Bengaluru: The 16th edition of Aero India will be held at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka in Feb 2027, Indian Air Force (IAF) has confirmed, but the final dates are expected to be announced by the ministry of defence (MoD) later this year.Bengaluru has hosted all previous editions of the biennial airshow. IAF Training Command, which is headquartered in Bengaluru, posted on X that its air officer commanding-in-chief, Air Marshal S Shrinivas, called on chief minister DK Shivakumar on Aug 4.“The chief minister assured full cooperation from the state administration and departments to ensure that the air show is executed smoothly and safely,” the training command said.Since its 2021 edition, the show has evolved beyond mere aerial theatre and into a strategic platform. In 2025, defence minister Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with defence ministers of Tanzania, Zambia, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Ethiopia, Gambia, and Gabon during the event’s first three days, alongside hosting a defence ministers’ conclave and CEO’s roundtable.According to organisers, the business aspect of Aero India 2025 exceeded expectations, with participation reaching unprecedented levels. The static display grew by 43%, featuring 34 aircraft, with SU-57 and F-35 — both fifth-generation fighter jets — emerging as crowd favourites. Exhibitor numbers swelled to 930, whilst the exhibition space expanded to 42,000 square metres.The event was attended by defence ministers and deputies from 26 countries, alongside senior officials from more than 80 nations. A CEO conference and defence ministers’ conclave highlighted the opening day, drawing participation from over 20 countries.The organisers had stressed on the show’s record-breaking international participation, claiming the presence of more than 500 delegates from more than 70 countries, including 115 global CEOs and 931 international exhibitors.
