With the awards now in their third year, Best Corporate Event has been added into the mix for the first time in 2026, after feedback from the industry.
Alongside this, every one of the 24 award categories now has specific eligibility and judging notes in the entry kit, while criteria for all categories has been reviewed and questions tweaked to make them more direct and focussed on outcomes and measurable results.
The final award of the program recognising an outstanding contribution by an individual has also been changed to disallow self-nominations for the category, meaning those entered into what is considered the pinnacle category must be endorsed either by an employer or an industry peer.
“We’re committed to ensuring the program remains relevant, credible and representative of the industry it serves, while continuing to celebrate the outstanding work being delivered across Australia,” said ABEA CEO, Melissa Brown.
“The Australian business events industry is home to extraordinary talent, innovation and expertise, and these awards provide an opportunity to recognise the people and organisations setting the standard for our sector.
“Recognition matters because it shines a light on the work happening behind the scenes, encourages continuous improvement and helps showcase the value our industry delivers to businesses, communities and the wider economy.”
Entries for the Australian Business Events Awards are open now until 5pm AEDT on October 20, 2026.
To be eligible, events and achievements must have taken place between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026. Those wishing to enter the awards must be a member of ABEA.
It’s currently award entry season for the business events sector across Australia and New Zealand with the Australian Event Awards currently open for entries until July 16 and The Bizzies in New Zealand open for entries until next Monday, July 6.
