25 tracked editions across 2 countries in North America: exhibitions, conferences, hackathons, demo days and programmes. Dates, venues, organisers and deadlines, curated.
DEFSEC Atlantic is the primary gateway to Canada's East Coast defence procurement ecosystem, offering direct access to Canadian Armed Forces, NATO DIANA representatives, and federal procurement officials at a single venue. The sold-out exhibition floor and a B2B meetings programme expanded by 40% for 2026 signal strong commercial momentum, making it a high-ROI event for SMEs and startups seeking to enter or grow within Canada's $30 billion+ ongoing defence procurement pipeline. Its focus on naval systems, cyber, AI, and aerospace aligns with Canada's commitment to reach 2% GDP defence spending.
The anchor event for anyone selling to the US Army. Program offices and primes are present in force; ideal for SMEs seeking subcontracting and teaming opportunities.
This is the primary procurement-facing event for Quebec's naval supply chain, where federal ministers have used the platform to announce National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) contracts and submarine procurement updates — making it a critical intelligence touchpoint for any company seeking Davie, Royal Canadian Navy, or Canadian Coast Guard business. With ~750 participants and ~65 exhibitors, it is compact enough for SMEs and startups to gain direct access to prime contractors such as Chantier Davie and Thales Canada. Pre-scheduled B2B meetings with national and international outsourcers give exhibitors a structured path to new contracts.
Best Defence is the most accessible entry point into Ontario's defence-industrial ecosystem — Canada's largest — offering direct, affordable face-time with CAF procurement officers, federal/provincial decision-makers, and prime contractors at a fraction of the cost of CANSEC or major trade shows. For SMEs and startups, the Technology Showcase provides a curated on-stage pitch opportunity directly in front of CAF and government buyers. The ODA's official backing adds institutional credibility and a growing member network, making it a high-ROI event for companies seeking Canadian programmes of record or teaming partners.
Canada's February 2026 Defence Industrial Strategy commits ~CAD $82 billion to defence over five years under a 'Build–Partner–Buy' framework, triggering a wave of new ITB obligations for every prime contractor winning eligible contracts over $100 million — making this the single most relevant annual gathering for companies navigating those commitments. For SMEs and startups, the conference is a direct pipeline to obligors actively seeking Canadian partners and flow-down recipients to satisfy ITB credits. Attendance provides unmatched access to the government officials and policy architects at ISED and the Defence Investment Agency who administer and are actively reforming the ITB Policy.
With over $8 trillion in institutional capital represented at past editions, this summit is one of the highest-density venues for space and defense investment decision-makers in the United States, giving growth-stage companies direct access to LPs, GPs, and senior government officials in a candid, off-the-record format. For SMEs and startups, acceptance to the summit signals industry legitimacy and opens direct lines to the investors who are actively deploying capital into dual-use and national-security technology. The application-only model and Chatham House atmosphere enable frank discussions on funding gaps and procurement that rarely surface at open trade shows.
For defense suppliers, PMO software vendors, and consultancies, this summit offers targeted access to senior DoD program managers and acquisition decision-makers on the U.S. West Coast — a geography anchored by the Pacific Fleet and major naval/aerospace primes. The explicit focus on AI-driven portfolio tools and agile PMO frameworks makes it a credible venue for technology vendors seeking to demonstrate solutions to complex program delivery challenges. With an explicit sponsorship and exhibition tier, SMEs and scale-ups can gain visibility at a relatively contained cost compared with large trade shows.
DEFSEC West is the only dedicated defence, security, and aerospace trade show in Western Canada, filling a long-recognised gap for SMEs and primes seeking Canadian content supply chain partners in the region. The Government of Canada participates with a whole-of-government procurement presence, making it a direct access point for companies navigating Canadian defence contracting. With two-thirds of 2027 space already sold off the back of a strong inaugural edition, it is rapidly becoming a must-attend event for any company targeting the Canadian defence market.
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.
HFX is widely regarded as the foremost security policy forum for democracies, giving defence industry partners direct access to cabinet-level officials, senior military officers, and NATO leadership in an intimate, off-the-record setting that rarely exists at larger trade shows. For SMEs and primes alike, the Club HFX partnership model offers branding and networking opportunities alongside heads of state and defence ministers, making it a high-leverage venue for shaping procurement narratives and policy. Announcements made at HFX — such as new missile defence research agreements — frequently translate into concrete procurement and alliance decisions in the months that follow.
The forum provides a rare, intimate setting for defence SMEs and startups to engage directly with senior Army, Space Force, and Air Force technology leaders alongside prime contractors and investors on the critical topic of SATCOM and tactical-edge connectivity — a fast-growing procurement priority. Kuiper Government Solutions' participation signals concrete commercial contracting opportunities in military broadband and JADC2-adjacent programmes. For non-traditional vendors, the application-gated format means a high-density, low-noise room where business development conversations are genuinely accessible.
As the inaugural edition of what DND has confirmed will be an annual event, this conference is the primary government-convened forum where Canadian defence AI policy, procurement direction, and industry partnerships are shaped at the senior level. For SMEs and startups, the invite-only format provides rare direct access to DND directors, Major-Generals, and CANSOFCOM AI leads who influence acquisition decisions. The breakout structure is explicitly designed to seed post-conference Defence–industry working groups, making participation a potential entry point into Canada's accelerating AI capability pipeline.
With ~2,000 registered guests including cabinet ministers, the Chief of the Defence Staff, all service commanders, and representatives from 20+ federal departments, this is the single highest-density government-military decision-maker gathering in the Canadian defence calendar — making it the most direct access point for suppliers seeking to shape procurement priorities and policy. The 2026 theme of a historic 5%-of-GDP spending commitment signals a multi-year surge in Canadian defence budgets, creating immediate pipeline opportunities across all capability domains. For SMEs and startups, the conference's exhibitor floor and sponsorship tiers offer rare direct visibility to senior DND officials and allied delegations in an intimate, dialogue-driven setting.
The summit is one of the few defense-innovation events where venture capital decision-makers, non-traditional defense startups, and senior military acquisition officials share the same room, making it a high-leverage venue for SMEs and startups seeking investor introductions and government feedback in a single event. All three paid ticket tiers sold out for the 2026 edition, signalling strong demand from the defense-tech ecosystem concentrated in Austin. The event's focus on capital formation—including sessions on 'Growth Capital: Building Neoprimes' and M&A roll-up strategies—makes it directly actionable for companies at Series A through growth stages navigating the valley of death.
Global Force is the U.S. Army's primary spring forum for signaling near-term acquisition and modernization priorities, making it a critical venue for defence suppliers seeking early insight into program office requirements and contracting opportunities. Its location adjacent to Redstone Arsenal — home to Army Materiel Command, Army Futures Command elements, and a 36,000-person government-contractor workforce — provides unmatched proximity to programme decision-makers. For SMEs and startups, the Warriors Corner sessions and exposition floor offer direct engagement with procurement specialists and prime contractors actively scouting capability gaps.
IAIF is the primary deal-making and partnership forum for the Québec and Canadian aerospace ecosystem, drawing primes such as Airbus, Bombardier, CAE, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and Siemens alongside a dense SME and startup community. The 2026 edition explicitly addressed defence sovereignty, agile supply chains, and dual-use technology adoption — directly relevant to suppliers seeking Canadian and transatlantic defence contracts. With 2,500 scheduled B2B meetings and delegations from 11 countries, it offers concentrated access to procurement and investment decision-makers in a single venue.
The symposium surfaced concrete procurement and infrastructure themes — dual-use roads, runways, and ports — directly relevant to defence suppliers and SMEs active in Arctic and northern markets. With all Arctic NATO allies now aligned post-Sweden/Finland accession, the event reflects accelerating Canadian defence investment and Nordic partnership opportunities that SMEs and primes should track. The high-level diplomatic and parliamentary attendance signals government intent and potential procurement signals for Arctic domain awareness, logistics, and sovereignty capabilities.
Mari-Tech is the single most important annual gathering for Canada's marine engineering and shipbuilding supply chain, making it a critical venue for defence-adjacent maritime suppliers targeting Royal Canadian Navy and Coast Guard procurement pipelines. The dedicated PSPC procurement outlook session gives SMEs and primes direct visibility into upcoming federal vessel contracts and industrial policy. With 85 confirmed exhibitors and 500–600 targeted attendees drawn from shipyards, regulators, and DND-adjacent operators, it is the highest-density Canadian maritime business-development event of the year.
Inside the Dome is the first dedicated commercial gathering to convene Golden Dome programme leadership — including the Director and Deputy Director of Golden Dome for America, senior DoD acquisition officials, and Congressional caucus members — alongside the non-traditional defence companies and venture investors being actively courted to build the system. For SMEs and startups, it is a rare access point to the decision-makers shaping a programme projected to receive $175 billion in funding, with real contracting and partnership conversations possible in a single day. The sell-out of early-bird and standard tiers signals strong commercial appetite and validates the event as a near-term procurement-intelligence venue.
JOS is the principal CAF/DND platform for shaping Canada's operational approach to defence, bringing together GOFOs, intelligence community heads (CSE, CSIS), Five Eyes defence attachés, and select industry and academic representatives from bodies such as CADSI. For defence suppliers and SMEs, it is a rare window into the CAF's near-term operational priorities and procurement signals, particularly around Arctic/continental defence and all-domain readiness. The 2026 all-domain theme directly foreshadows capability gaps and investment areas that will drive future DND procurement decisions.
MASS is the dominant English-language conference focused specifically on Arctic sovereignty and maritime security in North America, giving defence SMEs and startups direct access to Canadian Armed Forces, Coast Guard, and government procurement stakeholders in a single venue. The facilitated B2B and B2G meeting programme makes it one of the most commercially actionable events in the Canadian defence calendar for companies seeking DND and allied contracts. Its consistent growth — reaching a record 600 delegates in 2026 — signals increasing government and industry investment in northern and maritime capabilities, making it a critical intelligence-gathering and business-development opportunity.
North America hosts 19 tracked defence and dual-use events in 2026, from February to December, across 2 countries. Every entry carries dates, venue, organiser, who actually attends, expected scale, exhibitor cost band and the registration deadline. Anchor editions include DEFSEC Atlantic, AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition and Annual Meeting of the Supply Chain. One region, one list: if you can justify one trip to North America this year, this page is the shortlist to pick it from.
Frequently asked
How many defence events in North America are there in 2026?
MIKES tracks 19 defence events in North America in 2026 across 2 countries, including DEFSEC Atlantic, AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition and Annual Meeting of the Supply Chain.
Which defence event in North America is next?
DEFSEC Atlantic is next, opening 6 October 2026 in Halifax, Canada.
When do registrations close for defence events in North America?
Deadlines are tracked per edition: 1 of the 19 listed for 2026 still have an open registration deadline, the soonest being Best Defence Conference 2026 on 8 September 2026.
How much do defence events in North America cost to attend?
Cost is recorded per edition rather than estimated. All 19 listed carry a published cost or exhibitor price band, from free entry to paid delegate and stand packages.
Missing a North America event we should track?
The catalog is curated, which means it is only as complete as the people using it. Paste the event URL and we do the rest: dates, venue, taxonomy and the decision note. Listed contributors are credited on the event page.
