K-DEX 2026 takes an integrated approach to its first edition this coming December 8-11, linking the exhibition floor with international policy dialogue, country-level defence requirements and direct business meetings. The event will be the first following the integration of KADEX and DX KOREA, bringing the two exhibitions together at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Seoul.
Organisers MESSE ESANG have built a structure in which the conference and exhibition structure in each support a different stage of international defence engagement. At the strategic level, the K-DEX Global Summit will include the GLOBSEC Korea Dialogue: The Next Alliance. GLOBSEC, an independent and non-partisan international policy institution rooted in Central Europe, works across government, industry and expert communities on issues including security and resilience and will focus on cooperation between Europe and Asia at K-DEX.
A session on Dec 8 will examine security cooperation between partners across the two regions, while another programme on Dec 9 entitled “From Procurement to Partnership: Europe and Asia in the Defence Industrial Landscape” will address the defence-industrial relationship.
K-DEX will then move from regional issues to individual national priorities through the National Defense Briefing. Eleven countries are currently part of the briefing program, including the US, Saudi Arabia, India, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Latvia, Australia and Portugal. The briefings will focus on national defence environments, modernisation programmes and procurement requirements, giving participants a more detailed view of individual markets.
A third layer will come through K-DEX’s business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-business (G2B) meetings, enabling companies and government or military stakeholders to discuss potential areas of cooperation directly. The integrated structure is intended to allow participants to move across the full programme rather than attending isolated events. For exhibitors, this can provide additional value beyond traditional product display. For visitors, it offers access to information and stakeholders across several levels of the defence market in one venue.
Visitor pre-registration for K-DEX 2026 is now available through the official exhibition website. Depending on eligibility, advance registration may include discounted or free admission and provides a faster process for collecting a visitor pass on site.
K-DEX 2026 is hosted by the Korea Defense Industry Association, the Association of the Republic of Korea Army and the Korea Defense Industry MICE Association. Defense Expo, MindsGround.-–shp/adj/dl (Pix:K-DEX)
