Critical Minerals North America 2026 returns to New York on April 23–24 as the US Department of Defense’s $250 million commitment to domestic critical materials production under the Inflation Reduction Act sets the policy backdrop for the conference’s fourth annual edition. The event takes place at The Westin New York at Times Square, organised by Spire Events.
About Critical Minerals North America 2026
The Critical Minerals North America 2026 conference is America’s longest-running international critical minerals investment and supply chain event, drawing delegates from more than 10 countries. This year’s edition expects 160+ attendees, 30+ speakers, and 25 sponsors and exhibitors. Approximately 65% of participants are US-based, reflecting domestic urgency around minerals security under the current administration.
The event is explicitly positioned around Western supply chain independence — reducing reliance on China-dominated production and processing in rare earths, battery metals, and critical industrial inputs. For full context on China’s role in critical minerals trade, see our coverage of the top critical minerals at risk from China export controls.
2026 Conference Themes and Agenda
The programme spans the full critical minerals value chain, from exploration to downstream manufacturing. Core themes include:
| Theme | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Security of supply and trade policy | US domestic production mandates, IRA incentives |
| Shifting geopolitics and supply chain security | China export controls, allied nation sourcing |
| Junior miners and new exploration projects | Capital access for early-stage producers |
| Battery metals and EVs | Lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth magnets |
| Energy transition financing, M&A, capital raising | Investment structures, offtake, royalties |
| Downstream processing and circular economy | US refining capacity, recycling |
| Sustainability and ESG | Permitting, community engagement, reporting |
The breadth of topics reflects the cross-sector nature of critical minerals demand — bridging mining, automotive, defence, and space industries in a single programme. The conference runs alongside parallel April events including the MMTA Minor Metals Conference in Vancouver (April 21–23), making the final week of April 2026 the most concentrated point in the global critical minerals investment calendar.
Speaker Highlights
Darryl Cuzzubbo, Managing Director and CEO of Arafura Rare Earths (ASX: ARU), is among the confirmed speakers — bringing direct rare earth project exposure to an otherwise investment-and-policy-heavy roster. Arafura’s Nolans Bore project in Australia’s Northern Territory is one of the most advanced NdPr development assets outside China.
Other confirmed speakers include Thomas Kimsey of the US Small Business Administration’s Office of Capital Access, Professor David Steven Jacoby of the Wharton School, and Jacob Deysel, CEO of Critica Limited. The full speaker list exceeds 30 names across mining, finance, law, and policy.
The Investment Angle: Capital Formation for Western Supply Chains
The speaker roster is capital-heavy by design. Confirmed panellists include representatives from 1864 Capital, Lafayette Capital Advisors, Pointwise Capital LP, and the New York Mining Club — reflecting an audience primarily focused on deal flow and portfolio allocation rather than technical operations.
The DoD’s $250 million IRA investment in domestic critical materials since mid-2023 provides the clearest benchmark for government intent. Junior miners seeking offtake partners, royalty financing, or strategic equity will find the delegate profile well-matched to those objectives. For analysis of how government partnerships are reshaping the Western REE producer landscape, see Western rare earth companies: how government deals cut risk.
Registration enquiries: kahren.navarro@spire-events.com. Sponsorship and exhibition: daniel.radz@spire-events.com. Full programme details at criticalmineralsnorthamerica.com.
For a full calendar of rare earth and critical minerals events in 2026, see our rare earth mining events guide.
What is the Critical Minerals North America conference?
Critical Minerals North America is an annual international conference focused on critical minerals investment, supply chain security, and Western supply chain independence. Now in its fourth year, it brings together miners, investors, government representatives, and downstream industry across a two-day programme.
When and where is Critical Minerals North America 2026?
Critical Minerals North America 2026 takes place on April 23–24, 2026, at The Westin New York at Times Square, New York City.
Who speaks at Critical Minerals North America 2026?
Confirmed speakers include Darryl Cuzzubbo (CEO, Arafura Rare Earths ASX: ARU), Thomas Kimsey (US Small Business Administration), Professor David Steven Jacoby (Wharton School), and representatives from 1864 Capital, Lafayette Capital Advisors, and Pointwise Capital LP, among 30+ total speakers.
What topics are covered at Critical Minerals North America?
The 2026 programme covers supply chain security, China export controls, junior miner financing, battery metals, EV supply chains, energy transition M&A, downstream processing, and ESG — spanning mining, defence, automotive, and space industry angles.
How do I register for Critical Minerals North America 2026?
Registration enquiries can be directed to kahren.navarro@spire-events.com. Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available via daniel.radz@spire-events.com. Full details at criticalmineralsnorthamerica.com.
