Montreal International Security Summit 2026
The Montreal International Security Summit is a high-level international convening co-hosted by the Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Canada. The Summit brings together senior leaders from government, diplomacy, defence, academia, civil society, technology, and industry to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping security, democratic resilience, defence cooperation, and geopolitical competition.
The 2026 Summit, Security and Defence in the Age of AI: Risks, Rivalries, and Resilience, will take place on October 26-27, 2026, in Montreal, Canada. Across plenary conversations, expert panels, fireside chats, and a dedicated war game and simulation exercise, participants will explore how democratic societies and allied partners can respond to the strategic risks and opportunities created by emerging technologies.
The program will examine AI’s impact on defence innovation, foreign interference, cognitive warfare, critical infrastructure protection, alliance politics, and the future of transatlantic and Indo-Pacific security cooperation.
Key Themes
– AI, defence innovation, and allied security cooperation
– Democratic resilience in an era of foreign interference and cognitive warfare
– Canada-Europe and transatlantic security partnerships
– AI safety as a global security imperative
– Drone threats, counter-drone capabilities, and critical infrastructure protection
– Lessons from drone warfare in Ukraine
– Middle-power cooperation in a fragmenting geopolitical environment
– Public-private partnerships for security, resilience, and emerging technology governance
Day 2 War Game and Simulation Exercise
On October 27, the Summit will feature a dedicated war game and simulation exercise led by Volatus Aerospace, a Canadian drone company. The session will run from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and will include two scenario-based exercises:
– Protecting a G7 meeting and adjacent critical infrastructure from drone-related threats
– Examining lessons from drone warfare in Ukraine for allied defence planning, resilience, and counter-drone policy
The exercise is designed for senior participants from government, defence, industry, research, and civil society, with a focus on policy, preparedness, coordination, and strategic decision-making.
Registration Process
The Montreal International Security Summit is by invitation only. Individuals interested in participating may submit an expression of interest by sending an email to info@migsinstitute.org.
Due to limited capacity, only selected participants will be contacted.
Agenda
The agenda is currently in development and will be shared soon. Confirmed programming includes plenary sessions on AI and global security, transatlantic cooperation, digital hybrid threats, foreign interference, and a Day 2 war game and simulation exercise led by Volatus Aerospace. Other side events are being planned.
About the Co-Hosts
Montreal Institute for Global Security
The Montreal Institute for Global Security convenes experts, policymakers, and practitioners to address urgent global security challenges, with a focus on democratic resilience, emerging technologies, and international cooperation.
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Canada
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Canada is the international cooperation partner and co-host of the Montreal International Security Summit. KAS Canada supports dialogue on democracy, international security, transatlantic relations, rule of law, and responsible governance in an era of geopolitical change.