DEFSEC Atlantic :: Attendee Checklist

DEFSEC Atlantic 2026

PRESENTED BY

HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTRE :: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA :: OCTOBER 6 – 8, 2026

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Attendee Checklist

This list is for attendees to use as a resource for planning their participation in DEFSEC Atlantic. Once you have made the decision to attend DEFSEC Atlantic in-person, please review the following checklist:

Book your accommodations.
You should do this as soon as possible to ensure availability, as local hotels, especially our partner hotels and those nearby fill very fast for the week of our event each year. Click here to find out more details about our partner hotel and to book your room.
Register online for your attendance at DEFSEC Atlantic.
The process to follow is:
1. Review the information on what the attendee categories are this year and figure out which you should register under. Click here to start getting the information you need.
2. Go to the Online Registration Web Platform at ___. Select the correct entry in the Attendee Category dropdown once you have started your registration. Fill out the basic contact information (and other info screens depending on your category). It is important to note that this year that no attendee passes of any kind include any meals.
3. If your Attendee Category requires payment, the final screen you will see will be the page asking for your credit card information.
4. After payment information is entered and the card accepted OR if no payment was required, you should see the confirmation screen and receive a confirmation e-mail.
Make arrangements for transportation to the venue.
Depending on where you are coming from, this could be as simple as driving and parking OR as complex as flying and getting transportation to downtown Halifax upon arrival.
1. If you are travelling from outside of Canada, click here for more information.
Sign-up as an Insider.
Click here to join our dedicated mailing list to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments for this year’s event.
Activate your B2B2GO Web Platform profile.
On the afternoon of Monday, September 7, we will be launching the platform and everyone registered at that time will receive a personal activation e-mail to create their own individual propfile in the B2B/2GO platform. Those who register after the initial launch date of the B2B/2GO platform should receive their activation e-mail invite within 1 full business day AFTER the date they register. We will typically be doing daily manual syncs in the late afternoon between our registration platform and the B2B/2GO platform each weekday between its launch and our event. Be sure to check your spam/junk folders if you do not see your activation e-mail, as they sometimes end up in there depending on your e-mail system.

Be sure to watch for and action that e-mail to start your B2B experience at DESFEC Atlantic. Once you have logged into the B2B/2GO Web Platform, there are two modules you will be able to access:
1. The Messaging module will be active right from the launch date. This feature allows all registered attendees who have activated their profiles in the platform to view other active attendee profiles and message back and forth with them. This is used as part of the process of arranging and confirming meetings, but can also be used simply to communicate with those attendees. It will continue to be available after the dates of the B2B meetings (October 7 & 8, 2026) right until the end of October.
2. The Matchmaking module combines matchmaking and meeting scheduling all into one site. The platform is used to facilitate the in-person meetings at our event. We will have two very large rooms inside the Halifax Convention Centre dedicated to B2B/B2G meetings known as the “Invest Nova Scotia B2B Zone”. Inside these rooms are a total of 48 dedicated 8′ x 8′ divided spaces which will be set up for in-person meetings on Wednesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 8. Where the platform is planned to launch on Tuesday, September 7, attendees will have that entire month before to find each other, make connections and plan arranged meetings using the system on the event days. Access to this module will end at the close of business on the last day of meetings (October 8, 2026).
Review the Admission Policy.
Click here to view it and become familiar with the expectations for all attendees before heading to the event.
Plan your activities for when you will be on-site at our event.
These can include:
1. Visiting the Industry Exhibition to see and meet exhibiting companies from all around the globe and create new business opportunities.
2. Participating in official networking opportunities such as the Opening Reception on Tuesday evening or Hour of Good Cheer Reception on Wednesday afternoon.
3. Choosing and attending which sponsor presentations and discussion panels that are part of the Presentation Series that will best inform you about the latest developments in the industry.
4. Attending the in-person meetings you have arranged as part of the B2B Meetings Program. Or you can even rent a Private Meeting Room for one or both days to setup a dedicated series of meetings for your company.
5. Taking note of several Related Events that may be of interest to you that are offering even more to do while in Halifax for the week.
6. And finally… enjoying the warm hospitality of Nova Scotia in general!
If you have any specific questions about the event that this attendee checklist does not address or you require further clarification, please contact the DEFSEC Atlantic Registration Desk at registration@defsecatlantic.ca. We will do our very best to assist you and answer your questions!