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Stories and ideas

Inside, it comes down to how the venue moves and feels. 70,000 sqm of flexible space. In-house, industry-leading teams across planning, production, catering and audiovisual. And nearly 
three decades
 of knowing exactly what events need to succeed. 
Thirty Years of Getting It Right 
MCEC opened in 1996
 and has been part of Melbourne’s event landscape ever since. 
More than 20,000 events have been delivered here. Last year alone, 714 events brought 3.2 million people through the doors. That kind of volume shapes how the venue runs. Teams are experienced, spaces flex with ease, and the shift between conference, exhibition and breakout happens without friction. 
You see it in the pace of the place. Plenary turns over between sessions. Exhibition bays are rebuilt overnight. Delegates move out to the river and back again without missing a beat. 
It shows in the scale of what happens here. From global summits and international conventions to major exhibitions and cultural events, the venue supports programs that move between high-level ideas, industry conversations and public engagement in real time. 
This is a venue built on scale, experience and a clear understanding of how events actually work. 
Different Setups, Designed to Work Together
70,000 sqm of event space only matters if it works. 
Including 40,000 sqm of pillarless 
exhibition space
 one of the largest uninterrupted footprints in the Asia-Pacific, the venue supports multiple event formats running at once. 
Some events take over the entire venue, like 
PAX
, one of the largest fan events in the region. 
At the Clarendon end, a self-contained conference precinct brings together an auditorium, meeting rooms and breakout spaces. It allows organisers to run a focused program within a defined footprint. 
Across the exhibition bays, formats shift from trade shows and the Melbourne Art Fair to large-scale public events like the 
Good Friday Appeal Kids Day Out
. These spaces reconfigure efficiently between event types. 
Conference sessions, exhibitions and ancillary spaces are connected to support clear delegate flow. Movement between plenary, breakout and exhibition areas is direct and intuitive. 
A venue built to handle any event, at any scale, and make it feel considered from start to finish. 
Melbourne Doesn’t Sit Outside the Event. It Folds Into It
This is a city built around curiosity. Laneways that reward getting lost in them. Coffee that sets the standard. Restaurants people plan trips around, and plenty they stumble into by accident. 
Step out of MCEC
 and you are already in it. The Yarra River flowing alongside the building. The city skyline in view. South Wharf on your doorstep, lined with restaurants and bars. The CBD just a short walk or tram ride away. 
And Melbourne is felt inside the venue too. In our menus. In our cafés. In the events we host. In the diversity of communities that come here to connect and collaborate. 
Delegates don’t rush off at the end of the day. They stay. Conversations carry into dinner, into late nights, into the next morning. 
Melbourne has been named one of Time Out’s World’s Coolest Cities this year. What matters is how it works in practice. There is always something on. Sport, music, exhibitions, and small moments happening in unexpected places. 
That energy carries through the entire event. It keeps people engaged, connected and part of it for longer. 
Responsible by Design 
We are the first convention centre in the world to achieve a 
Green Star 6-star rating
. We are also the first convention centre operator in Australia to appoint a permanent external Accessibility Advisory Committee, bringing lived experience directly into how we plan and operate. These credentials shape how every event is delivered. 
We continue to reduce emissions, eliminate single-use plastics and strengthen our sourcing practices. Partnerships with 
OzHarvest
 and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals create measurable accountability, not just good intentions. 
Accessibility
 is designed into the experience from arrival through to participation, not managed as an afterthought. The best venue in Australia should work for everyone who attends. We build it that way from the start. 
A Love for Food 
In Melbourne, 
food is everything
. It shapes how people gather, connect and experience a place. 
At MCEC, that thinking carries through every event. 
Our chefs design dishes that reflect Melbourne’s spirit. Curious, diverse and grounded in community, with a strong commitment to sustainability. The approach is led by fresh, local produce that speaks to the region. 
Inspired by Melbourne’s multicultural heartbeat, menus bring together global flavours with local influence. Each dish feels both familiar and unexpected, shaped by the way this city eats. 
Ingredients are sourced seasonally from the Yarra Valley, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, with a clear focus on quality and provenance. 
Food and beverage
 is considered from the start, not added in later. Shared tables, live stations and thoughtful service points create natural moments to pause, connect and continue the conversation. 
How an Event Looks, Sounds and Feels
This is where leading business events come to life. 
Your AV Planner works with you from the outset, shaping how the event looks, sounds and flows. 
Audio, vision, lighting, staging and rigging
 are designed together from day one, built around the program rather than added later. 
It is an integrated, in-house approach that gives organisers greater control, stronger consistency and fewer points of failure. Each event is supported by a dedicated technical lead onsite, managing run sheets, rehearsals, cueing and system checks to ensure everything is aligned and ready before doors open. 
Lighting sets the tone. Sound carries clearly across the room. Staging is deliberate and refined. Every element supports the content, holds attention and delivers the standard expected of global events. 
Hybrid capability is built in. Sessions can be streamed, recorded and shared, extending reach without compromising the in-room experience. Speaker support and connectivity are managed as part of the overall delivery. 
This is the level of production required for events operating at scale, with complex programs and high expectations. 
It is what allows events here to meet a global standard.
Events That Leave a Mark 
The 2024 
ASEAN–Australia Special Summit
 delivered more than $500 million in new regional initiatives. The 2023 Congress of Genetics launched the National Indigenous Genomics Initiative. 
The Women Deliver Conference
 will bring more than 6,500 global leaders and policymakers through MCEC. 
These are the kinds of outcomes shaped by the environment an event is delivered in. 
Winning Gold at the 2026 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards for Best Business Event Venue in Australia reflects that. It is recognition of what is delivered here, consistently, at scale. 
This is the level of impact a leading venue makes possible. 
Planning your next event? 
Start with MCEC
 

Best Business Event Venue in Australia.  It’s a title we’ve been building towards since 1996, one iconic event at a time.

Why We Are Australia's Best Business Event Venue 

Our 
audio-visual team
 are the architects of this evolution. Armed with 30 years of experience in understanding what transforms a good event into an unforgettable one, they’ve been unleashing a series of powerful AV upgrades across our spaces, dialling up our technical capability and giving you more branding opportunities across your event. 
We’re raising the bar to set a new standard in AV across Australia. Curious to see how our latest upgrades are set to create personalised, connected and dramatic event experiences? 
40,000 Lumens of Pure Impact Projection at the Plenary 
Events at 
Plenary
 just entered a new dimension of brilliance. Say hello to one of the world’s most formidable laser projectors, engineered to make your next experience sharper, bolder and immersive. 
Whether you’re commanding the stage for a keynote, launching a game-changing product, or broadcasting a hybrid event to a global audience, your content deserves to look its best. 
These powerhouse projectors deliver crystal-clear, razor-sharp imagery across multiple, massive screens spanning 9m to 15m. The result? Vivid, jaw-dropping colour reproduction that’s flawless and uniform across the entire theatre. 
We’re excited because they offer unprecedented quality. With rich, lavish visuals, every slide, video and digital asset lands with maximum impact. No colour inconsistency or time lag – just a premium visual experience from the first row to the back. 
The tech
: Barco QDX-N4K45 – a peak brightness of ISO
 
40,000 lumens of native 4K ultra-high-definition imagery. 
Why you'll love it:
 The projectors bridge the gap between imagination and reality. Everything you’ve meticulously planned will appear exactly as you envisioned it – brighter, bolder and more alive — leaving a lasting impression on every person in the room. 
First Impressions Multiplied with LED Pillars 
Engaging with visitors begins the moment they step into MCEC. To cut through the noise, your brand needs to be front, centre and impossible to ignore. 
Seamlessly guide delegates through a high-energy exhibition floor, spotlight a key sponsor in a pre-function space, or ignite the atmosphere at a gala event with our new LED pillars. These modular, portable display systems are designed to transform any environment and deliver a flexible, high-octane visual experience. 
Fully integrated into MCEC’s sophisticated digital signage ecosystem, the pillars synchronise content across multiple screens and event spaces, so your messaging, wayfinding and sponsorship activations land simultaneously with impact. 
We love them because they pack the punch of a massive, high-quality LED wall without the heavy footprint, the cost or the setup time. They’re swift to install, effortless to reposition, and agile enough to elevate everything from intimate corporate conferences to large-scale exhibitions. 
The tech:
 DigiSigns LED Pillars — modular, foldable display systems with synchronised multi-screen playback driven by advanced PADS4 integration. 
Why you'll love them:
 LED Pillars open up a world of multi-dimensional possibilities, broadcasting dynamic, high-impact visuals that command attention and drive brand awareness. 
Australia’s Largest Draping Solution Arrives at Goldfields Event Space 
Distractions can pull the focus from the vibe you’ve worked so hard to create. And at MCEC, we want your event to make a statement. 
Our new draping solution does exactly that. It transforms MCEC’s 
Goldfields Event Space
 into a controlled, immersive black-box environments. Think clean sightlines, wall-to-wall concealment and a blank canvas where your vision can come to life. Intimate enough for an awards dinner. Dramatic enough for a theatrical spectacular. 
We’re incredibly proud of this capability because it makes MCEC the first venue in Australia to offer drapery at this staggering drop height, meaning your high-end production values won’t be compromised. 
The spec:
 Premium 11.5m drop and x 218m length black event drape for full ceiling-to-floor concealment. 
Why you'll love it:
 The drape hands you the ultimate creative reins. By stripping away visual noise, it gives you license to style, brand and manipulate the Goldfields Event Space exactly as you imagine it. 
The Masterminds Behind the New Innovations 
A transformative experience starts behind the scenes and we’re continually rewriting the script for what a world-class venue can achieve. 
But while cutting-edge tech delivers the initial wow factor, it’s our elite, in-house crew that makes the magic stick. 
From our specialised audio, lighting, vision, content and rigging teams to our AV Service Managers, we are experts at delivering unforgettable experiences from the ground up. 
Get in touch with our team
 and discover how we can help transform your next event.
 

Discover MCEC's latest audiovisual technology and see how we’re pushing the boundaries of live event experiences in Melbourne.

What's New in AV at MCEC

With almost four decades in hospitality, Dinesh’s career spans India and Australia, from leading kitchens at The Ashok Hotel Group in Delhi to delivering food for major events, cultural celebrations and sporting stages across Melbourne. He has worked across diverse settings, built lifelong relationships through food and continues to contribute to the industry as both a chef and a judge within the Australian Culinary Federation. 
That experience shapes the way he approaches every 
menu
. A strong work ethic, consistency and a deep respect for tradition and technique sit at the core of his cooking. 
Behind the Menu
 
Behind this 
menu 
is a chef grounded in tradition and driven by flavour. Drawing on the depth and diversity of Indian cuisine, Dinesh’s approach brings together time-honoured techniques with a fresh perspective, suited to shared dining experiences. 
Working with seasonal Australian produce, he pairs local ingredients with Indian spices to create dishes that feel authentic, balanced and full of flavour, often lighter, fresher and more relevant to the setting. Traditional recipes retain their soul, with techniques adapted to maintain quality and consistency. 
Bold flavours, rich tradition and a clear balance between Indian heritage and fresh local ingredients come together on every plate. 
In Conversation with Chef Dinesh Kumar
 
Can you tell us a bit about your journey into cooking? 
"Having worked in the hospitality industry for almost four decades, I have been fortunate to gain a wide range of experiences across India and Australia. It has allowed me to work in different environments, build strong relationships and continue learning throughout my career."
How would you describe your approach to Indian cuisine? 
"I focus on staying true to traditional flavours while presenting them in a way that feels relevant today. It is about respecting technique, spice balance and allowing the ingredients to speak."
How do you adapt traditional recipes for a large-scale dining experience? 
"Traditional dishes should retain their soul, even when prepared in high volumes. That means keeping the original flavours and methods, while adapting techniques to maintain quality and consistency."
What role do local Australian ingredients play in this 
menu
? 
"Local ingredients help elevate the flavours, making the dishes lighter, fresher and more relevant, while still staying true to the essence of Indian cuisine."
What do you want guests to notice when they try your food? 
"I want guests to experience the balance in the dishes and how the flavours come together."
If guests remember one thing about this menu, what do you hope it is? 
"I hope they remember the balance, where Indian flavours meet fresh local ingredients in a way that feels both authentic and new."
For our 
2026 Indian Event Experiences
, that thinking goes beyond the plate. Dinesh’s menus are shaped around how people gather, from cultural celebrations to gala dinners and shared feasts. 
It is food that brings people together. Generous, flavour-led and made to be shared, creating a sense of occasion that guests remember long after the event ends. 
Big flavours. Shared tables. Let’s make it yours. 
Explore our indian menus today
 

Melbourne is a city built on big flavours, shared tables and a mix of cultures that show up on every plate.

Meet Chef Dinesh Kumar

Fast Facts 
A snapshot of scale, energy and impact. Here’s what came together on the ground. 
1,536 delegates 
144 speakers 
116 exhibitors 
104 sessions 
3,100 Australian-grown and roasted coffees served 
40 startups and 11 scaleups showcased 
6 stages, breakout spaces and demonstration areas 
All catering featured 100% Australian-grown and produced ingredients 
Bringing the Agrifood Ecosystem Together 
Built to go beyond conversation, the yearly event is designed to translate ideas into action. Across two days, it connected founders, investors and industry, bridging research and real-world application to drive meaningful progress. 
Operating at the intersection of agriculture, technology, investment and policy, evokeAG accelerates innovation and supports its translation into tangible outcomes. In a rapidly changing global landscape, the focus remains on practical solutions, real-world application and measurable impact. 
Turning Theme Into Action 
Invest. Innovate. Impact. was the central theme and guiding mission of evokeAG 2026, shaping every part of the experience. 
This annual event is where founders meet funders, research meets adoption and ideas progress into real-world solutions. Investment came through direct connections between startups, scaleups and investors. Innovation was visible across emerging technologies, from AI-led solutions to sustainable farming practices. Impact remained constant, grounding every conversation in what happens next and what it takes to move ideas forward. 
The focus remained firmly on practical outcomes and real-world application, ensuring ideas didn’t stay contained to the event, but moved into conversation, collaboration and action outside of the conference. 
Designed for Connection 
From the outset, evokeAG 2026 was designed to bring people together in a way that felt active, not passive.
Delivered across six stages, including the Elders Plenary, breakout sessions, roundtables and demonstration formats, each space played a distinct role. Ideas moved from keynote sessions into smaller discussions, giving delegates the chance to explore, question and apply what they were hearing. 
The Elders Plenary set the broader context, with sessions such as 
Tough questions: You ask, they answer and Sustainability by injection - 
Weight loss drugs and the future of food bringing complex challenges into focus. From there, workshops and interactive sessions created space for deeper engagement. This balance between strategic insight and practical discussion ensured delegates could connect with both the content and each other. 
On the exhibition floor, Startup Alley introduced 40 startups and 11 scaleups through short-format demonstrations. These sessions gave delegates direct access to emerging ideas and the people behind them, creating clear pathways between innovation and investment. 
In breakout areas, conversations shifted into real-world applications. Sessions such as 
Innovation uncut - Agritech wins, fails, and the lessons learned and Radical transparency - 
Rewiring the agrifood supply chain unpacked both opportunity and challenge, giving delegates practical insight into what it takes to move ideas forward. 
Three core themes guided the program: Innovation and Future Technology, Environment and Sustainability, and Systems and Policy. Together, they offered a connected view of the agrifood landscape, reflecting how these areas intersect and influence one another. 
What sets evokeAG apart is the mix of perspectives in the room. Government, producers, researchers, investors, startups and global delegates all contribute to a shared conversation, creating an environment where ideas can be tested, refined and progressed. 
A Venue Built for Global Ideas 
As MCEC 
celebrates 30 years
 of bringing industry-leading events to Melbourne, evokeAG 2026 reflects what the venue is designed to do. 
Events like evokeAG require more than space. They need the scale, flexibility and expertise to support complex programs, multiple formats and high-value connections. From plenary sessions through to Startup Alley and demonstration spaces, MCEC provided the infrastructure to deliver the event seamlessly and at scale. 
Victoria’s agricultural capability, combined with leading research institutions and a growing innovation landscape, added further depth to the event. Supported by MCEC’s experienced delivery teams, evokeAG 2026 was able to bring together global perspectives and turn them into practical outcomes. 
This is what MCEC has built its reputation on over three decades. 
Seamless by Design, Delivered at MCEC 
What does it take to keep thousands of delegates connected, engaged and moving across a multi-day global event? 
For evokeAG 2026, it started with a venue designed to make that feel effortless. 
MCEC’s scale and flexibility enabled a purposeful event footprint, supported by clear signage, consistent branding and dedicated wayfinding staff. Delegates moved easily between the Elders Plenary, breakout sessions, exhibition spaces and Startup Alley, creating continuous opportunities for interaction and connection. 
The experience extended beyond the venue. Nearby locations including Pan Pacific Melbourne, ZINC and Afloat were integrated into the program, allowing conversations to continue across networking events and social moments. 
Food and beverage played a key role in reinforcing the event’s purpose. Menus featured Australian-grown ingredients and were designed to reflect the people, regions and systems behind the agrifood sector. Local sourcing and seasonality guided the approach, with ingredients such as Australian chicken, honey, rice, ginger and hazelnuts featured throughout. The
 Hour of Power 
networking event highlighted a curated Victorian drinks offering, connecting delegates to the region in a tangible way. 
In partnership with MCEC, the event incorporated circular food systems, energy efficiency, food waste diversion and water reuse, alongside practical measures such as reusable signage, compostable coffee cups and the removal of single-use plastics. These initiatives aligned with the themes of the program and demonstrated sustainability in action. 
Accessibility and inclusion were also prioritised. Complimentary onsite childcare supported attendance for parents and carers, while travel and accommodation partnerships improved access for interstate and international delegates. A dedicated event app enhanced the experience further, supporting navigation, networking and personalised scheduling. 
Together, these elements delivered a seamless, well-connected experience, enabling evokeAG 2026 to operate at scale while remaining highly considered in every detail. 
Impact Beyond the Event 
Success was measured by outcomes beyond attendance. It was reflected in the strength of connections formed, the collaborations established and the ideas that moved into investment and industry adoption. evokeAG 2026 delivered a highly engaged community actively shaping the future of agriculture. 
By bringing together producers, researchers, investors and innovators, the event strengthens pathways to commercialisation and reinforces Australia’s leadership in agrifood innovation across the Asia Pacific. 
Explore what your event could become at MCEC
 

In February 2026, the agrifood sector came together in Melbourne with a shared focus: turning innovation into real-world impact.

evokeAG 2026: A Global Agrifood Event

Melbourne Was Ready for Something Big 
Long before Jeff’s Shed became a nickname, before Plenary lit up the skyline and before millions of delegates passed through the doors, there was a simple ambition. 
Create a place where the world would want to meet. 
It started with the biggest welcome possible. 
In 1990
, years before the name MCEC existed, the 
World Congress Centre Melbourne
 opened on Spencer Street as the city’s first purpose-built international convention facility. 
For the first time, 
Melbourne
had a venue designed specifically for large-scale global meetings, not adapted from theatres or exhibition halls. It signalled confidence and intent. The city was positioning itself as a serious player in the international business events arena. 
What followed would reshape the riverfront and redefine Melbourne as a meeting place for the world. 
Our Grand Opening 
On 
14 February 1996
 (yes, Valentine’s Day), 
Melbourne Exhibition Centre
opened with Victoria on Show, the largest free exhibition ever held in the state. 
For ten days, Victorians explored everything from regional produce and tourism to technology, arts and industry under one enormous roof. The event transformed the 
brand-new building
 into a living snapshot of the state itself, showcasing innovation, culture and community in equal measure. 
It was a deliberate gesture, a venue for 
global conferences
but also somewhere the community could call its own. 
Impossible To Miss 
The Exhibition Centre, designed by 
Denton Corker Marshall
, is impossible to miss. 
A sweeping aircraft-wing roof stretches along the river, held up by a forest of bright yellow columns, while a dramatic tilted blade marks the main entrance like a giant exclamation point on the skyline. 
Inside, the scale is just as bold. Vast, largely pillarless spaces can be reconfigured for anything from global expos to sold-out concerts. This was never meant to be a background building. It was built for crowds, spectacles and big ideas. 
Designer 
Garry Emery 
created giant hall numbers, colour-coded zones and custom typography, scaled for a building of this size and presence. The graphics are not decoration. They are embedded into the identity of the space, adding rhythm, contrast and a sense of character at every turn. 
The result is a space that invites creative takeover, artistic exploration and big ideas, all set against Melbourne’s ever-moving cityscape. 
Pop Culture Arrived Early 
Long before 
Comic-Con
culture went global, Aussiecon Three brought the prestigious World Science Fiction Convention to Melbourne 
in 1999
. 
Worldcon is one of the most influential gatherings in speculative fiction and the home of the Hugo Awards. For one week, writers, artists, publishers, scientists and fans from around the world filled the venue to debate the future of technology, storytelling and imagination. 
Years before cosplay became mainstream, Melbourne was already hosting one of the world’s biggest celebrations of creative fandom. 
We Helped Bring the World to Melbourne 
Launched in 2005
 as the Club Melbourne Ambassador Program, now the 
Victorian Ambassador Network
, this initiative taps into Victoria’s greatest asset: its people. 
More than 80 ambassadors from fields including medicine, science, engineering, business and technology use their global standing to attract major international conferences to the state. Backed by the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the Victorian Government, they advocate for Victoria as a destination for ideas, innovation and collaboration. 
Their work has helped secure more than 
150 global events
 worth over $1 billion in economic benefit, including landmark gatherings such as the World AIDS Conference and the World Congress of Cardiology. 
Quietly influential. Unmistakably Melbourne. 
Setting A Global Benchmark 
When Melbourne Convention Centre opened 
in 2009,
 it became the world’s first 6-Star Green Star convention centre. The project later received the Australian Construction Achievement Award for excellence in delivering one of Victoria’s most significant infrastructure projects. 
That same year, the name finally settled into place: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Or simply, MCEC. 
Moments That Changed Lives 
In 2013
, Sir David Attenborough took to the stage with A Life on Earth, holding thousands in rapt attention with nothing more than a voice and a lifetime of stories. 
In 2014
, 14,000 delegates gathered for the International AIDS Conference, resulting in the Melbourne Declaration and renewed global momentum to end AIDS. 
That same year, MCEC became the home of the Royal Children’s Hospital 
Good Friday Appeal’s Kids Day Out
, a partnership that has grown into one of the most joyful and generous days on Melbourne’s calendar. 
Gaming History Was Made Here 
PAX Australia
debuted at MCEC 
in 2014
, bringing the world-renowned Penny Arcade Expo to the Southern Hemisphere for the first time. 
It has been held here every year since, except for pandemic disruptions, and has grown into one of the largest gaming events in the Southern Hemisphere. Tens of thousands of fans attend annually, transforming the venue into a four-day celebration of video games, tabletop gaming, esports, cosplay and digital culture. 
Did You Know Our Food Is Award-Winning And Purpose-Driven? 
Our food wins medals, too. 
In 2017
, MCEC’s chefs took home multiple gold and silver medals at the Australian Food Awards for house-made yoghurt, ice cream and sorbet produced on site. 
But the story goes far beyond trophies. Each year, the culinary team designs 
menus
showcasing seasonal Victorian produce sourced from local farmers, makers and suppliers, bringing the flavours of Melbourne and regional Victoria directly to the plate. 
Through a long-standing partnership with 
OzHarvest
, surplus food is rescued and redistributed to charities supporting people in need across the community, reducing waste while creating meaningful social impact. 
A Million Visitors in One Year 
In 2019
 alone, MCEC delivered more than 
1,297 events
 and welcomed over one million delegates. That is a lot of name badges, coffees and conversations. 
Culture Evolving 
In 2021
, THE LUME Melbourne flicked the switch on a new kind of cultural moment. Immersive digital art, floor to ceiling, sound to skyline. The first of its scale in Australia. Hundreds of thousands moved through our doors. 
Then 
in 2023
, during Melbourne Fashion Week, the 
First Nations-led Ganbu Marra runway
reimagined the space again. Country, design and contemporary storytelling moved through light and projection, turning spectacle into statement. 
Global Conversations Continue 
From the Congress of Genetics 
in 2023
, including the launch of ALIGN, the National Indigenous Genomics initiative, to hosting the 
ASEAN–Australia Special Summit
in 2024 and welcoming more than 
11,000 delegates
 for the Lions International Convention, MCEC continues to be where global conversations land. 
Recognition, Thirty Years In 
This year, we were named 
Australia’s Best Business Event Venue
 at the 
2026 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards
, MCEC continues to set the standard. Three decades in, we’re still pushing it higher.
And We’re Not Done 
In 
April 2026
, the global spotlight turns to Melbourne as the 
Women Deliver 2026 Conference
arrives at MCEC. More than 6,500 advocates, policymakers, First Nations leaders and young changemakers will gather in Narrm to shape the next decade of gender equality. 
For four days, our venue becomes a working hub for feminist strategy, solidarity and action. Conversations held here will influence policy, funding and movements far beyond the room. 
We’ve Had A Few Names Over the Years 
Jeff’s Shed. 
The Exhibition Centre. 
The Convention Centre. 
MCEC. 
Call it what you like. Melbourne keeps meeting here. 
Thirty years in, we are still about forward-thinking ideas, shifting industries and creating moments that stay with you long after the lights go down. 
And if you have been here once? 
Chances are, you will be back again.
 

You’ve probably been here before. For a conference. A concert. A gala. A fundraiser. A trade show. Maybe a gaming convention.

Did You Know? A Not-So-Quiet History of MCEC

Kid-Sized Adventures 
From the moment doors open at 10am, MCEC fills with carnival rides, colourful performances, craft tables, sports zones and thousands of kids discovering something new around every corner. 
For one full day, our venue becomes a world built entirely for curious little minds. 
It’s loud, chaotic and full of laughter. And every ride, snack and activity helps raise funds for the life-changing work supported by the 
Good Friday Appeal.
 
So, What Can You Expect? 
The world’s largest Teddy Bear Hospital returns, where young doctors can bring their favourite plush patient in for a check-up. It’s adorable, a little chaotic and always one of the most popular stops of the day. 
Always fun carnival rides spin, whirl and flash across the exhibition bays, ready for brave riders looking for a thrill.
Kid-friendly live entertainment that will have everyone clapping, dancing and joining in. 
New for 2026, the Bunnings Sports Zone brings a giant mix of inclusive and playful sports activities, giving kids the chance to try something new and burn off some serious energy. 
Creative arts and crafts stations invite kids to paint, build and design their own masterpieces to take home. 
One of the most exciting stops for curious kids: real-life emergency vehicles and the chance to meet the everyday heroes who keep our community safe. 
AND DRUM ROLL... 
Don’t Miss the Hot Cross Bun Bake That Stops Melbourne 
Then there is the moment everyone talks about. Each year, MCEC’s pastry chefs attempt something a little ridiculous in the name of Easter baking. 
In 2025, the team unveiled 20 metres of hot cross buns. All 3,000 buns sold out in just 3.5 hours. 
Melbourne’s response was simple. Make it bigger. 
So, in 2026, the team is doubling the bake. 
This year MCEC chefs are creating 40 metres of hot cross buns, producing 6,000 buns ready for Kids Day Out. 
Behind the scenes, it is a serious operation. 
Preparation begins 48 hours before the event, with 12 pastry chefs mixing, shaping and proofing thousands of buns. 
The dough alone weighs half a tonne, made using: 
500kg of spiced chocolate dough 
90kg of chocolate chips, around 180,000 chips 
220kg of flour 
500 eggs 
Then at 10pm on Good Friday Eve, the ovens switch on inside the MCEC kitchens, baking through the night so the buns are perfectly warm when the doors open at 10am. 
If last year’s queues are anything to go by, arriving early is a very good idea. 
Why It Matters 
Kids Day Out might feel like pure fun on the surface, but it’s part of something much bigger. 
Entry to the event is completely free, but activities throughout the day help raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal, supporting life-saving research, equipment and care for children and families across Victoria. 
Since 2014, MCEC has proudly hosted the event, helping create a place where the Melbourne community can come together for a cause that touches almost every family in some way. 
Bring the family and be part of a Melbourne tradition that brings the whole city together. 


Plan Your Kids Day Out
 

Every Good Friday, Melbourne families know exactly where they’re heading. MCEC becomes the city’s biggest playground for Kids Day Out.

Kids Day Out Returns to MCEC

On 
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March
 at 7.30pm, Mel Robbins: 
Let Them Tour 2026
 lands at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, presented by TEG Dainty. It marks the first time her Let Them Tour has come to Australia and New Zealand, bringing the podcast voice and viral philosophy into a live arena setting. 
If you have been anywhere near the internet this year, you already know the phrase. Let them doubt you. Let them misunderstand you. Let them overanalyse the message, unfollow, project. The idea is deceptively simple. Stop managing everyone else’s reactions and redirect that energy somewhere more useful. 
Robbins has built a global following by translating psychology into something accessible. The 5 Second Rule. The blunt pep talk. The reframing that feels obvious once you hear it. On stage, that thinking comes faster. There is research woven through it, along with stories that stretch beyond the podcast edit. Some funny. Some a little too familiar. 
Expect connection. Expect breakthroughs. Expect stories and insights you have not heard before. The mood in the room tends to evolve across the two hours, from laughter to recognition to something quieter and more considered. 
By the end of the night, the phrase 
let them
 starts to feel less like a slogan and more like a practical boundary. 
Bring your best friend and debrief over a late dinner afterwards. 
Take your partner and compare notes. 
Book seats for the colleague who keeps second-guessing themselves. 
Or go solo and sit in the scale of it. 
Tickets are on sale now.
 
Secure yours before they sell out and see what the room makes of it. 

On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March at 7.30pm, Mel Robbins: Let Them Tour 2026 lands at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, presented by TEG Dainty.

Mel Robbins Brings Let Them Tour to Melbourne

Change Calls Us Here
 
The groundbreaking event will bring together more than 6,500 advocates. Grassroots organisers, policymakers, First Nations leaders, youth activists and philanthropic funders, alongside former Prime Ministers including Julia Gillard, Jacinda Ardern and Helen Clark. 
If you are asking these questions... You need to be in the room
 
Where is gender equality actually heading right now? 
Who is setting the agenda for the next decade? 
How do movements stay united in a fragmented global landscape? 
The Launch of the Feminist Playbook
 
At the centre of 
WD2026
 is the launch of the global Feminist Playbook, a bold, collective roadmap for where gender equality goes next. 
Over the past year, feminist leaders, youth organisers and movement builders have gathered across Mexico, Nairobi, Beirut, Bogotá, Paris, Kathmandu and Geneva, alongside global forums including the United Nations General Assembly, COP and CSW, asking the hard questions. How do we respond to rising authoritarianism? How do we dismantle colonial power structures that still shape global systems? How do we fund movements in ways that genuinely shift power? 
The Playbook brings those conversations together into one shared direction, grounded in solidarity, accountability and intersectional justice, and backed by real pledges and measurable action. 
When it launches at MCEC, it will not feel like a document release. It will feel like a line in the sand. A moment where shared vision turns into shared responsibility, and the room commits to what happens next. 
What Else to Expect 
More than 6,500 delegates moving through MCEC across four days of keynotes, strategy sessions and unscripted conversations that carry just as much weight as the plenaries. 
Ministers and UN leaders sitting beside youth organisers. Funders in real dialogue with First Nations advocates. Global south perspectives shaping the centre, not the margins. 
Speakers who have defined global agendas and are still influencing what comes next. 
Sessions where climate justice, economic power and human rights are treated as interconnected strategies, not separate conversations. 
Youth Zones embedded in the core program, with young leaders driving discussion and challenging decision-makers in real time. 
Why It Works So Well Here
 
For three decades, our venue has been where Melbourne meets the world. 
We’ve hosted global health congresses that have influenced policy, international summits that have shaped diplomatic direction, and industry gatherings that have redefined entire sectors. The impact of these events has always extended far beyond the room. 
Women Deliver 2026
 will continue that legacy. 
Come to listen and leave part of a global movement shaping what comes next in policy, practice and power. 
Register Today
 

From 27–30 April 2026, the Women Deliver Conference arrives at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, regionally hosted for the first time by the Oceanic Pacific and held in Narrm.