28th Annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference: Strengthening Collective Security: Navigating Challenges in a Dynamic Indo-Pacific Landscape
The 28th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) conference will be held in Victoria, Canada from August 31 to September 2, 2026. The conference will be co-hosted by Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, and the Commander of United States (U.S.) Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel J. Paparo.
This year’s theme, “Strengthening Collective Security: Navigating Challenges in a Dynamic Indo-Pacific Landscape” will bring together senior miliary leaders, practitioners and regional experts to discuss regional security issues, including non-defence and non-military perspectives.
A total of 32 countries have been invited to participate. Held annually since 1998, the conference brings together senior military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability among allies and partners.
Formal Media Opportunities
- When: Monday, August 31 to Wednesday, September 2, 2026
- Where: Victoria Conference Centre, 20 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC
- What: Opportunities include access to opening remarks, panel discussions, and a joint press conference with Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, and the Commander of United States (U.S.) Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel J. Paparo.
For more details on what opportunities are available to the media, please reach out to MediaPACOM-MediasPACOM@forces.gc.ca for embargoed details.
Media interviews
The list of accredited media will be shared with all participating delegations. Delegations may use scheduled executive time during the conference to arrange one-on-one or roundtable engagement with reporters.
Accredited media may request interviews with participating delegations directly or through the conference media relations team, who will be co-located in the conference media room. Requests received by the media relations team will be forwarded to the relevant delegations for consideration. Interview requests are not subject to Canadian approval.
Media accreditation
Due to space limitations, media accreditation is limited to 100 attendees, including reporters, camera operators and producers. Accreditation requests will be reviewed to support balanced representation from international media outlets and from Canadian media in both official languages.
To apply for accreditation, please email the information below, along with the required supporting documents, to MediaPACOM-MediasPACOM@forces.gc.ca.
- Title (Mr., Mrs., etc.)
- First name
- Last name
- Name of media outlet
- Position/Function (i.e., reporter, camera operator, producer, etc.)
- Mobile number
- Office phone number
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Country of residence
Required attachments:
- A copy of your passport or a national identity card showing your photograph
- A copy of your press card showing your photograph or a signed letter from your editor
Information
Once approved, media passes must be collected in person, on August 31 between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., at the Fairmont Empress hotel. Passes will not be mailed. To collect their pass, applicants must present the same valid passport or government-issued identification card used during the accreditation process.
Media passes must be always worn visibly during conference activities. Security personnel may request additional identification and may inspect, or test equipment and personal belongings brought into the venue. Media representatives are also encouraged to arrive early to allow for sufficient time for security screening and registration.
Accredited media must also attend a mandatory media briefing on August 31, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. The briefing will provide information on security procedures and access restrictions within the conference venue.
Imagery
Photos and videos from the conference will be made available on the Canadian Armed Forces Combat Camera Flickr page, and may be used for non-commercial or journalistic purposes. Where indicated, images should be credited to Canadian Armed Forces Combat Camera and the image technician.
Social Media
We encourage participants and media representatives to use the hashtag #IPCHODS when posting about the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference.