All the Opportunities at APEX TECH 2026
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APEX TECH returns to Los Angeles on January 27 to 28 with a sharper focus on the technologies that shape connectivity, content, data, and digital experience. The program highlights IFC, personalization, content workflows, edge caching, licensing, and the growing role of e-commerce and advertising in the cabin. The structure blends technical knowledge with commercial insight, giving attendees a focused place to learn, network, and preview what the next phase of in-flight technology will look like.
The 2026 edition builds on this foundation with new opportunities for members to strengthen visibility and connect directly with airlines. Alongside the core IFEC and cabin systems sessions, the event introduces new ways to showcase products, spark collaboration, and support meaningful dialogue between airlines and suppliers. The result is an event that continues to expand from a technical forum into a broader meeting point where hardware, software, and business strategy align.
New Sponsorship Available
New for 2026, APEX TECH introduced a new product-display sponsorship that gives APEX members a clear and simple way to showcase their products to all attendees. The goal centers on visibility. Companies can place their hardware or digital tools directly in a high-traffic space where airline decision-makers and technical teams pass throughout the conference.
“We’re really excited to bring this new product-display concept to APEX TECH because it gives our members a simple, high-impact way to put their innovations in front of every attendee,” says Steve O’Connor, APEX’s commercial director. “It’s a fresh idea that strengthens the event and creates real value for suppliers and airlines alike.”
The product will be displayed throughout the conference in a high-traffic area, putting it in front of the strongest foot traffic and giving people time to stop, look, and ask questions. The placement becomes especially visible during breaks and lunch, when attendees naturally gather and have a moment to pause. The setup helps translate technical ideas into something tangible, as exhibitors can use those windows to walk people through the product and how it works in practice in a more relaxed, hands-on setting. For airlines, the setup offers a quick way to see new products during a busy schedule. For exhibitors, it provides a direct path to meaningful engagement and real-time feedback.
This option reflects APEX TECH’s shift toward a more commercially aware environment. The product display encourages practical conversations, sparks new connections, and helps suppliers build relationships in a focused and memorable way.
Attendees will also have a chance to meet the sponsors supporting this year’s event. Panasonic Avionics returns as the headline partner, anchoring the program through its long-standing role in IFEC and digital services, and through its close collaboration with airlines worldwide. Spafax and West Entertainment join as Diamond sponsors, bringing deep experience in content curation and media delivery. Anuvu and Safran participate as Gold sponsors, while Axinom and Reaktor round out the lineup as event sponsors. Together, they represent a wide cross-section of the companies shaping today’s in-flight technology and passenger experience.
A Networking Hub for the Passenger Experience Community
APEX TECH continues to attract a strong mix of digital, IFEC, and product teams from global airlines, as well as connectivity providers, IFE vendors, content specialists, software developers, and hardware manufacturers. The 2026 event expands on that tradition with new interactive elements designed to help attendees meet and collaborate more intentionally. Speed networking returns after strong feedback in 2025 and provides structured, time-efficient conversations that help participants connect with experts and airline representatives.
The event offers suppliers a direct path to share their work and explain their products in a practical, face-to-face setting. Airline teams from Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, International Airlines Group, Qantas, United Airlines, Aeromexico, and others will attend, providing companies with valuable access to decision-makers shaping digital strategy, onboard services, and investment priorities. For attendees, this concentrated environment remains one of the most effective networking platforms in the passenger experience space.
Connection really shapes the feel of APEX TECH. Everyone moves through the same rooms and shared spaces, which makes it easy for quick chats to turn into real conversations. The mix of sessions, hallway discussions, and evening events gives attendees numerous opportunities to develop genuine relationships. This format has helped APEX TECH grow into a key place for both new and established companies to connect with airlines in a meaningful way.
The Conversations Moving the Industry Forward
Sessions at APEX TECH remain central to the program. The 2026 agenda spans connectivity, in-flight entertainment, cabin systems, data capture, standards, media supply chain, and emerging hardware. These tracks give attendees a clear picture of where investment is moving and which challenges matter most as airlines refine their digital strategies.
The program begins with updates on IFC performance and the growing role of LEO constellations. Speakers examine how these systems may shift expectations around bandwidth, coverage, reliability, and cost. The discussion brings airline teams, suppliers, and engineers into the same room, helping translate technical questions into commercially relevant insights.
Other sessions focus on portals, performance improvements, personalization, and the link between connectivity strategy, loyalty, and revenue. The agenda also explores edge caching and streaming, including supply chain technology, emerging standards, and the technical and commercial considerations behind hybrid delivery models. Additional panels cover non-theatrical licensing, content workflows, and new onboard tech use cases that connect digital platforms with advertising, e-commerce, and richer passenger engagement.
Together, these topics reflect a wider set of opportunities for the passenger experience community. APEX TECH 2026 provides clarity on evolving airline priorities, offers suppliers a focused platform to showcase ideas, and creates a shared environment where technical knowledge and commercial vision align. With new sponsorship options, more ways to network, and sessions designed for practical collaboration, the event has become a place where people share ideas and build momentum that continues long after APEX TECH ends.