Canadian Hydrogen Convention 2026 brings industry together to advance progress
The Canadian Hydrogen Convention 2026 brought the hydrogen sector together in Edmonton for a high-impact week focused on real-world deployment, market development, and cross-sector collaboration.
Positioned as Canada’s leading hydrogen event, the convention reflected how the industry conversation has moved from early promise to tangible execution, with industry, government, investors, and innovators gathering to accelerate the next phase of hydrogen growth in Canada and beyond.
The event featured a dynamic exhibition, two flagship conference programmes, special features, and high-value networking opportunities that reinforced Edmonton’s role as a leading hydrogen hub.
Policy and partnerships take centre stage
This year’s strategic conference brought together senior leaders from across government and industry to address the policy, infrastructure, and investment priorities shaping the hydrogen economy.
Ministerial participation was a major highlight, with appearances from Hon. Eleanor Olszewski, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada; Hon. Nathan Neudorf, Alberta Minister of Affordability and Utilities; Hon. Brian Jean, Alberta Minister of Energy and Minerals; and Hon. Grant Hunter, Alberta Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.
The event also provided a platform for meaningful industry collaboration, including the signing of an MOU between the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, Edmonton Global, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., to explore a liquefied hydrogen supply chain. The announcement underscored the convention’s role in bringing partners together across the hydrogen value chain and advancing practical opportunities for hydrogen adoption, while also highlighting growing international interest in the Edmonton region’s collaborative ecosystem, industrial base and clean energy expertise.
Expanded conference programmes strengthen technical exchange
The convention delivered strong momentum across both conference streams. The event featured two flagship conference programmes, 80+ sessions and 100+ speakers, while the technical conference brought together 80+ expert speakers across 70+ technical and poster sessions.
A major enhancement for 2026 was the technical conference’s move onto the exhibition floor, creating a more immersive delegate experience and strengthening the connection between thought leadership, technology showcase and commercial opportunity.
On the exhibition side, the event delivered a vibrant, highly engaged show floor, with 100+ exhibitors and dedicated industry pavilions, creating a strong platform for business development, networking, and solution discovery.
The exhibition remained a central hub of activity throughout the convention, bringing together government representatives, Indigenous leaders, technology providers, project developers and decision-makers from across the hydrogen value chain. The combination of a busy exhibition floor, poster presentations and integrated conference programming helped create strong momentum across the venue.
Special features deepen connections
Special features and networking events added further depth to the attendee experience and reflected the convention’s broad industry reach.
Alongside the strategic and technical conferences, the event featured the CPKC Site Tour, the Korea-Alberta-Canada Clean Energy Forum, poster presentations, and the H2 Mobility Zone Café, offering delegates multiple ways to connect, exchange ideas, and engage with hydrogen applications and market opportunities in practice.
Networking was a defining strength of the week, led by the Opening Night Reception, sponsored by Explore Edmonton, the Canadian Hydrogen Association and Edmonton International Airport, which brought delegates, exhibitors, and speakers together at the close of the first day.
The Joule Women in Hydrogen Networking Reception stood out as a valuable gathering point between the close of the Strategic Conference and the Awards Gala, adding a meaningful layer of industry connection and community-building to the event.
The week concluded with the 5th Annual Canadian Hydrogen Convention Awards Gala, a signature evening recognising the leaders, innovators, and trailblazers advancing hydrogen in Canada and internationally. The gala combined a networking reception, dinner and live awards presentation, creating a strong finale for the convention and an opportunity to celebrate the achievements.
The event's success was strengthened by the support of its co-host organisations: Edmonton Global, Canada’s Hydrogen Hub / Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub, Air Products as Industry Co-Host, and the Canadian Hydrogen Association as Association Co-Host, with their leadership and collaboration anchoring the event in both regional strength and national industry relevance.
