Why it matters
CANSEC is the single most important gateway to Canadian defence procurement, with 74% of attendees involved in purchasing decisions and over CAD $1 billion in business opportunities generated annually. For SMEs and startups, the CANSEC Connect B2B/B2G programme provides structured access to Canadian Armed Forces procurement officers, DND officials, and allied-nation delegations that would otherwise be difficult to reach. The 2026 edition set attendance records and had 250 companies on a waitlist for 2027 floor space, signalling exceptional demand and commercial urgency.
About
CANSEC is Canada's largest annual defence, security, and emerging technology trade show, held in Ottawa since 1998 by CADSI. The two-day event brings together defence primes, SMEs, Canadian Armed Forces, federal government officials, and international delegations to showcase and procure leading-edge land, naval, aerospace, cyber, and emerging technology capabilities. It features the CANSEC Connect B2B/B2G meeting programme, a Spotlight Presentation Stage with keynote addresses from senior military and government leaders, and extensive indoor and outdoor exhibition space. Attendance is restricted to industry members, public servants, military personnel, registered media, and allied-nation representatives — there is no public access.
Market intel
High pricinghigh confidence
CANSEC 2026 was the largest edition in the show's history, with 324 exhibiting companies, 21,500+ registrants, 100+ international delegations, and over CAD $1 billion in business opportunities generated. Sponsors and recurring exhibitors include the major Western defence primes — Lockheed Martin, Boeing, L3Harris, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Rheinmetall, and Leonardo — alongside a growing cohort of Canadian SMEs and dual-use technology firms. Unprecedented demand (250-company waitlist for 2027) and the first-ever attendance by a sitting Canadian Prime Minister underline the show's rising strategic profile.
Notable exhibitorsLockheed MartinBoeingL3Harris TechnologiesBAE SystemsGeneral DynamicsRheinmetall CanadaLeonardoSaab / Bombardier (Global Eye joint venture announced at 2026 show)
AI-researched Tue, 25 August 2026. Estimates from public sources. Verify with the organizer.
Topics
ProcurementISR & SensorsAirMaritimeCyber
Who it's for
PrimesSMEsStartupsInstitutions