Convention runs March 1–4 at MTCC; PDAC highlights investment, Indigenous partnerships, and deal-making
TORONTO — Registration is now open for PDAC 2026, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s annual convention, returning to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from March 1 to 4, 2026.
“PDAC 2026 is where conversations, connections and capital converge at a scale you won’t find anywhere else,” said PDAC President Karen Rees, calling the event a key venue for meeting investors, company leadership, policymakers, and government officials.
Rees also emphasized the convention’s role in building “respectful and mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous communities and other local partners,” adding that attendees—from students and early-career professionals to senior executives—can gain insight, build relationships, and help shape the sector’s direction.
Why PDAC Matters to Northwestern Ontario
For mining communities across Northwestern Ontario—including Thunder Bay’s supply-and-services sector—PDAC is often where exploration stories move from early-stage conversations to financing, partnerships, and procurement planning. The convention’s emphasis on Indigenous partnerships and sustainability also aligns closely with how many Northern projects are advancing: through consultation, collaboration, and long-term community benefit planning.
With global attention on critical minerals, and Ontario positioning itself as a strategic jurisdiction for responsibly developed resources, PDAC remains a key platform for companies and communities looking to stay ahead of trends in capital markets, permitting, technology, and workforce development.
What to Expect at PDAC 2026
PDAC’s organizers are pitching 2026 as another high-scale, international convention with expanded show floors and programming.
Global reach and government presence
PDAC says its 2025 convention welcomed more than 27,000 attendees from 130+ countries, including 91 government exhibitors, reinforcing the event’s role as a major meeting point for industry and public-sector decision-makers.
Exhibits: projects, equipment, services, and jurisdictions
PDAC says 2026 will feature 1,300+ exhibitors across the Trade Show, Investors Exchange, and an expanded Trade Show North, with displays ranging from exploration plays and emerging deposits to technology, equipment, and professional services.
Investment and market-facing programming
Investors can connect with companies through the Investors Exchange, Core Shack, and Corporate Presentations for Investors (CPI), with additional market perspective expected through the Investment Leaders Forum.
Technical and policy programming
PDAC’s schedule is expected to include panels, courses, and keynotes spanning Indigenous partnerships, sustainability, capital markets, and geoscience/exploration techniques—alongside major convention themes such as commodities outlook, innovation, and “discovery of the year.”
Networking and signature events
PDAC also promotes a full slate of networking—from informal meetups to major social events—designed to connect operators, financers, suppliers, and policymakers in one place.
PDAC 2026 | March 1–4, 2026 | Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Details and registration: pdac.ca/convention-2026
About PDAC
PDAC describes itself as the leading voice of the mineral exploration and development community, representing 8,200+ members globally. In its release, PDAC cites federal data indicating the sector employs 724,000+ people and contributed $156 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2024.
