Subsea Expo will return to Aberdeen next month with a refreshed programme of activity, bringing the underwater sector together under a new theme - “The Next Wave”.
Organised by Global Underwater Hub (GUH), the leading trade and industry development body for the UK’s underwater sectors, the upcoming free-to-attend conference and exhibition aims to showcase the country’s position at the forefront of subsea innovation.
Expected to attract thousands of delegates, the two-day event will feature exciting new additions to its programme, following feedback on previous iterations of the event from delegates and exhibitors.
Taking place from Wednesday 4 – Thursday 5 February at Aberdeen’s P&J Live, the subsea event will explore “The Next Wave” of the underwater industry, showcasing how innovation beneath the surface is supporting careers and growth across the blue economy.
Neil Gordon, Chief Executive of GUH, said: “The subsea industry stands on the brink of transformation, driven by the global energy transition, diversification, digitalisation and a renewed focus on sustainability. This is why it is so exciting to bring together leading companies and experts from across the subsea sector for our brand-new iteration of Subsea Expo in February. Focused under the theme of ‘The Next Wave,’ we will deliver an even more engaging and interactive experience for delegates and exhibitors than ever before.”
For the first time event organisers have introduced Customer Engagement Sessions, exclusive to exhibitors and GUH members, that offer focused meetings with major operators and developers, including bp, Boskalis Subsea Services, CNOOC, Flotation Energy and many more.
Subsea Expo exhibitors will also be able to take part in site visits on Tuesday 3 February, providing a behind-the-scenes look at key subsea and energy operations in Aberdeen, including at facilities owned by JFD, MacArtney, Port of Aberdeen and Verlume.
Curated under the overarching theme of “The Next Wave”, the conference proceedings will bring together hand-picked speakers from across the subsea industry to explore key topics.
Engaging Spotlight Sessions will also highlight a range of speakers from across the sector who will discuss a wide range of topics, including late life management, underwater robotics, data and digitalisation and what the next decade of subsea innovation will look like.
A wide range of companies and organisations will feature in the exhibition hall at the event, where they will showcase the latest technologies from across the underwater industry, which is worth £9.4 billion annually to the UK economy.
Highlights of the exhibition space will include RockSalt Subsea's Fast Rescue Daughter Craft (FRDC) Falcon 1 and Tool Tech's Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Stealth Skid.
Mr Gordon added: “We have taken on feedback from previous editions of the event and implemented a refreshed programme of activity for Subsea Expo 2026. Hosting the conference and exhibition across two days will also allow us to offer a more focused programme, giving delegates the opportunity to engage deeply with the latest developments within the sector and network with industry leaders, and open new doors to collaboration through newly introduced Customer Engagement Sessions and site visits.
“Subsea Expo has established itself as a leading industry event for the subsea sector and wider underwater industry, reflective of the national and international exhibitors and attendees that it attracts annually. This year, we also want to showcase the city itself to those visitors through the pre-show site visits, demonstrating our confidence in Aberdeen as a global hub for the subsea sector.”
Global Underwater Hub will also host a free-to-attend networking drinks reception prior to the conference and exhibition opening.
Taking place on the evening of Tuesday 3 February from 6pm-8:30pm at Union Kirk in the heart of Aberdeen’s city centre, the reception will be an excellent opportunity to network with exhibitors, delegates, sponsors, organisers and peers from across the underwater industry in a relaxed setting.
This year’s conference and exhibition is being supported by Boskalis Subsea Services, which has come onboard as Event Partner, alongside other sponsors, including Deepsea Technologies UK, C-Kore Systems, Genesis and Viper Innovations, as Subsea Expo Awards sponsors, and Energy Voice as lanyard and floor tile sponsor.
Stuart Cameron, Managing Director at Boskalis Subsea Services commented: “Subsea Expo continues to play an important role in showcasing the strength, capability and ambition of the North Sea’s underwater sector. We are proud to be the event partner for this conference that brings the international subsea community to Aberdeen. With the industry evolving rapidly, events like this provide a vital platform to discuss the long-term future of the sector in the region where innovation and collaboration will be key. The conference highlights the city’s ongoing importance as a global subsea hub, and our involvement reflects both our continued investment in the region and our commitment to the North Sea.”
In addition to the exhibition and conference, the winners of the 2026 Subsea Expo Awards will be revealed on the evening of Wednesday 4 February. Around 400 guests are expected to attend the annual black-tie event, which will celebrate the companies at the forefront of the UK’s underwater industry across nine award categories.
Comedian and TV personality Cally Beaton, known for her appearances on several television shows, including The Apprentice: You’re Fired, QI, Richard Osman’s House of Games and Countdown, will host the evening event, which still has a limited number of tables available for purchase.
Subsea Expo is free to attend and advance online registration is recommended at www.subseaexpo.com, where full event information is also available.
To register to attend the Official Subsea Expo Networking Drinks Reception, visit https://www.globalunderwaterhub.com/events/event/?id=Official_Subsea_Expo_2026_Networking_Drinks_Reception1757024237 or to book a table at the Subsea Expo Awards, visit https://www.subseaexpo.com/awards-and-dinner/