BY: Amado C Salinas II, Chair of Foreign Relations & National Security Commission, Area 5 Aerospace Commissioner
amadocsalinasII@gmail.com | (760) 835-0739 | psdronefest.com
Teams from 11 Countries and Across the USA Competed in High-Stakes 2026 International DroneSoccer Event at Palm Springs High School
PALM SPRINGS, CA – May 1-2, 2026 – The American Legion Area 5 District 21 Aerospace Commission along with the U.S. NAVY LEAGUE Palm Springs Council co-Sponsored the 2026 Palm Springs Drone Festival which included a spectacular two-day competition on May 1-2, bringing together over 2,500 student participants, spectators, and industry experts for the 2026 International DroneSoccer event. Held at Palm Springs High School, the festival highlighted the rapid growth of drone sports, featuring intense competition from teams representing 11 countries, including the USA, Canada, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mexico, and Jamaica.
The event featured prestigious guest speaker LtCDR Evangelo (van) Morris, (U.S NAVY SOCOM, RET) to open the event on Friday night and kicked off FIDA USA Grand Nationals Drone Soccer Tournament matches, with special participation from California student teams, including the Fullerton MARINE JROTC, Air Force JROTC, NAVY JROTC, California Cadets, and students from the Palm Springs Unified and Greater Palm Springs School Districts.
A Global Stage for Student Innovation, The festival brought together teams from across the nation, including students from New York and Florida, to compete alongside international contenders, setting the stage for the next generation of aerospace engineers and drone pilots.
“The Palm Springs Drone Fest opening ceremony brought all the energy! An Olympic-style processional featuring our PSUSD drone soccer teams alongside teams from across the country and around the world,” according to event organizers.
Highlights of the 2026 Competition:
- International Champions: Team Jamaica Drone Soccer captured the gold medal in the Class 40 International Competition.
- Middle School Champions: Thomas Jefferson Middle School Drone Soccer Team (DSUSD) won the gold medal in the championship match.
- Secondary School Winners: Painted Hills Middle School (Team California Girls) took 1st Place in the Secondary Tournament, followed by Painted Hills Middle School (Team Sky Panthers) in 2nd, and Palm Desert High School in 3rd.
- Class 40 Action: Teams competed for a chance to represent the USA at the 2026 FIDA World Cup in Seoul, South Korea.
Beyond the Cage, The festival, sponsored by UVIFY and Electric Sky Drone Shows, featured more than just competition. The event showcased the future of drone technology with a spectacular Drone Light Show on Friday night, a Drone & Robotics Trade Show, and a “Robot Olympics” presented by California Robotics.
“It’s not just about the racing; it’s about showing these kids that there are massive career opportunities in agriculture, public safety, and film through drone technology,” said Tim Ingram, President of FIDA USA.
The event emphasized STEM education, with participants developing real-world skills in flight control, robotics, teamwork, and AI.
About the Palm Springs Drone Festival: The 2026 Palm Springs Drone Festival is a premier event promoting drone sports, education, and career pathways in the unmanned systems industry, held annually at Palm Springs High School, California.
Author: caLegion Contributor
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