A busy and enthusiastic Australian Manufacturing Week saw thousands of visitors at its Queensland debut.
Australian Manufacturing Week 2026 marked an important milestone for the industry, with the event making its highly anticipated debut in Queensland. Held from 12–14 May at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the move north was met with strong enthusiasm from across the sector and delivered an energetic, highly engaged exhibition floor from day one.
The numbers tell a compelling story. A total of 6,862 unique visitors attended AMW 2026, generating 8,145 visits across the three days. This gap between visitors and visits highlights a key trend, a significant proportion of attendees returned for multiple days to continue conversations, revisit exhibits and deepen their engagement with suppliers and technologies. It is a clear indicator of the event’s value and relevance to decision-makers and practitioners alike.
That engagement was evident across the show floor. With 232 exhibitors spread across a 15,000 sqm footprint, AMW 2026 delivered a consistently busy and active environment, supported by six dedicated product zones covering everything from additive manufacturing through to robotics, machine tools and welding solutions. Exhibitors reported strong foot traffic and high-quality discussions, underpinned by a visitor profile that skewed heavily towards senior decision-makers. More than 22 percent of attendees identified as CEOs, Directors or business owners, reinforcing AMW’s role as a forum for meaningful industry connections.
The move to Brisbane was also reflected in the visitor profile. Queensland accounted for 76 percent of visits, demonstrating strong local support, while still attracting a national audience with representation from New South Wales, Victoria and beyond. International participation included visitors from China, New Zealand, the United States and across Asia, underscoring the event’s growing global reach.
Across industries, the audience reflected the breadth of specialisation within Australia’s advanced manufacturing industry. General engineering and manufacturing led other fields in attendance, accounting for 34 percent of all visitors, followed by construction, mining and oil and gas, automotive and electronics sectors. This diversity contributed to the dynamic nature of the exhibition floor, where cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing were on full display.
Alongside the exhibition, the AMW Speakers Program added further depth to the event. Featuring 34 speakers across 24 sessions, the program attracted 1,451 attendees and provided valuable insights into emerging trends, technologies and challenges shaping the future of manufacturing.
Overall, AMW 2026 demonstrated that the appetite for innovation, investment and connection within Australian manufacturing remains strong. The successful introduction of Brisbane as a host city has broadened the event’s reach and opened new opportunities for industry engagement.
Attention now turns to the next edition of Australian Manufacturing Week, which will return to Melbourne from 11–14 May 2027. Building on the momentum established in Brisbane, AMW 2027 is set to once again bring the industry together at scale, continuing to showcase the technologies, expertise and relationships that drive Australian manufacturing forward.