From 8 to 13 September 2026, Kielce becomes one of Europe’s key meeting points for the defence industry, government, armed forces, business and technology. The 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO at Targi Kielce, followed by Army Days across the city, demonstrates how a major international trade show can generate value far beyond the exhibition floor – for exhibitors, business partners and the host destination itself.
MSPO – where international business and the defence industry meet
From 8 to 11 September 2026, Targi Kielce hosts the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO, described by the organiser as the largest defence industry exhibition in Central and Eastern Europe and one of the region’s most important platforms for meetings between representatives of governments, ministries of defence, armed forces, embassies and international business.
The 2026 edition is the largest in the event’s history. More than 1,200 exhibitors from 43 countries are taking part, with the exhibition covering approximately 49,000 sq m. Alongside the exhibition itself, the programme includes dozens of conferences, expert debates and business meetings.
For exhibiting companies, MSPO provides much more than an opportunity to present products and technologies. The event creates an international environment for developing business relationships, presenting new solutions, meeting institutional and commercial partners and engaging directly with representatives of key markets.
From a meetings industry perspective, the strength of MSPO lies in this multidimensional format. It is not simply an exhibition of products and technologies. The programme combines trade show participation, B2B meetings, conferences, expert discussions, technology launches and events for international delegations.
The programme includes, among others, discussions on dual-use technologies, security, cybersecurity, societal resilience and the future of the defence industry. This combination of exhibition, knowledge exchange and business networking illustrates the increasingly important role of major trade shows as platforms for professional communities and international cooperation.
Canada in Kielce
Canada is participating in MSPO 2026 as the Lead Nation, bringing its largest-ever delegation to an international defence exhibition. According to the organiser, the Canadian presence includes more than 200 organisations and over 300 delegates, while the Canadian pavilion brings together more than 90 exhibitors.
The scale of participation creates opportunities for discussions on concrete areas of cooperation. Canada has strong capabilities in aviation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, while Poland has a growing drone sector, expertise in electronics and experience in scaling up defence production. These capabilities provide considerable potential for international partnerships.
Targi Kielce expands its capacity for major international events
MSPO 2026 is also the first major event to make use of the new exhibition hall at Targi Kielce.
The facility provides 15,500 sq m of exhibition space on the ground floor, complemented by a further 3,000 sq m on the mezzanine, including conference rooms and catering facilities. Following the expansion, the total exhibition space available across Targi Kielce’s nine halls has increased to 53,500 sq m.
The investment is important not only for the exhibition sector but also for Poland’s wider meetings and events industry. It strengthens Kielce’s ability to host large-scale international events with complex logistical requirements and programmes combining exhibitions, conferences, business meetings, product presentations and accompanying events.
For organisers and exhibitors, the development provides greater flexibility in designing events that integrate different formats within one venue. For the destination, it represents a significant addition to the infrastructure available for attracting major national and international business events.
Army Days takes the event experience into the city
The conclusion of MSPO does not mark the end of event activity in Kielce. From 11 to 13 September, Army Days Kielce 2026 takes place in connection with Land Forces Day. As emphasised by the Polish Ministry of National Defence, the concept extends the International Defence Industry Exhibition beyond the trade fair grounds and broadens its reach to residents of Kielce and the Świętokrzyskie region.
From a destination management perspective, this is an important element of the overall event concept.
Activities connected with the main trade show move into different parts of the city, making use of public spaces, cultural venues and sports facilities. The programme includes locations such as Plac Wolności, Kieleckie Centrum Kultury, Hala Legionów, central Kielce and the Kadzielnia Amphitheatre.
The programme features presentations of equipment used by the Polish Armed Forces, official ceremonies, educational and sporting activities, as well as events showcasing Polish military traditions. In central Kielce, visitors can see equipment including Abrams and K2 tanks, the Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle, Rosomak armoured vehicles, Krab self-propelled howitzers and Homar systems. Hala Legionów also hosts a special edition of Army Days Gortat Camp for 140 children.
From a trade show to a destination-wide event
The combination of MSPO and Army Days provides an interesting example of how a major international trade show can become part of a broader destination experience.
Increasingly, leading business events extend beyond exhibition halls and conference rooms. They can activate public spaces, cultural institutions and sports venues, engage local communities and create additional opportunities to showcase the host city – while maintaining a clear connection with the theme and professional profile of the main event.
For Kielce, this means several days of activity involving exhibitors, international delegations, business representatives, media and visitors, as well as the use of different elements of the city’s event infrastructure. For the destination, it is also an opportunity to demonstrate organisational capabilities to an international audience and strengthen the city’s association with major specialist events.
The partners of Army Days Kielce 2026 are the Polish Tourism Organisation and the City of Kielce.
Together, MSPO and Army Days create an event ecosystem extending from an international trade exhibition, B2B meetings and conferences to international delegations, technology presentations and activities taking place across the host city.
For Poland’s meetings industry, Kielce provides a strong example of how established trade shows can contribute not only to business development within a specialist sector, but also to investment in event infrastructure, destination visibility and the local economy.
A major exhibition attracts companies and delegates. A well-integrated event can also showcase the capabilities of the destination that hosts them.
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