Innovate Rural 2026
Canada’s Rural Innovation Festival & Forum
Innovate Rural (Formerly ICED Rural) is Canada’s leading rural innovation gathering — building Canada’s future from the ground up by turning regional strengths into national outcomes.
2026 is our most ambitious year yet. We’re welcoming new co-hosts including the Institute for Research on Public Policy, Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance, and Southeast College, alongside our founding partner Southeast Techhub.
This year introduces three integrated streams — Technology, Academia, and Arts — bringing together research, innovation, talent, and creativity to show how rural innovation and place-based economic development are driving Canada’s success.
Our schedule is designed to be flexible, practical, and worth your time. Across multiple days, you’ll experience keynotes, panels, workshops, and curated sessions spanning technology, research, policy, and the creative economy, with built-in space for networking and real conversations. While registration provides full access to the event, the program is intentionally structured so you can move between sessions and themes, shaping your own experience as you explore what’s driving rural innovation in Canada
Click for 2026's Schedule
