Full-day event
STATE OF THE NATION 2026
CANADA’S DIGITAL MEDIA EXPO
- TUESDAY, JUNE 23. 2026
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
- SHERATON CENTRE HOTEL, TORONTO
Why State of the Nation
Canada’s digital advertising economy — now exceeding $21B — is operating in a period of profound change.
Economic uncertainty, regulatory pressure, geopolitical complexity, and rapid technological advancement are reshaping how digital advertising is bought, sold, governed, and measured.
State of the Nation is IAB Canada’s premier forum for senior leaders, a focused, high-impact day designed to deliver clarity, connection, and results.
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No fluff.
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No distractions.
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Just insights and conversations that matter.
Designed for focus. Built for outcomes.
- One day
- A deliberately scoped agenda
- A curated room of senior decision-makers
- Trade floor
This is a disciplined investment in what matters — built for leaders who value clarity over noise and outcomes over optics.
Who Attends
300–450 senior decision-makers across Canada’s digital advertising ecosystem.
Advertisers
- Brands & advertisers (CMOs, Heads of Media, Commerce, Growth)
Intermediaries
- Agencies (holding companies and independents)
- Global and Canadian platforms
Ecosystem
- Publishers and media owners
- Start-ups and scale-ups
- Policy makers and regulators
Moments of Connection
These are not crowd moments. They are peer-level conversations — the kind that happen when the right people are in the room.
Selected networking moments from IAB Canada industry events:
Two Strategic Program Tracks
State of the Nation is structured around two parallel, high-signal tracks, reflecting the realities and opportunities facing the industry today.
Track One: The Operating Environment
State of the Economy, Regulatory Pressures & Geopolitical Impacts
This track focuses on the forces shaping the conditions under which digital advertising operates:
- Economic outlook and market confidence
- Regulatory pressures affecting data, privacy, competition, and platforms
- Policy developments in Canada and globally
- Geopolitical dynamics impacting trade, data flows, and investment
This program is designed for leaders who need to understand risk, constraint, and context — and make informed decisions in an increasingly complex environment.
Track Two: Growth & Opportunity
Emerging Opportunities, the Supply Chain, Sight, Sound & Motion
This track looks forward — to where growth is coming from and how it can be captured:
- Emerging technologies and AI
- Commerce, retail media, and new monetization models
- The evolving digital supply chain
- Video, audio, CTV, gaming, and immersive formats
This program is focused on practical opportunity, innovation, and execution.
Sponsorship Philosophy
As an inaugural event, State of the Nation is designed around clear principles:
Quality over scale
Substance over spectacle
Outcomes over impressions
What Sponsors Are Really Buying
Access
Credible access to decision-makers.
Influence
Participation in shaping direction.
Positioning
Alignment with industry leadership.
Efficiency
High-value use of time and budget.
Sponsorship Packages
Anchor Partner
50,000 CAD
1-2 available
Lead Partner
30,000 CAD
3-4 available
Strategic Partner
20,000 CAD
Curated
Compare Sponsorship Levels
Experience & Moment Sponsorships
Networking Lounge
17,500 CAD
Lunch
15,000 CAD
Coffee
10,000 CAD
Wi-Fi
5,000 CAD
The Expo Floor
State of the Nation features a curated expo environment focused on quality interaction.
Standard Booth (10’ x 10’)
10,000 CAD
Enhanced Booth (10’ x 20’)
15,000 CAD
Expo space is intentionally limited to maintain density, energy, and value.
Year One Assurance
As an inaugural event, State of the Nation prioritizes quality of engagement over scale.
IAB Canada is committed to ensuring sponsor value regardless of attendance variance, including the provision of additional integrations or hosted opportunities where appropriate.
Why Partner with IAB Canada
- Trusted national convenor
- Direct access to Canada’s digital advertising decision-makers
- Policy, platforms, and commerce in one room
- A focused forum with long-term intent
This is where Canada’s digital advertising future is discussed — and quietly shaped.
Next Steps
Sponsorship opportunities are limited. Early partners benefit from priority placement, early positioning, and recognition as foundational supporters of a new national flagship event.
Join us at the table.