Sixty events have been announced as nominees across the best event categories, which include more awards for business events than ever before.
Conferences which have made the cut include AIATSIS Summit 2025, which won both best large conference and Australian Event of the Year in 2024, the Asia Pacific Financial and Innovation Symposium 2025, AgriFutures evokeAG 2025, AWS Summit Sydney 2025, SXSW Sydney, caravaning event CPAQ Conference 2025 and CRIKEY 2025 – Critical Care Research International: Knowledge, Evidence & BeYond 2025.
Exhibitions up for a trophy include the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) 2025, going for its fourth consecutive win, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) 2025, Land Forces 2024 and the Casino Truck Show 2024.
Other business, corporate and brand event finalists include the Raine & Horne Annual Awards Night for NSW and ACT, Business Events Sydney’s Global Ambassador Dinner 2024, Cairns Crocodiles 2025, the JD Sports x adidas Climacool Underground Launch Event 2025, The Tech Briefing @ The Calyx 2025 and the Leapmotor C10 REEV Launch Event 2025.
Amongst the public event nominees are some of Australia’s largest events as well as smaller council run community events.
Nominees include the likes of Vivid Sydney 2025, Parrtjima – A Festival in Light 2025, Santos Tour Down Under 2025, Maitland Riverlights 2024, Floriade 2024, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour 2025, North Australian Festival of Arts 2024, Now or Never 2024, Pinjarra Festival 2025, Zest Fest 2024, Lakemba Nights during Ramadan 2025, Deni Ute Muster 2024, Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro 2025 and Between the Tides 2025, Queensland Music Festival.
Companies nominated in the achievement or company categories include Artists in Motion, Designteam, RWS Global, Known Associates Australia, En Pointe Events, NT Major Events Company, Novatech Creative Event Technology, EWM, ICMS Australasia, Imagination, We Are Phoenix, Tourism Australia, Stage Kings, Architects of Vibe, Oztix and Event Managers Australia.
Hotels and venues amongst the finalists include Hyatt Regency Sydney, the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas, Perth Town Hall and Zinc at Fed Square.
National winners will be announced in Coffs Harbour on October 15, as the final hurrah of the Australian Event Awards and Symposium.
The Australian Event Symposium program continues to grow, with sessions exploring trends in talent and event design for conferences, business events in regional destinations, combatting the downfall of early bird financial incentives and the rise of last minute registrations, sustainability, event regulation in local government and crisis communications.
The symposium will take place from October 13 to 15, with a full registration also including a ticket to the Australian Event Awards.
The full list of Australian Event Awards nominees can be found here, with details of Symposium sessions available here.
