Belgium to host first international F9U drone racing event in 2026

Belgium is about to put itself on the international FPV racing map in a way it never has before. The Belgian FAI Drone Cup 2026, hosted by the Beernemse Telegeleide Modelbouwclub, is billed as the first international Drone Racing F9U FPV event ever held in the country, with the racing set for June 27 at Florennes Air Base.

The timing matters as much as the venue. The Florennes stop falls inside Belgian Air Force Days on June 27-28, when the base opens for what organizers call the biggest air show in Belgium. Adult admission is listed at €18, children under 18 will enter free, and a June 26 spotters ticket is priced at €50. For drone racing, that kind of public-facing aviation stage gives the event a different weight than a stand-alone club meet: it is being built to draw spectators, not just pilots.

The race is also doing double duty on the Belgian calendar. Drone Racing Belgium lists the Open Belgian Drone Racing Championship heat 2 for June 27-28 in Florennes, organized by Belgian Defense and Drone Racing Belgium, and says international pilots are welcome. An earlier championship heat was held in Leopoldsburg on March 28-29, which means Florennes is not just a showcase but a key leg in the domestic title path as well.

Internationally, the stakes are clear. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale says the Drone Racing World Cup covers the F9U class and operates as an open series of international events, with ranking eligibility tied to a valid FAI Sporting Licence or FAI Drone Permission. The 2026 World Cup is described as spanning 13 countries and 15 events, and Belgium’s debut adds another European checkpoint for pilots chasing points, experience and visibility.

Florennes also offers the kind of controlled setting that can shape a race weekend. Site choice in FPV often determines how technical the track can be, how much room there is for spectators, and how tightly organizers can manage timing, safety and communications. Belgian organizers have already shown flexibility with equipment, including a previous Belgian Navy Race that accepted analog, HDZero, DJI and Walksnail systems, a sign that the local scene is trying to stay open to a wider field. With military support, FAI sanctioning and a championship heat attached, Florennes has the ingredients to become more than a one-off first.