FAI Members and other organisations and entities are being invited to bid to host the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship. Interested organisations would work with their country’s NAC (National Airsports Control) to host this exciting event, which attracts global interest from a young audience.

bid deadline and requirements

The deadline for bids is 15 September 2022. Requirements for hosting the FAI World Drone Racing Championships are clearly explained in the bid document.

• Download the bid document: 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championships - Invitation to bid

Young, Fast, exciting: why become a host? 

A young, engaged and tech-savvy audience is attracted by this on-trend sport. Pilots, mostly in their teens and twenties, wear head-mounted displays showing the live stream camera feed from the drones, which can be displayed for the audience on a large screen as well as being livestreamed to a public across the globe. Drone racing often takes place at night which makes for a thrilling show with a lit-up track and lights on the drones.

Large screen at the Drone Racing Event, The World Games 2022. Image: Bruno Delor

Drone technology evolves quickly and the speed of the drones is impressive, with current pilots recording in excess of 120km/h. The agility of these tiny quadcopters, controlled virtually by talented pilots, has to be seen to be believed, with the aircraft weaving around the obstacles at top speeds. Many Junior competitors reach the top spots and there is a mix of male and female pilots who compete against one another. 

• Find out more about drone racing

a success story for hosts

The first two Championships were both held in China (Shenzhen and Xiangshan Ningbo), with hundreds of pilots participating. A total of 41 countries were represented in 2018, and 46 countries in 2019, competing in 23 competitions (Challenger Series) around the world.

2019 also saw the launch of a new Masters Series of events which attracted elite drone racers. The new Masters Series was part of the FAI Drone Racing World Cup and was run in addition to the existing Challenger Series.

Following a pause due to Covid, anticipation is high for a future FAI World Drone Racing Championship, especially following the excitement of Drone Racing being included for the first time at The World Games in Alabama, USA in 2022.

Antonis Papadopoulos, President of the FAI Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM), comments: “Hosting an FAI World Drone Racing Championship is an exciting opportunity hold a high-visilbilty event which attracts a young, international audience who are active on social media and inspired to travel the world to follow and share their passion for this fast-growing sport. In particular, drone racing at night offers a spectacular show with truly impressive photo and media opportunities. "

Winners of the drone racing competition at The World Games 2022. Image: Greg Pyzalka

Header Image: Race track of the 2018 FAI World Drone Racing Championships in Shenzhen