TEKNOFEST 2026, the world’s largest aerospace and technology festival, promises to bring together millions of young innovators at the crossroads of history, science, and the future. With TRY 75 million in prizes and over TRY 100 million in financial support, TEKNOFEST 2026 is set to take place in Şanlıurfa from September 30 to October 4, at GAP Airport, a city often described as the “zero point of history.”
Organized under the leadership of the T3 Foundation and the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology, TEKNOFEST has become a global platform where ideas evolve into real-world technologies. Applications for the 2026 Technology Competitions, spanning 52 competitions and 127 sub-categories, will remain open until February 20.
This year’s festival will host competitions in cutting-edge fields such as rocketry, unmanned aerial vehicles, agricultural technologies, artificial intelligence in health, satellite communications, and air defense systems. Several competitions will debut for the first time, including Electronic Warfare, Advanced Autonomous Systems, Mining Technologies, FPV Drone Tracking, and Technologies for Humanity, offering participants hands-on experience in emerging and strategic technology areas.
Since its launch in 2018, TEKNOFEST has received over 4 million applications, becoming a launchpad for students ranging from primary school to postgraduate level. In 2026, thousands more are expected to compete, collaborate, and showcase innovations that could shape the future.
TEKNOFEST’s international influence continues to grow. A powerful example came recently from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, where a team of Pakistani middle-school students won first prize in the Social Innovation category at the TEKNOFEST aerospace festival.
Asma Fatima and Inaya Khan, guided by their teacher Gohar Khursheed, earned widespread recognition for their achievement and later met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to receive their award. Their success, announced by Pak-Turk Maarif International Schools and Colleges, highlights TEKNOFEST’s role in empowering young minds beyond borders.
Last year’s competitions, held across Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, attracted applications from over 333,000 teams and more than one million participants from 81 Turkish provinces and 96 countries. With its ever-expanding scope, TEKNOFEST has earned its reputation as the “festival of firsts”, where innovation meets opportunity.
As applications open for TEKNOFEST 2026, young technology enthusiasts, dreamers, and future engineers are invited to take part in one of the world’s most influential technology events. Those ready to turn ideas into impact can apply through www.teknofest.org before February 20.
