Defensehere has become an official media partner of the inaugural First Balkan Shield – Defence Industry Expo & Summit (FBS-IES 2026), which will take place on September 1-4, 2026, at Sarajevo’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Olympic Hall Zetra.
Preparations are underway, with organizers reporting strong interest from domestic and international defense companies. Around 50 exhibitors are expected, while applications remain open for companies looking to showcase their products, technologies and capabilities.
Held under the institutional patronage of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, the event is supported by major Bosnian defense manufacturers including BINAS, BNT – Machinery and Hydraulics Factory, IGMAN, PRETIS, UNIS GINEX, TRZ, ZRAK and UNIS GROUP, which is also organizing the expo.
Companies, institutions and business delegations from the Balkans, Türkiye, Egypt, China and the Czech Republic have expressed interest in participating, while representatives from Germany and other European and international partners are also expected.
The exhibition will cover the full defense industry value chain, featuring weapons, ammunition, military equipment and protection systems, alongside sectors such as metalworking, mechanical engineering, cybersecurity, unmanned systems, electronics, logistics, certification, R&D, academia and financial services.
More than 7,000 square meters of indoor and outdoor exhibition space will host product displays, demonstrations, presentations and business meetings. A central presentation area will showcase new technologies, innovations and development projects.
FBS-IES 2026 will also feature an international conference and scientific program focused on defense industry development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, industrial capacity, export policies, international cooperation and emerging security technologies. Expected participants include representatives from the defense ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Türkiye and Germany, as well as security institutions, international organizations, academia and industry.
The event will further facilitate B2B, B2G and networking meetings, connecting manufacturers, suppliers, investors, government representatives and potential international partners.
For Defensehere, becoming an official media partner of FBS-IES 2026 represents an opportunity to contribute to the international visibility of an emerging defense industry platform and to provide coverage of the companies, technologies, discussions and partnerships shaping the event.