The world’s biggest exploration-and-mining meet-up returns March 1–4
If you’re in mining—or the supply and services businesses that keep the industry moving—there’s a good chance PDAC 2026 is already circled on your calendar.
PDAC President Karen Rees summed up the draw in one line: “PDAC 2026 is where conversations, connections and capital converge…” She’s also emphasizing the convention’s mix of deal-making, direct access to decision-makers, and the growing importance of building respectful, mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous communities and local partners.
For Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, PDAC isn’t just a Toronto event—it’s one of the biggest annual windows into where global capital and project momentum are headed, and where regional companies can meet the people who fund, permit, build, and supply projects.
Why PDAC matters to Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario companies—from exploration teams to drilling, engineering, environmental services, logistics, safety, camp providers, and equipment suppliers—operate in a market that’s increasingly international. PDAC is where that global market compresses into four intense days.
It’s also where “next conversations” start: financing discussions, procurement relationships, Indigenous partnership frameworks, and government-to-industry dialogue that can influence timelines and confidence in projects. PDAC 2026 is expected to draw more than 27,000 attendees from over 125 countries, keeping it one of the largest annual business-development opportunities anywhere in the sector.
What to expect at PDAC 2026
World-class scale and reach
The momentum is real. PDAC’s own 2025 stats show 27,353 participants, 91 government exhibitors, and representation from 126 countries, underscoring how much policy, permitting, and investment intersect on the PDAC floor.
For Northern Ontario firms, that government presence matters: it’s where jurisdictions compete for attention—and where Canada’s critical minerals and exploration pipeline are discussed in the same hallways as international opportunities.
Exhibits: bigger floors, more ways to be seen
PDAC 2026 is aiming for more than 1,300 exhibitors, spanning the Trade Show, Investors Exchange, and an expanded Trade Show North—one of the key areas for service and supply companies.
Trade Show North and the broader Trade Show mix is built for the full ecosystem: drilling services, remote sensing, software, labs, consulting, insurance, satellite communications, universities/colleges, and much more. In other words: if you sell into mining, your customers (and competitors) are likely there.
Investment opportunities: where projects meet capital
For investors—and companies raising capital—PDAC remains one of the few places where you can compress weeks of introductions into days.
The convention’s Investors Exchange is positioned as a hub for companies to connect with investors, while PDAC’s Core Shack is designed for up-close looks at drill core from active projects. PDAC also highlights Corporate Presentations for Investors (CPI) and the Investment Leaders Forum as key touchpoints for market insight and company updates.
Programming: practical intelligence, not just speeches
PDAC is leaning into breadth again in 2026: panels, technical sessions, short courses, and keynotes—covering Indigenous partnerships, sustainability, capital markets/financing, and advances in geoscience and exploration.
One detail that signals the convention’s sheer scale: PDAC’s preliminary program describes more than 600,000 square feet of space at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, with 1,300+ exhibitors and 700 presenters across the event.
Networking and events: deal flow happens after the sessions
Anyone who’s been to PDAC knows the “real schedule” often starts when the formal sessions end. PDAC’s own lineup includes recurring meet-ups and major social events—capped by the We Will Rock You Finale on Wednesday, March 4 (7–10 p.m.) at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
For Thunder Bay-area companies, these events are more than social: they’re where supplier relationships get renewed, introductions become meetings, and meetings become site visits.
How to get more value out of PDAC (especially for Northern Ontario firms)
Even if you’ve been before, PDAC rewards planning. A few practical moves:
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Book meetings early: the best time slots disappear fast—especially for investors and senior executives.
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Build a “Thunder Bay/NWO hit list”: target companies active in Ontario exploration, mining, logistics, and critical minerals.
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Prep your one-page: whether you’re selling services or pitching a project, have a clean, scannable summary ready.
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Use Trade Show North strategically: if you’re supply-side, this is where your buyers are shopping.
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Don’t skip Indigenous partnership programming: it’s increasingly central to how projects advance—especially in regions where relationships and long-term local benefits are core expectations.
Register now
PDAC 2026 runs March 1–4, 2026, in Toronto, with passes and planning details available through PDAC’s official Convention 2026 pages.
PDAC, PDAC 2026, Mining, Mineral Exploration, Thunder Bay, Northwestern Ontario, Mining Supply, Mining Services, Investors Exchange, Core Shack, Indigenous Partnerships, Critical Minerals, Toronto, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Capital Markets
