Mark your calendar: FAA Drone Safety Day 2026 is set for Saturday, April 25, 2026. Even better is that there are dozens of free events happening across the country so you can participate in what’s the closest thing we have to a national drone holiday.
The annual event was previously known as National Drone Safety Awareness Week (yes, it spanned 7 days). More recently, it’s been condensed into a single focused day, and it’s the FAA’s campaign to bring together the drone community around safe and responsible flying.
This year’s theme is “Fly RIGHT” with a focus on three topic areas: education, emergencies, and environment. Think drone use in STEM classrooms, public safety drone programs and environmental applications like wildlife monitoring and reforestation.
For drone pilots, I consider this drone holiday a good excuse to get out, meet other pilots, learn something new, and — in many cases — actually fly.
Many people regularly go to drone meetups, but I realize it can tough to be a newbie at one of these drone meetups when everyone else seemingly knows each other! That’s not the case on Drone Safety Day, when I find people are especially open to newbies (though for what it’s worth, I always feel welcome at any drone meetup I go to). It’s also a good excuse to check out local colleges that might have drone programs and meet the faculty. And whereas some people might only have free time for a few meetups a year, these tend to be the most lively meetups — because if people can only choose one, it’ll typically be this one.
Best of all? Most events are free.
FAA Drone Safety Day 2026 events happening around the country
Though not a complete list of FAA Drone Safety Day 2026 (to be honest, more keep getting added every day!), here are a handful of the registered events that I thought to highlight, either because they were in relatively populated areas, they had some sort of unique component to them or they were particualrly worth visiting given their strong educational or community ties.
Bay Area, California — 4th Bay Area Annual Drone Safety Day April 25 | 9:00 AM | SF Drone School FRIA Field, Treasure Island (11th & Ave E)
This one has a lot going on: meet FAA FASTeam drone pros and safety inspectors, see what the U.S. Coast Guard is doing with drones, fly the NIST course, get your airframe Remote ID tested, and watch FPV racers set up a course with 7-inch, 10-inch, and X-Class frames. Bring your own aircraft. Free to attend.
Dade City, Florida — 3rd Annual Drone Safety Day at PHSC April 25 | 10:00 AM | Pasco-Hernando State Community College, 36727 Blanton Road
A family-friendly event covering public safety drones, micro drone obstacle courses, RC car races, an underwater ROV experience, and a live LiDAR mapping simulation. Free admission and parking, plus food trucks.
Lansing, Michigan — 4th Annual FAA Drone Safety Day at Lansing Community College April 25 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | LCC West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Dr
Morning sessions with industry experts covering drone safety and community applications, afternoon open flying. Recreational pilots can also take the TRUST exam on-site — that’s the FAA recreational safety certificate required for hobby flyers. Bring your own drone. Free.
Minneapolis, Minnesota — Drone Safety Day at U of M Robotics Institute April 25 | 10:00 AM | Shepherd Laboratories, 100 Union Street SE
Hosted by the Minnesota Robotics Institute at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, this one is more research-oriented — you’ll get to tour the lab and meet researchers, local drone companies, professional associations, and aviation safety professionals. Though it’s free, parking costs a nominal fee at $1/hour in campus ramps.
Wilmington, Delaware — Drone Safety Day at Goldey-Beacom College April 25 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
A full-day event covering drone safety education. See their full schedule of events, and register here:
Palatine, Illinois — 3rd Annual Drone Experience and Safety Day April 25 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Harper College, 1200 West Algonquin Road, Building D
Puerto Rico — Drone Safety Day April 25 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Inter American University, Bayamón Campus
El Paso, Texas — Drone Enthusiasts of El Paso (DEEP) Drone Safety Day April 25 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Westside Community Park, 7400 High Ridge Dr
Jensen Beach, Florida — 6th Annual South Florida Drone Meetup April 10-12 | 7:00 AM | Jensen Beach Causeway Park
This one runs a few weeks before Drone Safety Day proper but is part of the broader campaign. Open to new and experienced pilots, TRUST certificate required to fly, giveaway prizes and entertainment. Email raykelly735@gmail.com for more details.
Brenham, Texas — Blinn College Drone Fest 2026 April 17 | 9:00 AM | Blinn College Brenham Campus, STEI Building
Scottsdale, Arizona — First Annual DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm April 20-22 | Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E Talking Stick Way
This one skews more toward public safety and enterprise drone operators than recreational pilots, but worth knowing about if that’s your world.
Wildwood, Missouri — Drones and Cones May 7 | 1:00 PM | St. Louis Community College Wildwood Campus
Technically after Drone Safety Day but registered as part of the campaign.
Thief River Falls, Minnesota — Northland Expo 2026 April 14 | 9:00 AM | 13892 Airport Dr
Tasley, Virginia — Eastern Shore Drone Safety Day 2026 April 25 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | A&N Electric Cooperative Headquarters, 21275 Cooperative Way
And then just after Drone Safety Day 2026, don’t miss the 2026 edition of Palm Springs Drone Fest. I attended the inaugural 2025 event and it was seriously the best drone festival/party/fair of all time. Get more info at psdronefest.com.
How to find more Drone Safety Day events and register
The full list of registered events — and a tool to find ones near you — is at the National Center for Autonomous Technologies website. You can also register your own event if you want to host something in your community. The FAA encourages in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
Whether you’re a recreational pilot who’s never thought much about airspace rules, a commercial Part 107 pilot looking to stay current, or just someone curious about what drones can actually do — Drone Safety Day events are low-stakes, free, and a good way to meet the local drone community in person. April 25 isn’t far off.
And if you want even more drone events through 2026, check out my guide to all the other top festivals, conferences and workshops scheduled through the end of December 2026.
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