Canada has never done it this big.
And in all likelihood, it will never do it this big again.
Live, from Kielce, Poland.
In a world of renaming of bodies of water and trade wars, Canada takes over MSPO and Eastern Europe’s Largest Defence Market.
Here’s all you need to know (and some you don’t) on MSPO.
On the docket:
Lead Nation
Why MSPO
The Exhibit
Canada is center-stage
Canada’s super-sized delegation
The post-script
Lead Nation
As Lead Nation at MSPO 2026 (Sep. 8-11), Canada is making its mark at Eastern Europe’s top defence industry show.
Targi Kielce sold out 2 months before opening, with 1,000+ exhibitors packing the venue.
2026 is a prime year for defence SMEs to go global, and MSPO is a fantastic launchpad. Here’s the breakdown.
Why MSPO?
Poland is Eastern Europe’s largest defence market, investing heavily in rearmament with no pause ahead. Kielce sits close to the Ukrainian border, making this a live buyers market with real operational demands.
If you want to know more about Canadian industry supporting Ukraine, check out Canada’s defence industry & Ukraine.
Canada already sits on NATO’s Eastern Flank and leads the multinational battlegroup in Latvia.
Our boots-on-the-ground commitment gives Canadian SMEs credibility in Easter Europe. Polish and NATO procurement officials already trust Canada as a security partner. MSPO is where trust turns into contracts.
For a throwback to another Canadian win in Eastern Europe, take a look at DAIMEX Baltic, where Canada had the 2nd-highest exhibitor numbers (more than any other region in Europe!)
The Exhibit
2026 marks MSPO’s largest edition in its 34-year history, with 1000+ exhibitors from 40 countries filling the floor.
Key themes this year include UAS & drone tech, command & control platforms, and NATO interoperability for munitions and land systems.
Bring comfortable shoes: this year’s exhibition covers 40,000+sqm spread across 11 exhibition halls!
A new 15,000sqm hall makes space for heavy platforms, air and missile defence, and integrated C4ISR command posts. That’s 430556,42 total sqft for us North Americans.
The classics are here too: armoured vehicles, radar, munitions, and comms gear. Check out the complete exhibitor list here.
The Polish Armed Forces Exhibition also anchors the live demos with field demonstrations for tactical movements and equipment in operation.
Add in bilateral meetings, B2B matchmaking, and a steady stream of international delegations. MSPO is 4 days built for trade.
Canada is center stage
Since Canada takes center stage this year, the exhibit dedicates several Canada-focused sessions:
Canadian Investment B2B Meetings: Congress Centre (Sep. 8-9)
Canada Happy Hour at the Canada Pavilion: H7 (Sep. 8, 16:00-18:00)
Canada-Ukraine Defence Industry Cooperation: Congress Centre (Sep. 9, 10:00-12:00)
Lead Nation Conference: Congress Centre (Sep. 9, 13:00-16:00)
The Lead Nation Conference brings a full slate of expert sessions on procurement, industrial cooperation, and NATO interoperability.
Canada has a high-profile speaker list: National Defence Minister David McGuinty, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly.
Ministers Joly and Sidhu just spearheaded the Strategic Exports Office and the Strategic Exports Advisory Council at the end of July. Staying true to their mission to lend government weight to Canadian export bids, these ministers will support Canadian firms on the ground. We covered the SEO in depth in Canada just built a “Team Canada” for exports.
Two provincial cabinet ministers Vic Fedeli (Ontario Minister of Economic Development (that guy is everywhere!)) and Jeremy Harrison (Saskatchewan Minister Responsible for Crown Investments Corporation) are also in attendance.
Canada’s Supersized Delegation
250+ Canadian organizations and 400+ delegates are on the ground this year.
By our count, total attendance will be more than 500.
MSPO may be Canada’s largest defence show, ever.
It’s another record-setting presence after a summer that saw Canada stand out at Eurosatory, Farnborough, and DALO Industry Days.
September is not the month to take your foot off the gas.
Participating firms make up every tier of the defence-industrial base:
16+ Primes & Tier 1s
20+ OEMs
125+ SMEs
25+ Government Agencies
10+ Industry Associations
15+ Education, Training, Testing, and R&D groups
Canada delivered on its lead-nation status with this turnout.
With our pavilion being a city unto itself, the message is clear: Canadian industry is in Europe to compete and to win. And with SMEs making up over half of the pavilion, it’s clear that Canada’s export ambitions are intertwined with small and medium businesses.
Here’s your at-a-glance industry map with roughly 200 participating Canadian organizations (which keeps constantly evolving!):
The SME take-away
MSPO is the chance for Canadian SMEs to step up and meet Ottawa’s defence moment.
Here’s what’s driving the opportunity:
European rearmament and allied capability needs are fueling real export demand for Canadian solutions in land, cyber, and autonomous systems.
Canada’s defence innovation ecosystem is breaking new ground in international business. With 150+ SMEs on the ground, many are looking for licensing deals and local partners to secure their first contracts abroad.
Canada’s edge in dual-use sectors (AI, photonics, advanced materials, and software) is turning heads as allies look for tech-enabled warfighting capabilities.
For international partners and procurement officials at MSPO 2026: Canada’s defence industrial base brings the innovation, depth, and government support to be a serious partner and supplier.
The Canadian Pavilion is where to find the next wave of partnerships and make Canada your next opportunity.
See you in Hall 7!
P.S.: Looking for other Canadian defence industry events in the fall?
--Check out Pack your bags with Canada’s 2026 Fall Defence Events schedule.
P.P.S. 1,561 subscribers now know where to find Kielce, Poland, on the map.
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