Montreal, May 7, 2026 – SIAL Canada, North America’s largest professional trade show dedicated to the agri-food industry, took place from April 29 to May 1, 2026, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. It brought together more than 850 exhibitors and 26,000 professionals for the largest edition ever held in Montreal.
The 2026 edition stood out for the quality of the business meetings it generated and for showcasing the innovations currently transforming the food industry here and abroad.
More than 90 countries were represented among visitors, and over 55 among exhibitors. The show recorded a record presence of Canadian exhibitors, along with strong international participation, marked by the return of several countries (South Korea, Spain, the Philippines) and the significant presence of delegations such as Italy, the United States, Greece, Turkey, Poland, and Indonesia. More than thirty partners supported the event, contributing greatly to the vitality of this edition.
Photo credit: Bénédicte Brocard
“This record-breaking edition in Montreal, with more than 105,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, highlights the resilience of the Canadian agri-food sector and the appeal of this market for manufacturers from around the world. Buyers and exhibitors share a common goal: diversifying their client and supplier portfolios to conquer new markets, both in Canada and internationally. As the number of countries represented increased this year, it is important to underscore the dynamism of Canadian manufacturers, up 30% compared to last year,” explains Stéphane Thuillier, CEO of SIAL Canada.
Meaningful and impactful days
After an opening day marked by speeches from key figures such as Heath MacDonald (Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food) and Donald Martel (Quebec’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), delivered before an audience of roughly forty ambassadors and consuls, more than 30 conferences, workshops, and discussions took place, directly connecting visitors with professionals from across the agri-food industry. Among the program highlights, two conferences drew particular attention: Canadian Agri-Food Chain: Optimizing Interprovincial Collaboration, supported by MAPAQ and Investissement Québec International, and CPG Trajectory: 5 Key Signals to Take Command of the Future, presented in collaboration with LG2.
Once again this year, SIAL Canada continued its commitment to fighting food waste through the SoSIAL program, which collects and redistributes food products locally at the end of the show for the benefit of Moisson Montréal. As revealed during the International Networking Cocktail, presented by Lantic Maple, a total of $46,000 was donated to Moisson Montréal, with support from FCC through the Drive Away Hunger program and the contribution of Lantic Maple. More than 1,600 lbs of food were collected during the show.
Photo credit: Bénédicte Brocard
Showcasing the best of the industry
During the show, the SIAL Innovation competition, held in partnership with L’Actualité Alimentaire, Western Grocer and NielsenIQ, highlighted the most innovative consumer and foodservice products launched since January 2025. The Gold Award was presented to Kunana’s Unsweetened Banana Milk, the Silver Award to La Terre du 9’s Black Garlic Sauce (soy-sauce style), and the Bronze Award to Les Beurrés for their range of flavored butters in aluminum capsules. New this year: a Retailers’ Choice Award, which was given to the Lion’s Mane Mushroom Steak from Lion’s Mane Mushroom Steak Co.
Photo credit: Bénédicte Brocard
Photo credit: Bénédicte Brocard
The 2nd edition of the Canadian Best Cheesemonger Competition showcased the skill and expertise of the country’s cheese artisans. Six finalists from Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia faced off live in four technical challenges. In partnership with Fromagerie Yannick, the Quebec Dairy Industry Council (CILQ) and Grocery Business, and with the support of Dairy Farmers of Canada as the title presenter, the competition awarded a $3,000 prize to winner Anne Gauvreau-Sybille of Fromagerie Anne et Frères in Montréal’s Villeray neighbourhood, enabling her to represent Canada on the world stage in France in 2027.
Photo credit: Bénédicte Brocard
The Startup Pitch Competition recognized three promising young companies in the agri-food sector, in partnership with NielsenIQ, Pigeon, and the Canadian Food Innovation Network. In the Seed CPG category (0 to 3 years), which highlights early-stage consumer-goods startups, the award was presented to Nasdrow. The Scale CPG category (4 to 6 years), aimed at growth-stage companies ready to expand across the North American market, crowned Les Brutes du Soya. Finally, the FoodTech Award, which celebrates technological innovations transforming the industry, was presented to Maia Farms.
Global events not to be missed
The show will return to Canada from April 27 to 29, 2027, at Toronto’s Enercare Center. This year, SIAL will also take place from October 17 to 21 in Paris. Additional shows will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Mumbai, offering international audiences the opportunity to discover flavors and innovations from dozens of countries, and providing Canadian manufacturers with new market opportunities. The show will return to the Palais des congrès de Montréal from April 19 to 21, 2028.
About SIAL Canada
SIAL Canada is an integral part of the SIAL network, the world’s leading network of professional trade shows dedicated to the food industry, bringing together thousands of companies across 12 events and a dynamic community of more than 700,000 local and international professionals. Launched in 2001, SIAL Canada is the result of the work of three major shareholders: ADAQ (Québec Food Retailers Association), the Agri-Food Export Group Québec–Canada, and Comexposium. The show is supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Quebec’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and the CTAQ (Quebec Food Processing Council).
