"Quality is what drives us" were the words used by talk2media CEO Matt Pearce as he addressed members of the media as AIME 2026 opened earlier today, 9th February, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibitions Centre.
Set against the backdrop of the Melbourne F1 Exhibition celebrating the Australian Grand Prix, Pearce pointed out that it was the perfect way to start the much-anticipated event.
He said: "F1 is so Melbourne, it seems to make sense to do something in here."
Pearce added that this year's AIME stands to become the biggest show it's been to date.
This is timely as, in an increasingly competitive global marketplace, AIME's continued growth reflects its ongoing relevance, as well as its ability to deliver good outcomes.
The year that was and key projections for 2026
Per research, the economic impact of AIME 2025 stands at around AU$400 million worth of business support, showing how the Australian business events sector has shifted from post-recovery mode to accelerating growth.
According to Pearce: "We've gone from $120 million immediately after COVID through to $400 million last year, and we expect that to be greater this year."
As he puts it, AIME always lookswhat's new, not what has been done.
Pearce added: "Over the last seven years since we've been running it, we've seen great growth, and I want to thank Melbourne Convention Bureau really for trusting us.
AIME 2026 is slated to welcome 766 exhibitors this year, up 13 percent from last year, including first-time participants from South Africa, the UAE, and Egypt.
Pearce declared, however, "Of course it's really the strength of the Asia Pacific that is growing the show in truth. So we've got a lot more in Asia coming through, and that makes a big difference, and you'll see that on the show floor. We have 1,500 vetted buyers attending AIME this week."
