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Australian Event Symposium 2026 Date: Tuesday 20 October – Wednesday 21 October 2026
Venue:
Aanuka Beach House, 11 Firman Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
Time: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Dress: Business
The Australian Event Symposium is held in conjunction with the Australian Event Awards to drive industry growth and development, and to ensure Australia remains on the leading edge of the events space worldwide.
The Event Symposium aims to foster unity and advancement within the events industry as well as creating networking and collaborative opportunities across all sectors of the industry. The content of the Symposium is focused on professional development for industry representatives and on delivering strong take-away value for delegates.
programWhether you’re already a leader in your field, just starting out, or somewhere in between, there is something to learn at the Symposium. From hearing about the latest trends in event tech, to discussing event security with the experts, or stimulating fresh creative thinking, the Symposium is an exercise in mind-broadening and skill-sharpening: a full day of ideas and strategies to help you – whoever you are – bring something different to your events, your process, your clients or your community.
Over 120 event professionals from every state and territory in Australia attend the Event Symposium. Delegates include staff from major Australian events, government, events organisers, universities, councils and industry suppliers. The event offers rich opportunities for connection: not only are there multiple social events ramping up towards the Event Awards ceremony, the sessions also lend themselves to making meaningful business connections through a more engaging workshop format across the board. The Exhibition also presents the opportunity to meet suppliers from all over Australia.
The Symposium aims to bring unity to our industry, which has a tendency to divide itself. The idea is that if we get everyone together in the same place at the same time – and this is particularly important in a place as geographically diverse and spread out as Australia – we can spark ideas and connections that benefit both the individuals involved and the industry as a whole. We’re talking collaborations across unexpected sections of the industry, the forging of new contacts to grow future or current projects, and maybe the creation of something new. So come along and let the magic happen. Who knows what we can achieve?
programThe content is designed to bring together a diverse group of event-makers with unique yet aligned skills, and differing approaches to work for distinct audiences, so that they may learn both from the content and from one another by considering alternative approaches to similar issues.
Over 120 people from every state and territory in Australia attend the Symposium, including professionals from major events, councils, government, venues and other industry suppliers. The Symposium is intended to embrace the entire national industry, catering to both those who deliver events and those who supply them, and aiming to connect the two groups.
The Symposium offers a valuable experience for:
Need to make a business case to your boss to attend? Use our Justification Letter – just select the options that are relevant to you, print, sign and submit!
We welcome input from the industry – if there’s a topic you’d like to see on the program, or you’d like to contribute through presentation of a session, get in touch with us: [email protected]
Penny Lion from Tourism Australia presents the closing keynote Vision Australia at the Australian Event Awards and Symposium 2017.
WineTasting Fest 2020, showcased the skills, knowledge and abilities of the first year students of Kenvale Collage, National Finalist 2021
Youngcare Simpson Desert Challenge 2016
2016 National Winner - Best Charity or Cause-Related Event
Industry legends Ignatius Jones, Lena Malouf, Peter Rix and Sandy Hollway explore how to succeed in events at the Australian Event Symposium in 2017.
TAFE Queensland took a contemporary and innovative approach to training 15,000 volunteer event staff and Games staff for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. National Winner 2018
Adelaide Ceremony, Interstate Australian Event Awards 2020