The Year Melbourne Said Yes to Everything

We said yes to ideas, yes to connection, yes to the moments that make this city come alive. Every week brought something new through our doors, and every event reminded us why MCEC is where Melbourne comes to meet, make and move.

Key Highlights

• The Formula 1 Exhibition made its Asia-Pacific debut at MCEC, Melbourne, becoming the eighth global host city after major cultural capitals including London and Madrid. 

• Starlight Five Chefs Dinner raised $580k+, granting 29 Starlight Wishes and rallying Melbourne’s culinary greats for good. 

• The Good Friday Appeal raised a record $23.8 million for The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, fuelled by community spirit, nearly 3,000 hot cross buns and 1,200 house-made ice creams. 

• We launched Australia’s first permanent Accessibility Advisory Committee for a convention venue, led by experts with lived experience. 

• We earned Bronze at the Australian Tourism Awards for Business Event Venue, capped by 713 events, 3.2 million visitors and $777 million in economic impact. 

• A new Changing Places facility opened funded by Victorian Government and designed by Folk Architects, pushing industry expectations for equitable access.

January 

We kicked off the year the way Melbourne does best, through taste.  Our menus spotlighted 80% Victorian produce, celebrated native ingredients, and made sustainability something you could actually savour with our With Purpose packages. Local growers, ethical makers, big flavour - that’s how we plated our city in 2025.

And just as the Aus Open wrapped up, Pickleball Fever hit MCEC.  Fast, fun, and perfect for everyone, pickleball brought together seasoned players and the simply curious, proving that great games, like great ideas, are better shared.

February

Melbourne was on full display at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) 2025. Our venue was activated from end to end, and once again, as host, we showed why Melbourne is the leader for business and incentive events in the region. Insightful talks, practical masterclasses, and deals struck on the exhibition floor proved that business events are back with ambition.

Melbourne Art Fair also returned, drawing 17,164 visitors, driving strong sales for emerging artists, and putting First Nations-led galleries where they belong, front and centre.

Our move to create a venue for everyone took another step forward with the addition of a new Changing Places facility, while an upgraded Parents Room offered families a calmer, more welcoming space to reset. Both projects were delivered in partnership with Folk Architects, creating thoughtful, inclusive spaces that put comfort and accessibility first.

March

KAGAMI arrived as part of Asia TOPA, the city-wide festival of bold ideas and boundary-pushing performance. Inside our venue, mixed-reality glasses transported audiences into Ryuichi Sakamoto’s world, where music became architecture and the line between physical and digital simply disappeared.

We proudly took Bronze for Best Business Event Venue in Australia, celebrating a year defined by real results and real impact.

Then AusFitness Expo brought the energy only Melbourne can handle, turning our venue into a living muscle machine packed with elite competitions, performance tech, athlete showcases and seriously high vibes.

April

Melbourne’s community spirit was in full flight at Kids Day Out, which lifted the Good Friday Appeal to a record $23.8 million raised for children’s care in Victoria. Nearly 3,000 hot cross buns, 1,200 house-made ice creams and a day packed with family fun helped fuel the joy.

The Banksia National Sustainability Awards celebrated innovators from across the country and our MCEC chefs served produce grown just metres away at Melbourne Skyfarm.

Oz Feline Fair and CATstravaganza closed the month with purring fanfare. Runway-worthy coats, cat cosplay, artisan markets and a TikTok-famous judge kept the crowd entertained.

July

Starlight Five Chefs Dinner reunited Melbourne’s top chefs and a community that never misses the chance to do good. More than $580,000 was raised and 29 wishes were granted for kids who needed a little extra magic this year.

August

If you thought winter in Melbourne was quiet, think again.

Animaga took over MCEC, bringing thousands of fans together for anime screenings, voice-actor panels, tabletop demos, late-night parties, ramen deals, and some of the most jaw-dropping cosplay this city has ever seen.

Meanwhile, GPCE Melbourne welcomed 1,046 healthcare professionals for hands-on education, fresh innovations, and practical insights driving better patient care across the country.

September 

Spring kicked off with big ideas and even bigger conversations.

Talking Change with Holly Ransom brought Jean Oelwang and Sharan Burrow together for a powerful discussion on climate, justice, and the shift toward more responsible leadership; leaving the room energised and ready to act.

Then Destination Victoria united 600 tourism leaders to explore what makes our state thrive. Advertising icon Russel Howcroft called for smarter segmentation and stronger storytelling, reminding everyone that collaboration is the key to unlocking Victoria’s visitor economy.

October 

We’ve always loved the gaming community at MCEC and this year, it was bigger than ever.

Melbourne International Games Week powered up the venue with GCAP for creators, the AGDAs crowning industry heroes, and PAX drawing more than 80,000 gamers for three days of pure fan celebration. Screens, cosplay, and controllers everywhere...a community united by play.

December

The Formula 1 Exhibition made its Asia-Pacific debut at MCEC, showcasing legendary race cars, cutting-edge innovation from the world’s top teams, and a Hall of Fame featuring more than 60 iconic helmets and race suits. Fans went full throttle with high-tech simulators and a brand-new gallery celebrating Australia’s motorsport story.

2025 wasn’t just packed. It was purposeful. It was creative. It was very Melbourne.

Ready to make 2026 happen? Start Planning Your Event Today