2026 National Results

The 2026 Australian Event Awards was held on 21 October 2026. A full list of Nominees and Winners can be found below.

How to read the results

State and Territory Winners

State and Territory Winners were announced at the Awards Ceremony in the applicable Best Event categories. A State/Territory Winner may also be a National Nominee.

National Nominees

National Nominees are the entries that received the top five Moderated Scores in each category, provided they also met the Nominee Threshold Score. The National Winner in each category was announced at the Australian Event Awards Ceremony on 21 October 2026.

State and Territory Nominees

For each Best Event category, the two highest-ranked events that occurred in each state or territory were awarded State/Territory Nominee status, unless they were also National Nominees.

Within each category below, National Nominees who also received a State/Territory award are listed under “National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners”. Other State/Territory Winners and Nominees are listed separately. Each entry appears once within its category.

Best Event Categories

Best Sporting Event

National Winner
Santos Tour Down Under 2026, South Australian Tourism Commission

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

ASICS Gold Coast Marathon 2025, Events Management Queensland

National Nominees

Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro presented by GWM 2026, World Surf League, QLD

Oztix Best Tourism Event

National Winner
Vivid Sydney 2026, Destination NSW

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Pair’d Margaret River Region 2025, Mellen Events and We Are Gather, WA

Australian Kelpie Muster (30th) and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction 2026, Casterton Kelpie Association, VIC

Floriade 2025, ACT Government

National Nominees

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2026: The Phantom of the Opera, Opera Australia, NSW

Canberra Times Marathon Festival 2026 (The), Sole Motive, ACT

State/Territory Winners

Tasmania’s Taste of Summer 2025, PinPoint Group, TAS

State/Territory Nominees

Bloom Joondalup – A Luna Light Journey 2025, Laservision, WA

Winter Wonderlights 2025, Sovereign Hill Museum Association, VIC

Best Charity or Cause-Related Event

National Winner
Good Friday Appeal Kids Day Out 2026, Phoenix, VIC

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Adland Bail Out 2026, UnLtd, NSW

National Nominees

Sapphire 5th Anniversary Dinner 2025, Scope Productions, NSW

Big Spin 2025 (The), Vanilla Bean Events, NSW

Wateraid Gala Sydney 2025 – Bridgerton, Funktionality Events & Experiences, NSW

State/Territory Winners

Red Ball 2025 (The), Event Society, QLD

State/Territory Nominees

Property Unites Charity Luncheon 2025, Zesty Events, VIC

Best Congress or Conference < 500 Delegates

National Winner
First Nations Therapeutic Responses Summit 2026: Creating a Space for Innovation (The), KWY Aboriginal Corporation, SA

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

ASUS APAC Partner Summit 2026, Phoenix, NSW

National Nominees

KAO Kollective Leadership Retreat 2025, Phoenix, NSW

Cvent Accelerate Sydney 2025, Cvent Australia, NSW

Blacktown City ALGWA NSW Conference 2026, Blacktown City Council, NSW

State/Territory Winners

Thermomix Leadership Conference 2026, Phoenix, QLD

Best Congress or Conference 500 Delegates or Over

National Winner
International Astronautical Congress (76th) 2025, MCI Australia, NSW

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

SNAICC National Conference (2025), SNAICC: The National Voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children, QLD

Quantum Australia Conference 2026, Big Fish Events, SA

National Nominees

Google Cloud Summit Sydney / Warrane 2026, Sense Group, NSW

World Conference of Women’s Shelters (5th) 2025, ICMS Australasia, NSW

State/Territory Winners

7-Eleven Shaping Our Future – A Taste of Tomorrow 2026, Peanut Productions, VIC

State/Territory Nominees

Connect 2025, Ray White Group, QLD

Best Association Event

National Winner
Australian Kelpie Muster (30th) and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction 2026, Casterton Kelpie Association, VIC

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Oceanic Palliative Care Conference 2025 (25OPCC), Iceberg Events, QLD

National Nominees

Congress of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (52nd) 2025, ICMS Australasia, VIC

Trucking Australia 2026 (TA 26), Australian Trucking Association, QLD

Best Exhibition, Trade or Consumer Show

National Winner
AWS Summit Sydney 2026, Imagination, NSW

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

SuperExpo2026, Phoenix, QLD

Best Corporate Event

National Winner
Google Cloud Summit Sydney / Warrane 2026, Sense Group, NSW

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Finsure Inspire Summit 2025, FCM Meetings & Events, QLD

re-aWAken Gala Dinner 2026, Optus Stadium, WA

National Nominees

Asset Finance Brokers Conference 2025, On Purpose Events, QLD

Mission Nutrition 2026, OneSchool Global, National Event

State/Territory Winners

7-Eleven Shaping Our Future – A Taste of Tomorrow 2026, Peanut Productions, VIC

State/Territory Nominees

ADP Consulting — Foundations & Future: 15th Anniversary & Bennetts Lane Office Opening 2026, Zesty Events, VIC

PromPerú IMARC 2025 Program (Peru at IMARC); VEE Agency, NSW

Best Brand Event

National Winner
Kia Australia – Tasman Town 2025, Veritas Events, NSW

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Carlsberg Beach Club 2025 (The), Cartell Live, VIC

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A® KO3 Australian Roadshow 2025, Phoenix, NSW, VIC, QLD

National Nominees

Sydney Whisky Month 2026 – LARK, HeadBox, NSW

World360 Rewards Launch 2026, FCM Meetings & Events, NSW

Best Incentive Event

National Winner
Premier Financial Alliance’s Sydney Incentive Program 2025, Laissez-Faire Catering, AV1 and Simply Seated, NSW

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Thermomix Leadership Conference 2026, Phoenix, QLD

National Nominees

AIA Global Conference 2025, Funktionality Events & Experiences, NSW

Best Community Event

National Winner
Australian Kelpie Muster (30th) and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction 2026, Casterton Kelpie Association, VIC

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Ganbu Gulin 2025, Darebin City Council, VIC

Surfers Paradise People’s Esplanade Pop Up 2025, A Social Purpose, QLD

City Lights, Illuminate Adelaide 2025, Illuminate Adelaide Foundation, SA

National Nominees

Moomba Festival 2026, City of Melbourne, VIC

State/Territory Winners

Coogee Live 2026, City of Cockburn, WA

IAC 2025 – Space Day Powered by LEGO Play, MCI Australia, NSW

State/Territory Nominees

CommBank Tour 2025, Imagination, NSW, VIC, QLD

Lotterywest Boorloo Heritage Festival 2026, City of Perth, WA

Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event

National Winner
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2026: The Phantom of the Opera, Opera Australia, NSW

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Brisbane 2026 – The Heroes Who Made Us – 75th Anniversary (The), The Entertainment Lab & TEG Live, QLD

Enlighten Festival 2026, ACT Government

Joondalup Festival 2026, City of Joondalup, WA

National Nominees

Vivid Sydney 2026, Destination NSW

State/Territory Winners

Now or Never 2025, City of Melbourne, VIC

Illuminate Adelaide 2025, SA

State/Territory Nominees

Women Deliver Cultural Night 2026, Ke. Creative Event, VIC

Palm Island Spring Festival 2025, Event Society, QLD

Ice Cream Factory 2025/2026 Season, Bar Pop Management, WA

Oztix Best Small Regional Event

National Winner
North Queensland Elite Rodeo 2025, QLD

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Australian Kelpie Muster (30th) and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction 2026, Casterton Kelpie Association, VIC

Milikapiti Festival 2025, Artback NT

Tamworth 2025 Interschools Horse Extravaganza, Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre, NSW

National Nominees

Palm Island Spring Festival 2025, Event Society, QLD

State/Territory Nominees

Edge of Search Conference 2025, Firewire Digital, NSW

City of Coffs Harbour Best Regional Event

National Winner
Warbirds Over Scone 2026, Paul Bennet Airshows, NSW

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Pair’d Margaret River Region 2025, Mellen Events, WA

Deni Ute Muster 2025, Deni Play On The Plains Festival, NSW

QLD Music Trails: The Outback 2026 presented by QMF, Queensland Music Festival, QLD

CommBank Tour 2025, Imagination, NSW, VIC, QLD

Best Small Event

National Winner
Iwagumi Air Scape by ENESS at Prahran Square 2025, City of Stonnington, VIC

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

Blacktown City Family Fish In 2025, Blacktown City Council, NSW

National Nominees

Florey After Dark 2026, Zesty Events, VIC

Future Proof 2026, Paramount Liquor, VIC

Polestar 5 National Launch Event 2026, Designteam, NSW

Best New Event

National Winner
Perth Multicultural Festival 2025, City of Perth, WA

National Nominees and also State/Territory Winners

FRMEFEST 2025, JT. Production Management, NSW

Florey After Dark 2026, Zesty Events, VIC

QLD Music Trails The Outback 2026: Spirit of the Bush. Lee Kernaghan Live in Longreach, Queensland Music Festival

National Nominees

CommBank Accelerate AI 2026, Imagination, NSW

Achievement Categories

Best Achievement in Design

National Winner
Artists in Motion for their work on 2025 Hong Kong Winterfest

National Nominees

Electric Canvas (The) for their work on Christmas at the Cathedral 2025

Imagination for their work on Nissan National Partner Meeting 2025

Chameleon Candle Co for their work on Sodexo Australia 2026 Excellence Awards 2026

Best Achievement in Event Marketing or Communication

National Winner
Mellen Events and We Are Gather for their work on Pair’d Margaret River Region 2025

National Nominees

Destination NSW for their work on Vivid Sydney 2026

beyond Agency for their work on Electric Island 2026

Best Technical Achievement or Innovation

National Winner
David Atkins Enterprises for their work on Al Ain Museum Reopening Ceremony 2025

National Nominees

Imagination for their work on Nissan National Partner Meeting 2025

Lup Events for work on their Conferences and Expositions 2025

AV1 for their work on Premier Financial Alliance’s International Incentive Program 2025/2026

Novatech Creative Event Technology & RWS Global for their work on FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships 2025

Best Export

National Winner
David Atkins Enterprises for their work on Al Ain Museum Reopening Ceremony 2025

National Nominees

Artists in Motion for their 2025/2026 International Achievements

Veritas Events for their work on Daikin Dealer Convention 2025

Teams, Suppliers & Agencies

Venue Team of the Year

National Winner
Australian Equine & Livestock Events Centre

National Nominees

Hoey Moey / Park Beach Hotel Motel

Zinc at Fed Square

Caterer of the Year

National Winner
Laissez-Faire Catering

Theming, Branding or Styling Company of the Year

National Winner
Sapia Creative

National Nominees

En Pointe Events

Funktionality Events & Experiences

Production Company of the Year

National Winner
AV1

National Nominees

Novatech Creative Event Technology

Hire Company of the Year

National Winner
Aggreko

National Nominees

Dec the Malls

Exhibition Services / Event Build Company of the Year

National Winner
Chopt Studio

Service Company of the Year

National Winner
Clean Vibes

National Nominees

Oztix

Event Operations Group Australia

Lüp Events

IER

In-House Event Team of the Year

National Winner
Experience Melbourne, City of Melbourne

PCO of the Year

National Winner
MCI Australia

National Nominees

ICMS Australasia

Iceberg Events

Nectar

Phoenix

Small Event Agency of the Year

National Winner
Zesty Events

National Nominees

Atelier – House of Events

Cielo House Experiential & Events

Event Society

Endure Collective

Public Event Agency of the Year

National Winner
Shift Corp (The)

Corporate Event Agency of the Year

National Winner
Imagination

National Nominees

Phoenix

On Purpose Events

Veritas Events

Event Society

Overall Awards

Australian Event of the Year

National Winner
Australian Kelpie Muster (30th) and Australia’s Premier Working Dog Auction 2026, Casterton Kelpie Association, VIC

National Nominees

Santos Tour Down Under 2026, South Australian Tourism Commission

Vivid Sydney 2026, Destination NSW

Good Friday Appeal Kids Day Out 2026, Phoenix, VIC

First Nations Therapeutic Responses Summit 2026: Creating a Space for Innovation (The), KWY Aboriginal Corporation, SA

International Astronautical Congress (76th) 2025, MCI Australia, NSW

AWS Summit Sydney 2026, Imagination, NSW

Google Cloud Summit Sydney / Warrane 2026, Sense Group, NSW

Kia Australia – Tasman Town 2025, Veritas Events, NSW

Premier Financial Alliance’s Sydney Incentive Program 2025, Laissez-Faire Catering, AV1 and Simply Seated, NSW

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2026: The Phantom of the Opera, Opera Australia, NSW

North Queensland Elite Rodeo 2025, QLD

Warbirds Over Scone 2026, Paul Bennet Airshows, NSW

Iwagumi Air Scape by ENESS at Prahran Square 2025, City of Stonnington, VIC

Perth Multicultural Festival 2025, City of Perth, WA

Event Agency of the Year

National Winner
MCI Australia

National Nominees

Experience Melbourne, City of Melbourne

Zesty Events

The Shift Corp

Imagination

Event Supplier of the Year

National Winner
Aggreko

National Nominees

Australian Equine & Livestock Events Centre

Laissez-Faire Catering

Sapia Creative

AV1

Chopt Studio

Clean Vibes

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

2026
Michael Hassett
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Previous Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

2024

Brenda LaPorte; Roslyn McLeod OAM

2023

Simon Balderstone AM

2022

Christine McLoughlin AM

2021

John Harnden AM

2020

Harvey Lister

2017

Ignatius Jones

2016

Peter Jones

2015

Ron Walker AC CBE; Meri Took

2014

John Trevillian; David Grant

2013

Di Henry AM; Sandy Hollway

2012

Mary Lopez AM; Lena Malouf CSEP AIFD; John Allen AM

2011

Peter Rix

2010

David Atkins; David Churches

Results Archive

Explore Australian Event Awards results from 2009 to 2026, including award winners, nominees and Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.

Download Results Archive (PDF)