discover an occasion close to you

Mark your calendar: FAA Drone Security Day 2026 is about for Saturday, April 25, 2026. Even higher is that there are dozens of free occasions occurring throughout the nation so you possibly can take part in what’s the closest factor we’ve got to a nationwide drone vacation.

The annual occasion was beforehand referred to as Nationwide Drone Security Consciousness Week (sure, it spanned 7 days). Extra just lately, it’s been condensed right into a single targeted day, and it’s the FAA’s marketing campaign to carry collectively the drone neighborhood round protected and accountable flying.

This 12 months’s theme is “Fly RIGHT” with a give attention to three subject areas: schooling, emergencies, and atmosphere. Assume drone use in STEM lecture rooms, public security drone packages and environmental functions like wildlife monitoring and reforestation.

For drone pilots, I take into account this drone vacation a very good excuse to get out, meet different pilots, be taught one thing new, and — in lots of circumstances — really fly.

Many individuals frequently go to drone meetups, however I notice it may possibly robust to be a beginner at certainly one of these drone meetups when everybody else seemingly is aware of one another! That’s not the case on Drone Security Day, once I discover individuals are particularly open to newbies (although for what it’s price, I all the time really feel welcome at any drone meetup I’m going to). It’s additionally a very good excuse to take a look at native schools which may have drone packages and meet the college. And whereas some individuals would possibly solely have free time for a couple of meetups a 12 months, these are usually probably the most vigorous meetups — as a result of if individuals can solely select one, it’ll usually be this one.

Better of all? Most occasions are free.

FAA Drone Security Day 2026 occasions occurring across the nation

Although not an entire checklist of FAA Drone Security Day 2026 (to be sincere, extra preserve getting added day by day!), listed below are a handful of the registered occasions that I assumed to spotlight, both as a result of they had been in comparatively populated areas, they’d some kind of distinctive element to them or they had been particualrly price visiting given their sturdy instructional or neighborhood ties.

Bay Space, California — 4th Bay Space Annual Drone Security Day April 25 | 9:00 AM | SF Drone College FRIA Discipline, Treasure Island (eleventh & Ave E)

This one has quite a bit occurring: meet FAA FASTeam drone execs and security inspectors, see what the U.S. Coast Guard is doing with drones, fly the NIST course, get your airframe Distant ID examined, and watch FPV racers arrange a course with 7-inch, 10-inch, and X-Class frames. Carry your personal plane. Free to attend.

Dade Metropolis, Florida — third Annual Drone Security Day at PHSC April 25 | 10:00 AM | Pasco-Hernando State Neighborhood Faculty, 36727 Blanton Highway

A family-friendly occasion masking public security drones, micro drone impediment programs, RC automobile races, an underwater ROV expertise, and a dwell LiDAR mapping simulation. Free admission and parking, plus meals vans.

Lansing, Michigan — 4th Annual FAA Drone Security Day at Lansing Neighborhood Faculty April 25 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | LCC West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Dr

Morning classes with business specialists masking drone security and neighborhood functions, afternoon open flying. Leisure pilots may take the TRUST examination on-site — that’s the FAA leisure security certificates required for passion flyers. Carry your personal drone. Free.

Minneapolis, Minnesota — Drone Security Day at U of M Robotics Institute April 25 | 10:00 AM | Shepherd Laboratories, 100 Union Road SE

Hosted by the Minnesota Robotics Institute on the College of Minnesota Twin Cities, this one is extra research-oriented — you’ll get to tour the lab and meet researchers, native drone firms, skilled associations, and aviation security professionals. Although it’s free, parking prices a nominal price at $1/hour in campus ramps.

Wilmington, Delaware — Drone Security Day at Goldey-Beacom Faculty April 25 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

A full-day occasion masking drone security schooling. See their full schedule of occasions, and register right here:

Palatine, Illinois — third Annual Drone Expertise and Security Day April 25 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Harper Faculty, 1200 West Algonquin Highway, Constructing D

Puerto Rico — Drone Security Day April 25 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Inter American College, Bayamón Campus

El Paso, Texas — Drone Fanatics of El Paso (DEEP) Drone Security Day April 25 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Westside Neighborhood Park, 7400 Excessive Ridge Dr

Jensen Seaside, Florida — sixth Annual South Florida Drone Meetup April 10-12 | 7:00 AM | Jensen Seaside Causeway Park

This one runs a couple of weeks earlier than Drone Security Day correct however is a part of the broader marketing campaign. Open to new and skilled pilots, TRUST certificates required to fly, giveaway prizes and leisure. E mail raykelly735@gmail.com for extra particulars.

Brenham, Texas — Blinn Faculty Drone Fest 2026 April 17 | 9:00 AM | Blinn Faculty Brenham Campus, STEI Constructing

Scottsdale, Arizona — First Annual DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm April 20-22 | Speaking Stick Resort, 9800 E Speaking Stick Method

This one skews extra towards public security and enterprise drone operators than leisure pilots, however price figuring out about if that’s your world.

Wildwood, Missouri — Drones and Cones Could 7 | 1:00 PM | St. Louis Neighborhood Faculty Wildwood Campus

Technically after Drone Security Day however registered as a part of the marketing campaign.

Thief River Falls, Minnesota — Northland Expo 2026 April 14 | 9:00 AM | 13892 Airport Dr

Tasley, Virginia — Japanese Shore Drone Security Day 2026 April 25 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | A&N Electrical Cooperative Headquarters, 21275 Cooperative Method

After which simply after Drone Security Day 2026, don’t miss the 2026 version of Palm Springs Drone Fest. I attended the inaugural 2025 occasion and it was critically the most effective drone competition/occasion/honest of all time. Get extra data at psdronefest.com.

How you can discover extra Drone Security Day occasions and register

The total checklist of registered occasions — and a instrument to seek out ones close to you — is on the Nationwide Middle for Autonomous Applied sciences web site. It’s also possible to register your personal occasion if you wish to host one thing in your neighborhood. The FAA encourages in-person, digital, and hybrid codecs.

Whether or not you’re a leisure pilot who’s by no means thought a lot about airspace guidelines, a industrial Half 107 pilot seeking to keep present, or simply somebody interested in what drones can really do — Drone Security Day occasions are low-stakes, free, and a great way to satisfy the native drone neighborhood in particular person. April 25 isn’t far off.

And in order for you much more drone occasions by means of 2026, try my information to all the opposite prime festivals, conferences and workshops scheduled by means of the top of December 2026.

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