CANSEC 2026

• DatesMay 27–28, 2026
• VenueEY Centre
• LocationOttawa, Canada
• CategoryDefense & Security
• Official websitedefenceandsecurity.ca

About CANSEC 2026

CANSEC 2026 is a defense and security industry event that took place May 27–28, 2026 at EY Centre in Ottawa, Canada. It ran for two days, from Wednesday to Thursday.

Shows like this one typically draw government and military procurement officials, integrators, security directors, engineers and analysts. For registration, exhibitor packages and the floor plan, go to the official website, defenceandsecurity.ca.

ShowFloorTips is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the organizer. Dates, venues and rules can change, so confirm the details with the organizer before you book.

What to expect at CANSEC 2026

Defense and security events are formal and often restricted. Badge checks, export rules and confidentiality shape what can be shown and discussed, and many conversations are with long-term partners.

Two days go by quickly. Book your most important meetings for the first morning, when visitors are fresh, and keep the second afternoon for follow-up conversations at the booth. At events like this, expect most visitors to be government and military procurement officials and their colleagues, often with a short list of suppliers they want to see.

How exhibitors should prepare for CANSEC 2026

Planning for the next edition (dates expected, not yet confirmed), here is a working timeline counted back from June 2, 2027:

1. 16 weeks before (Feb 10, 2027)
   Confirm your booth space and read the exhibitor manual. Book hotels near EY Centre while rates are still normal.
2. 8 weeks before (Apr 7, 2027)
   Order booth services (power, internet, furniture, cleaning) before the early-rate deadlines, and send graphics to print.
3. 4 weeks before (May 5, 2027)
   Ship freight to the advance warehouse if the organizer offers one. Book meetings with the visitors you most want to see. Set up lead capture and train the team on it.
4. One week before (May 26, 2027)
   Confirm freight arrived, share the staffing schedule, charge every device, and test your lead capture app with Wi-Fi turned off.

Preparation tips for defense and security shows

• Check registration, security clearance and export control rules for products you plan to display.
• Prepare unclassified briefing material suitable for a general audience.
• Schedule meetings with integrators and procurement officials in advance.

Booth tips for CANSEC 2026

• Keep displays professional and factual; claims are scrutinized.
• Know which information you may and may not share at a public stand.
• Collect only professional contact details, and respect visitors who prefer not to have their badge scanned.
• Walk the hall at EY Centre during move-in to see which entrances and aisles carry the most traffic, and set up your booth so it faces that flow.
• Give every person on the booth a clear role (greeting, demos, qualifying) so nobody waits for someone else to start a conversation.
• Capture every conversation the moment it ends: scan the badge or card, add a one-line note about what the visitor needs, and rate the lead hot, warm or cold. Notes written that evening are already half forgotten.

For a full list of what to bring, use the free booth checklist, and plan the money side with the trade show ROI calculator.

Following up leads after CANSEC 2026

Most of the value of a trade show is created after it closes. Procurement cycles are long and formal, so follow up through the proper channels with documentation.

1. Within 24 hours
   Send a short personal email to every hot lead, mentioning one detail from your conversation.
2. Within 3 days
   Send what you promised at the booth and log every lead in your CRM with its rating and notes.
3. After two weeks
   Make a second, useful touch: a case study, a short video or an answer to their question.
4. After a month
   Review results: meetings booked, cost per lead, and whether the show is worth repeating.

Ready-to-edit messages for each step are in our trade show follow-up email templates.

Getting to Ottawa

CANSEC 2026 takes place at EY Centre in Ottawa, Canada. Check the official website for the exact hall and address, then compare flights into the nearest major airport with train or car options from nearby cities. Visitors from visa-exempt countries usually need an eTA to fly to Canada.

Hotels closest to the venue sell out first during show week, and many organizers offer discounted room blocks that close weeks before the show, so book early. Our city travel guides cover hotels, transport and budgeting for the busiest show cities.

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