Toronto, Canada
May 21—24, 2026
May 21, 2026
Pitch your work to interested funders on the first day of the Summit. By application only.
Join us in Toronto!
AVA Summit Canada brings together advocates, campaigners, researchers, funders, students, nonprofit teams, creatives, policy actors, community organizers, and movement supporters from across Canada and beyond to strengthen strategy and collaboration for farmed animals. Be part of a three-day gathering designed for anyone working to advance meaningful change.
What is AVA Summit?
An international conference series for advocates working towards systemic change and advancing various strategies toward one shared vision: removing animals from our food system and other human uses.
Who is AVA Summit for?
AVA Summit is for advocates at any stage working toward systemic change for farmed animals — including NGO staff, campaigners, researchers, funders, students, communications professionals, policy practitioners, grassroots organizers, and emerging leaders seeking to deepen impact and collaborate across the region.
What to expect from this AVA Summit:
Thoughtfully curated sessions focused on strategy, movement-building, policy, innovation, and cultural perspectives
Immersive community-building experiences that foster collaboration and lasting connections
A vibrant, welcoming space for both seasoned campaigners and emerging leaders
Breakfast and lunch served daily, shared in community to encourage connection and conversation
Networking and dedicated meetups
A high-energy, impact-driven environment where ideas are transformed into action
And so much more!
Exhibit with us during the event!
Connect with advocates, funders, researchers, and partner organizations from across Canada and beyond.
Exhibiting at AVA Summit Canada places your organization at the center of a high-impact convening for strategy and collaboration in animal advocacy. Exhibitors gain direct engagement with attendees, build new partnerships, increase visibility, and participate in the Passport Contest — a proven driver of booth traffic and meaningful conversations.
For questions about exhibiting, email Amie@AVAInternational.org
Book your room in our hotel block at the Sheraton Centre Toronto
Discounted rates for AVA attendees are available now.
A room block is offered at the Sheraton Centre Toronto, the host hotel for AVA Summit Canada. Rooms are available at a discounted rate on a first-come, first-served basis until the block expires.
Do you need financial assistance to attend?
Cost should never be a barrier to creating change for farmed animals.
Through the support of our donors, AVA Summit offers Travel Award Scholarships to reduce financial barriers for participation. AVA strives to ensure that advocates in need can access at least one Summit per year by providing funding at different levels. If support would make it possible for you to attend, you are encouraged to apply.
Interested in speaking at the event?
We welcome voices shaping animal advocacy across Canada and beyond.
AVA Summit Canada invites proposals from advocates, researchers, funders, policy actors, nonprofit staff, students, grassroots organizers, media makers, legal experts, technologists, and partner movements whose work advances systemic change for farmed animals. Whether you bring formal expertise or lived experience, established insights or emerging ideas — if your contribution can strengthen the movement, we encourage you to apply to speak.
AVA Summit Canada FAQ
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A three-day in-person conference in Toronto bringing together advocates, researchers, funders, policy actors, students, nonprofit teams, and partner movements to advance strategy and collaboration for farmed animal advocacy.
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If you are an international traveler who requires a visa to enter Canada, you must be registered for AVA Summit Canada in order to receive visa application details and an official invitation letter from AVA International.
AVA Summit Canada is an officially registered event with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Once you are registered, all visa-related information is automatically sent to registered attendees on a weekly basis, every Monday. There is no need to email the AVA team to confirm that you have registered or to request an invitation letter. If you register, you will receive the full visa information email on the next Monday following your registration.
After receiving the email, you will be asked to complete a series of required steps to support your visa application. All steps must be completed carefully and in full, and it is the attendee’s responsibility to complete each step on time. The AVA team does not provide individual visa guidance beyond the information shared and does not send reminders.
Please note that AVA International does not influence visa approval decisions. All visa applications are reviewed and decided solely by the Government of Canada.
If your visa application is not approved, you may request a refund of your event registration, which we are always happy to provide in these cases. However, you must be registered in order to receive visa-related materials from AVA.
If you do not require a visa to enter Canada, you can simply proceed with your registration and travel planning.
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We understand why some attendees may hesitate to register before receiving a visa decision, travel scholarship outcome, or speaker confirmation, especially when visa fees are high and approvals are not guaranteed.
That said, we strongly recommend registering as early as possible to secure the lowest available ticket price and ensure timely access to visa-related information.
In all cases, refunds are available if you need to cancel your trip. This includes situations where:
Your visa application is not approved
You are not selected as a speaker
You do not receive a travel scholarship
You later determine you are unable to attend for any reason
If you are selected as a speaker or awarded a travel scholarship, AVA International will simply refund your original ticket payment. There is no need to wait to register or to repurchase a different ticket later.
If you apply to speak/for a scholarship and are accepted, you will receive a speaker /scholarship discount code. These codes are shared directly with applicants and are not posted publicly. In both cases, your original payment will be fully refunded to your original payment method.
For applicants who are not selected and need a refund, please email us to process that. No problem! Info@AVAInternational.org
For visa purposes, you must be registered in order to receive official visa application information and an invitation letter from AVA. Visa guidance emails are automatically sent to registered attendees on a weekly basis.
If you prefer to wait until your visa is approved before finalizing travel, you may still register now to lock in the lowest rate, knowing that a refund is always available if plans change.
Our goal is to make AVA events accessible and low-risk for advocates worldwide, regardless of region, income, or visa uncertainty.
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May 21–24, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. The host hotel and venue is the Sheraton Centre Toronto.
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Anyone working — or aspiring to work — toward systemic change for farmed animals. This includes NGO staff, campaigners, researchers, communicators, funders, legal and policy professionals, academics, students, grassroots activists, and allied movements.
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Yes. Speaker applications are open to both established and emerging voices whose work contributes to regional or global progress for animals. Look out for application opening and closing deadlines on our website and social media.
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Travel Award Scholarships are available to reduce financial barriers for eligible advocates. Details and application timelines will be listed on this page.
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Yes. Exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities are open to mission-aligned organizations. Email Amie@AVASummit.com for any questions!
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Book your room in our hotel block at the Sheraton Centre Toronto
Discounted rates for AVA attendees are available now.
A room block is offered at the Sheraton Centre Toronto, the host hotel for AVA Summit Canada. Rooms are available at a discounted rate on a first-come, first-served basis until the block expires.
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Language support details will be announced closer to the event based on attendee composition and demand.
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Subscribe to AVA’s newsletter or follow AVA International on Social Media for announcements on registration, speakers, scholarships, and logistics.
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No — AVA Summit Canada is an in-person event and there is no virtual attendance option. Select sessions may be recorded and later uploaded to YouTube, but livestream access is not offered. Recording plans are still being finalized and may change.
