Global Energy Show Set to Kick Off in Calgary Amid Changing Energy Landscape

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The annual Global Energy Show is set to take place in Calgary, highlighting Canada's evolving energy market and the need for infrastructure to diversify export opportunities.

CALGARY, ALTA. — This week, Calgary is preparing to welcome a diverse group of participants, including premiers, energy ministers, CEOs, and a multitude of international visitors, as the annual Global Energy Show is set to commence. The event, which begins on June 9, is occurring under a significantly altered landscape compared to last year's gathering. Last year, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was merely beginning to propose a new West Coast oil pipeline, while her government had not yet entered into an energy accord with Ottawa that outlined the conditions for this initiative. Additionally, the geopolitical climate has shifted dramatically, with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East affecting global energy markets. Nick Samain, senior vice-president of DMG Events, the organization behind the show, emphasized that despite these changes, one consistent theme prevails: the necessity for Canada to diversify its energy export markets and develop the requisite infrastructure to facilitate this diversification. The conference and trade show are expected to attract over 30,000 attendees, a significant portion of whom are international visitors, particularly from the United States, who are keen to explore Canada's energy offerings. "There’s just a tremendous amount of interest here, and I think confidence that it’s a market on the rise when it comes to energy," remarked Samain. He noted that the current political environment appears more favorable towards oil and gas development, with a general sentiment of optimism as more projects move forward and partisanship lessens. The trade show is set to feature around 500 exhibitors, marking an increase of over 10 percent from last year, many of whom represent international pavilions that were absent in the past. This surge indicates a growing recognition of Canada as a serious player in the energy production arena. The backdrop of global events has also influenced market dynamics. Following the onset of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran in late February, shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas from the Persian Gulf have faced significant disruptions, particularly through the vital Strait of Hormuz. This has resulted in increased commodity prices and prompted countries to seek alternative sources of supply, such as Canada, which, however, still lacks sufficient infrastructure to connect its resources to coastal export points. Premier Smith had previously expressed her intentions at last year’s conference to stimulate private-sector interest in constructing a new oilsands pipeline aimed at a northern British Columbia port, potentially in Prince Rupert. Her government is now actively pursuing this proposal, with plans to submit an application to the federal major project office within the next month. This office, established approximately a year ago, is designed to expedite the approval process for projects identified as being in Canada’s national interest. The upcoming conference will feature a lineup of distinguished speakers, including federal Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories, along with provincial energy ministers. The speaker roster also includes the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s upstream division, Nigerian oil and gas ministers, and diplomats from Ukraine and India. Notably, the 2026 Global Energy Show will allocate more exhibition space and conference time to topics related to artificial intelligence and data centers than in previous years. Samain highlighted that these facilities require substantial electricity for operation and cooling, leading many projects in both the U.S. and Canada to incorporate dedicated power plants on-site. "AI data centres are becoming a whole new consumer group of energy that’s growing," he noted.

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