Naval & Maritime events

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.

As the first large-scale, continent-wide defence exhibition based in West Africa, AFRIDEX opens direct access to African procurement authorities and ministerial delegations from more than 35 confirmed nations, giving international suppliers and African SMEs a structured route into one of the world's fastest-growing defence markets. The buyer-led, protocol-driven format — with a dedicated Hosted Delegation Programme and curated government meetings — is designed to convert exhibition presence into tangible procurement conversations and industrial partnerships. For startups and emerging innovators, the international pavilion structure and co-location with major primes (Rheinmetall, Embraer, Turkish Aerospace, Norinco) provide rare visibility in a market where relationships with ministries of defence are the critical gateway.

The Manama Dialogue is the primary venue where Gulf, Western, and Asian defence ministers and national security principals meet bilaterally on the sidelines — over 100 bilateral meetings were facilitated at the 2025 edition alone — making it the single most consequential forum for shaping Middle East security policy and defence partnerships. For defence suppliers and dual-use technology firms, the event offers direct access to ministerial-level procurement decision-makers from GCC states and their international partners. Attendance signals credibility in the Gulf defence market and provides early intelligence on regional security priorities and acquisition intent.

Access to one of the largest and fastest-modernising militaries in Southeast Asia. Local partnering is essential for market entry.

As the largest defence and security fair in Brazil and one of the most important in Latin America, Mostra BID Brasil offers direct access to procurement decision-makers from the Brazilian Armed Forces, public security agencies, and foreign delegations with purchasing power. For SMEs and startups in the BIDS ecosystem, it is the primary national platform to gain visibility with government buyers, attract investors, and forge export partnerships via the Brazil Defense / ApexBrasil programme. The Brasília location — home to all three military commands, 131 embassies, and key ministries — maximises institutional reach in a single three-day window.

A bridge into North African and MENA procurement. Useful for firms diversifying beyond the Gulf into the wider region.

ExpoNaval is the only comprehensive naval and maritime defence trade show in Latin America, making it the primary gateway for global primes and SMEs seeking access to the region's navy procurement programmes, including Chile's newly launched Continuous National Shipbuilding Plan. The structured delegation-meeting agenda — with admirals and commanders-in-chief from across the region — provides direct access to uniformed decision-makers that is rare outside major global shows. The 2026 move to Santiago amplifies political and commercial reach, attracting a wider pool of government and private-sector buyers.

As the first UDT outside Europe and the only dedicated undersea defence trade event in the Asia-Pacific, this is the primary access point for suppliers seeking to engage with AUKUS programme stakeholders, the Australian Submarine Agency, and Indo-Pacific naval procurement decision-makers. The Newcomer Zone and steering committee structure give Australian SMEs and startups a structured pathway onto the global undersea supply chain. With more than half of the expected 2,000 delegates coming from overseas, it offers unmatched export-market exposure for local companies in a single venue.

The entry point to Gulf defence budgets and offset programs. High-value procurement decisions are made here; relationship-building and local partner introductions matter more than booth size.

As Germany's first fully integrated defence exhibition, launched amid the Zeitenwende and a defence budget projected to reach EUR 180 billion by 2030, DSEI Germany offers suppliers direct access to the German MoD, Bundeswehr, European procurement authorities and international delegations in a single venue. A dedicated Newcomer Zone for German SMEs and start-ups plus regional and international pavilions make it a strategic market-entry platform for smaller and non-German firms seeking early positioning in a rapidly expanding market. Exhibiting at the inaugural edition allows companies to establish an early foothold before the show scales further.

The event has emerged as a central European meeting point for the dual-use autonomy sector, connecting primes, SMEs and startups with government, military and academic decision-makers. Its explicit dual-use and defence focus—featuring companies like Rheinmetall and Quantum Systems alongside a dedicated startup zone—gives suppliers direct access to procurement-relevant audiences and live demonstration opportunities. For SMEs and startups it offers a lower-cost route into defence and civil autonomy markets, partnerships and investor exposure.

COLOMBIAMAR is the single most important gateway for defence and dual-use maritime suppliers seeking access to the Colombian Navy's active frigate and patrol-vessel procurement programmes, as well as broader Latin American naval markets. The co-location of the CIDIN congress with the trade floor and a formal business matchmaking session compresses the sales cycle, giving SMEs and startups direct access to decision-makers from international naval delegations. With participants from over 40 countries in recent editions, it offers unmatched regional reach for companies targeting South American and Caribbean naval modernisation budgets.

SITDEF is the primary gateway for defence and dual-use suppliers seeking access to Peruvian and broader Latin American procurement decision-makers, including official delegations, purchasing managers, and armed-forces representatives from across the continent. Its biennial cycle and government-backed format make it the region's most credible platform for advancing re-equipment and modernisation contracts. For SMEs and startups, national-pavilion participation options and a growing focus on cybersecurity and AI lower the barrier to entry into a strategically important emerging market.

Primary venue for the US Navy and maritime industrial base. Critical for firms in shipbuilding, autonomous maritime systems and naval C2.

SOFINS is unique in Europe as a focused meeting point between the special-forces community and industry, giving suppliers direct access to operators, buyers and dozens of foreign delegations. Its live-testing format and roughly 600 pre-arranged business meetings let SMEs and startups demonstrate niche innovations directly to decision-makers, shortening the path to procurement. For deeptech and dual-use firms, the SOFLAB competition and selection process offer high-value exposure to a curated, high-intent audience.

LAAD is the premier gateway to Latin America's defence procurement ecosystem, offering direct access to Brazilian Armed Forces and Public Security buyers who hold active acquisition mandates backed by multi-billion-real national defence investment plans. For SMEs and international primes alike, the structured delegation programme — with 1,200+ pre-scheduled meetings in 2025 — provides a uniquely efficient route to decision-makers across the region. No comparable event in Latin America matches its scale, institutional backing, or concentration of qualified military and government buyers.

IQDEX is the primary gateway for international defence suppliers seeking direct access to Iraqi procurement decision-makers and the broader MENA security market, with the Iraqi Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior among the key institutional buyers present. For SMEs and regional primes, it offers a relatively accessible entry point into a market undergoing active defence modernisation, with lower competitive density than larger Gulf shows. The event's government patronage at Prime Minister level and formal ministry backing signal genuine procurement intent, making it a high-value business development venue for land systems, UAS, cyber, and ISR vendors.

Focused access to USMC requirements around Force Design and expeditionary operations. Strong fit for autonomy, C-UAS and logistics suppliers.

IDEF is one of the top four defence fairs in the world by number of participating companies and delegations, making it a critical venue for market access into Türkiye, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. The fair consistently generates billions of dollars in signed contracts and hosts senior procurement delegations from over 100 countries, giving exhibitors direct access to end-user decision-makers. Its 'Defenders of Tomorrow' platform also provides SMEs and startups a dedicated route to engage with prime contractors and government buyers.

Positioned at a strategic crossroads in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean, DEFEA connects suppliers directly with Greek armed forces modernization programs and regional defence procurement directorates. It offers extensive B2B, B2G, and G2G networking along with partnership opportunities with Greek defence industry manufacturers.

Japan is loosening export rules and increasing defence spending. An early-mover venue for firms seeking Japanese partners and the Indo-Pacific supply base.

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.

IMDEC is the single most direct access point for defence suppliers seeking to engage African naval procurement decision-makers, with 15–20 Chiefs of Navy and Coast Guard attending each edition. The event's intimate, high-access format allows SMEs and niche technology providers to secure face-time with senior military officials through pre-booked one-on-one meetings — a rare opportunity outside of major global shows. For companies targeting the fast-growing African maritime security market, IMDEC offers unmatched regional reach with a focused, qualified audience.

Multi-domain coverage and a strong UK/Commonwealth procurement presence make DSEI a primary BD event for firms targeting the UK MoD and allied buyers.