The events industry is entering 2026 with a combination of growth ambitions and greater financial discipline. Organisations continue to invest in events, but rising costs, data security concerns, changing attendee expectations, and the need to demonstrate measurable business value are reshaping how event programmes are planned and managed.
This in-depth industry report from Cvent examines the priorities, challenges, and technology trends influencing event professionals across Australia and New Zealand. Based on independent research conducted by Censuswide with 200 senior event planners, marketers, and decision-makers from organisations with annual revenues of USD 100 million or more, the report provides insight into how the industry is preparing for 2026.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Rather than focusing only on event growth, the report explores how organisations are balancing budget accountability, attendee experience, technology adoption, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and accessibility.
You will learn:
• How event volumes and budgets are expected to change in 2026 • Why cost containment has become a leading event planning priority • How data security and information protection are shaping event management • What attendees value most when attending B2B conferences • How customer support and platform reliability influence event technology selection • Why artificial intelligence is becoming part of event planning and execution • How organisations are using AI for logistics, content, reporting, and attendee experience • Why sustainability and carbon footprint tracking are gaining importance • How event organisers are improving accessibility and inclusive experiences
The report begins by examining the overall event industry landscape. While organisations continued expanding their event programmes through 2025, the research indicates a more cautious outlook for 2026. The findings suggest that event leaders are increasingly focused on justifying investment, improving efficiency, and connecting event activity with measurable business outcomes.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
A major focus is event planning and management. Cost containment emerged as the highest planning priority, followed by factors such as brand awareness, revenue generation, attendee satisfaction, and attendance. At the same time, event data and information security was identified as the leading management challenge, highlighting the importance of protecting attendee information across in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
The report also explores the challenges of virtual events. Security failures, limited follow-up, insufficient audience engagement, technical issues, and unsuitable platforms remain important concerns. These findings underline the need for reliable technology, thorough preparation, testing, rehearsals, and effective technical support.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Attendee expectations are another important theme. Networking opportunities ranked as the leading reason for attending B2B conferences, followed by discovering new products and technologies, event content, and professional development. The findings suggest that successful conferences need to combine meaningful connections with useful content and relevant opportunities for learning and discovery.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
The report then examines event spending and budget priorities. While 96% of respondents considered event expenditure a high or essential business priority, only 63% planned to increase their event programme budgets in 2026. Investment in enhancing event experiences, event scale, and technology continues to influence spending decisions, while rising venue, travel, and accommodation costs add pressure to event budgets.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Technology selection is increasingly influenced by more than software features. Customer support, brand reliability, all-in-one platform capabilities, ease of use, features, pricing, and reporting all contribute to purchasing decisions. The report also highlights strong willingness among organisations to explore emerging event technologies, including AI-powered tools, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, and real-time translation solutions.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Artificial intelligence receives dedicated attention throughout the report. The research indicates that 78% of organisations were using AI to plan, design, manage, or market their events. Common applications include event content, logistics, reporting, and attendee experience. AI can support personalised recommendations, scheduling, resource allocation, reporting, and engagement, although security, ease of use, and confidence in AI capabilities remain barriers for some organisations.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Sustainability and accessibility are also central to the 2026 event landscape. The report examines sustainability targets, carbon footprint tracking, waste reduction, digital materials, energy-efficient technology, and lower-emission transportation. It also explores accessibility measures such as inclusive venues, accessible content, real-time captioning, sensory-friendly environments, and support for attendees with different needs.
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
Event Industry Report 2026 (Australia and New Zealand).pdf
This report is designed for event planners, marketing leaders, corporate event teams, conference organisers, technology decision-makers, venue and production professionals, and organisations responsible for planning and delivering business events across Australia and New Zealand.
Download Event Industry Report 2026: Australia and New Zealand Edition from Cvent to understand the trends shaping event planning, technology adoption, AI, sustainability, and attendee experience in 2026.
