center for Shipbuilding (3CN), which seeks to turn the Biobío Region into an industrial and technological hub, generating quality jobs, scientific development, and an eco-efficient and sustainable shipbuilding industry.

In parallel with the fair, an international conference and sectoral round tables will once again be held, addressing topics such as logistics and smart ships, sustainability and energy efficiency, port security, and concessions under renewal.

In this regard, Vice Admiral Leonardo Chávez of the Chilean Navy said: “The Navy has always been present, consolidating Expo Naval as the most important trade fair in Latin America, which is also a space for analysis and debate on the challenges facing the naval and maritime industry, involving not only South American countries, but the whole world.”

Chávez added that the fair “is an important bridge that builds ties between the government and private sectors, both locally and globally, providing benefits for all countries and involving the naval industry. We are deeply convinced that the 14th edition of Expo Naval will meet expectations.”

It should be noted that ExpoNaval 2026 has strengthened its global presence by participating in DSEI (London), LAAD (Rio de Janeiro), and Euronaval (Paris), in collaboration with the Chilean Navy, ASMAR, and the national industry, projecting Chile’s image as a regional leader in naval engineering and dual capabilities in defense and logistics.

During her speech, Defense Minister Adriana Delpiano reaffirmed the strategic importance of Expo Naval for Chile’s naval industry, “a small country—at the end of the world, as we sometimes say—that dares to build an icebreaker, that dares to build multipurpose vessels, that dares to build not only from the Navy’s point of view, but also to work with the private sector to strengthen the industry.”

Meanwhile, Carola Fuentes, general manager of FISA, elaborated on the figures expected from the event: “The 2026 edition will bring together more than 120 international exhibitors and delegations from at least 45 countries, and more than 500 high-impact meetings are expected to take place, as well as an international presence exceeding 20% of the attendees from the previous edition. We will also facilitate public-private partnerships and promote Chile as a regional leader in naval engineering through technology transfer, cooperation in research and development, and the global exchange of best practices.”