What to expect from the AGN Theatre at Farnborough International Airshow 2026
The Aerospace Global News Theatre at Farnborough International Airshow 2026 will bring together senior leaders, innovators and industry specialists to examine some of the biggest questions shaping the future of aerospace.
Taking place across the show week, the AGN Theatre will host conversations on advanced air mobility, autonomous aviation, artificial intelligence, future propulsion, defence supply chains, aviation safety, skills and next-generation aircraft.
The programme remains subject to change, with further speakers and session details expected to be confirmed. But the outline agenda already points to a theatre focused on the technologies, policy questions and industrial challenges that will define aerospace over the next decade.
What is the AGN Theatre?
The AGN Theatre is a dedicated content space at Farnborough International Airshow, designed to bring future-facing aerospace conversations directly onto the show floor.
Rather than focusing only on aircraft announcements or company updates, the theatre is built around the deeper questions facing the sector. How will advanced air mobility move from testing to commercial service? Which propulsion technologies can genuinely scale? How can aerospace and defence supply chains become more resilient? What role will AI play across design, manufacturing, operations and maintenance?
The theatre is intended to create a space for practical, informed discussion between aerospace leaders, technology providers, regulators, operators, policymakers and investors.
For Aerospace Global News, the programme also reflects the themes at the heart of our coverage: innovation, industrial capability, sustainability, defence, future flight and the real-world conditions needed to turn new aerospace ideas into operational reality.
The AGN Theatre 2026: An overview
Across the week, the AGN Theatre programme will cover a broad range of aerospace and aviation themes.
Advanced air mobility will feature prominently, with sessions looking at eVTOL certification, commercial launch, infrastructure, market timing, public acceptance and the use cases most likely to scale first.
Autonomous aviation is also highlighted, including discussions on beyond visual line of sight operations, uncrewed traffic management, electronic conspicuity and the future of integrated airspace.
Supply chain resilience will be discussed, reflecting continued pressure across commercial aerospace and defence production. Sessions will examine how the sector can improve responsiveness, strengthen trusted supplier relationships and secure access to critical materials.
The programme will also explore artificial intelligence, digital transformation, future propulsion, aerospace skills, aviation safety, airport technology and next-generation aircraft concepts.
AGN Theatre 2026 highlights
One of the headline sessions will be the CEO eVTOL industry update, taking place on Tuesday, 21 July in Hall 4, AGN Theatre 2 from 15:10 to 16:00.
The panel will bring together leaders from Archer Aviation, BETA Technologies, Joby Aviation and Vertical Aerospace for a strategic discussion on the path to commercial launch.
The session will look at certification, customer demand, capital discipline, manufacturing readiness and what could separate viable eVTOL businesses from the rest of the field.
Defence supply chains will also take centre stage in ‘Rewiring defence supply chains for urgency’, taking place on Monday, 20 July, in Hall 3, AGN Theatre 1 from 15:20 to 16:10.
The session will explore how governments and industry can accelerate procurement, improve responsiveness and create more agile industrial networks capable of delivering at the speed demanded by the current security environment.
Confirmed speakers include Joanna Bailey, Editor of Aerospace Global News; Grahita Anggana, Vice President Supply Chain Solution Design at Thyssenkrupp; and James Taylor, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at LSI.
Another highlight will be Fostering UK innovation in autonomous aviation, taking place on Tuesday, 21 July, in Hall 3, AGN Theatre 1, from 13:00 to 13:50.
The panel will examine how the UK can unlock the benefits of drone operations and autonomous aviation, moving beyond trials and segregated airspace towards more routine, scalable operations.
Confirmed speakers include representatives from Inline Policy, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Wing, Apian, the National Fire Chiefs Council and the UK Department for Transport.
How to visit the AGN Theatre at FIA
The AGN Theatre will run across two locations at Farnborough International Airshow 2026: Hall 3, AGN Theatre 1, and Hall 4, AGN Theatre 2.
Sessions are scheduled throughout the show week, from Monday, 20 July to Thursday, 23 July, with further details expected to be confirmed as the event approaches.
Visitors can find more information in the What’s On section of the Farnborough International Airshow website, where the latest session details, timings and speaker updates will be published.
Farnborough International Airshow 2026 takes place from 20 to 24 July 2026.
