The British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS) is returning to the digital stage with its second annual Virtual Exhibition and Conference, set for Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
Building on the success of its inaugural online event last year, the one-day virtual gathering will combine a competitive and non-competitive philatelic exhibition with a full program of live online seminars presented by BNAPS study groups. While exhibits and seminars are organized by BNAPS members, the event itself is open to all collectors, regardless of membership. Participation is free, though advance registration is required.
Organizers emphasize the virtual conference is designed to complement, not replace, BNAPEX 2026, the society’s annual in-person convention, which will be held in Valleyfield, Que., from Sept. 18–20.
The 2026 Virtual Exhibition will feature up to 40 exhibits displayed across as many as 160 virtual frames. Both competitive and non-competitive exhibits are being accepted. Once uploaded, exhibits will remain accessible online until Feb. 20, giving collectors additional time to study the material well beyond the conference day itself.
A major highlight of the event will be a series of live study group seminars delivered in two concurrent streams. Ten sessions are planned, covering a wide range of British North America philatelic topics. Seminars will be open to all registered participants, whether or not they belong to the hosting study group or are members of BNAPS.
Topics will span Newfoundland and Pence–Cents material, digital philately, military mail, fancy cancels and perfins, concluding with a judges’ critique session and a multi-paper presentation focused on the Pence–Cents Era. Each seminar will include opportunities for questions and discussion, and recordings of the sessions will be made available after the event.
Planning for the Virtual Exhibition and Conference began in early November 2025, when requests for exhibit frames opened and exhibitors began uploading material to the event website. Registration officially opened on Jan. 20, which also marked the deadline for requesting frames and submitting exhibits.
Additional details, updates and registration information are available on the BNAPS website under the Virtual Exhibition and Conference section.