CABSAT and SATExpo prepare for expanded industry showcase at Expo City Dubai.

CABSAT and SATExpo 2026 will take place from October 5 to 7 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, bringing together companies and professionals from the media, content, broadcast, professional audiovisual (Pro AV), satellite communications and space technology sectors.

CABSAT, now in its 33rd edition and held in strategic partnership with Dubai Studio City, will serve as a regional platform for media technology, content creation, broadcast and Pro AV solutions. Co-located SATExpo, which enters its second edition in strategic partnership with the UAE Space Agency, will focus on the international satellite, space and advanced-connectivity ecosystem.

CABSAT 2026 is expected to attract more than 18,800 visitors, 450 exhibitors and over 700 brands from more than 120 countries. The event will also feature more than 150 speakers and over 50 hours of industry content. Exhibitors include Grass Valley, Ross Video, Evertz, Imagine Communications, Haivision, LiveU, NAGRAVISION and Qvest.

SATExpo is expected to welcome more than 8,000 visitors, more than 150 exhibitors from over 70 countries and more than 80 speakers. Companies taking part include Eutelsat, SES, Telesat, APSTAR, Space Norway and ST Engineering iDirect.

Speaking about this year’s event, Rajendra Salgaonkar, Head of Sales, Exhibitions, inD, said: “The media, entertainment and space industries are evolving at remarkable speed, creating new opportunities across technology, content and connectivity. CABSAT and SATExpo have evolved alongside these industries, bringing together the people, technologies and ideas shaping what comes next. With CABSAT now bringing together media technology, content creation, broadcast and Pro AV, and SATExpo connecting the satellite and space value chain, our new home at Expo City Dubai provides an exciting setting for international business, knowledge exchange and collaboration.”

CABSAT’s Contentverse Director’s Cut, the evolution of Content Congress, will bring together regional and international media executives to examine developments in artificial intelligence, storytelling formats, audience behaviour and new commercial models affecting content creation, distribution and monetisation.

Speakers will include Amith Jain of JioStar, Moon Baz of Meta, Assad Ghanem of Viu and Ellie Habib of OSN+, who will discuss areas including creator-led content, vertical storytelling, production technology and changing audience habits.

The programme comes as the MENA media and entertainment market continues to expand. According to Strategy&, the regional market is projected to reach $18bn by 2028, with digital platforms accounting for 74% of the sector. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are expected to represent 66% of the regional market. Globally, the entertainment and media industry is projected to reach approximately $4.2tn by 2030.

CABSAT will also feature initiatives focused on industry collaboration and production. The co-Production Salon, held in partnership with H-consult, will connect content creators and producers with investors and potential production partners. The Dubai Studio City Sound Stage Tour will provide a look at the emirate’s production infrastructure, while the BroadcastPro Manufacturer Awards 2026 will recognise technologies and solutions supporting the broadcast and media-production sector.

Exhibitors will showcase technologies addressing the industry’s shift towards flexible, software-defined and IP-based workflows, with solutions spanning production, broadcast engineering, cloud and IP infrastructure.

Klaus-Joerg Jasper, Sales Director Middle East, Lawo, stated: “CABSAT remains one of the most important meeting points for broadcasters, media organisations, and technology innovators across the Middle East. At this year’s show, we are demonstrating how open, software-based and IP-native technologies are helping media companies transition from fixed infrastructures to more flexible, service-oriented production models.”

Running alongside CABSAT, SATExpo 2026 will bring together the satellite, space and advanced-connectivity sectors under the theme “Connecting the future”. The event will cover areas ranging from satellite manufacturing and launch services to ground systems, connectivity, downstream applications and space-data analytics.

The SATExpo Summit, themed “From Space Race to International Collaboration in Orbits – A Future for All”, will explore orbital safety, liability and sustainability governance, future in-space infrastructure and services across GEO and LEO, as well as human spaceflight and space exploration.

The event will also feature a Satellite Innovation Showcase, startup and space-tech demonstrations and a matchmaking programme connecting satellite operators, technology providers, investors and government stakeholders.

With CABSAT and SATExpo sharing the Expo City Dubai venue, the two events will offer complementary platforms for the media technology, broadcast, Pro AV, satellite and space communities, supporting technology discovery, business development and international collaboration.