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Expertise matters at AIME 2026
WHETHER YOU ATTEND KNOWLEDGE MONDAY OR SPEND TWO DAYS ON THE SHOW FLOOR, THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT AIME 2026.
T he Asia Pacific Incentives
and Meetings Event( AIME) will return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre( MCEC) from Monday, 9 to Wednesday, 11 February 2026. Thousands of business meetings and incentives professionals from across the globe will come together to connect, learn and do business in Melbourne.
AIME 2026 will be the biggest show yet delivered by event director Silke Calder and the team at Talk2 Media and Events. The show will include more than 700 exhibitors, 700 hosted buyers and over 20,000 pre-scheduled appointments.
Calder says the scale of AIME 2026 reflects the strength and momentum of the global business events sector.“ We are creating the biggest show yet delivered by our team, and that growth is driven by a community that recognises the importance of coming together. AIME continues to be a catalyst for connection, ideas and longterm partnerships.”
This focus on connection sits at the heart of AIME’ s opening Knowledge Monday program. The full day of keynotes and discussions will set the tone for three days of collaboration, networking, and insights, exploring the theme‘ Expertise Matters!’
Curated by Talk2 Media in collaboration with BEAMexperience founder El Kwang, the Knowledge Monday program brings together global thought leaders to explore how expertise drives business outcomes.
The program was developed in collaboration with the Knowledge
Monday Advisory Committee, comprising eight leaders from across the Asia-Pacific business events industry.
More than 1,500 event professionals are expected to attend Knowledge Monday, which will feature three keynote speakers who examine the art and science of expertise from their unique perspectives.
Performance and leadership coach Dan Haesler will draw on his work with elite performers and global organisations
Above: AIME Event Director Silke Calder
to explore how mindset, preparation and professional behaviour shape authentic engagement.
Behavioural scientist and futurist Milo Wilkinson will offer a researchdriven understanding of decisionmaking, attention and trust, highlighting the subconscious processes that influence how people interpret information and connect with ideas.
Entrepreneur Kristina Karlsson, known for building and rebuilding globally recognised brands, will share experiences that demonstrate how resilience, reinvention and personal clarity underpin long-term capability.
Attendees can choose from 22 breakout sessions covering a full spectrum of contemporary industry priorities, including navigating AIenhanced environments, designing for authentic human engagement, elevating leadership effectiveness, and creating legacy-driven event strategies.
The AIME 2026 Knowledge Monday program brings together AIME Hosted Buyers and Exhibitors, while Visitor Buyers can upgrade their tickets to attend.
On 10 and 11 February, ideas and business will continue to flow across the show floor, where pre-scheduled appointments, networking opportunities and experiential showcases from across the global events sector create space for commercial outcomes and new partnerships.
The Ideas Academy, presented by Spice, will return as a dynamic space for fast, thought-provoking discussions throughout the event.
Calder says AIME continues to evolve in ways that support meaningful business and human connection.
“ AIME 2026 is where ideas meet opportunity. Whether you attend Knowledge Monday or spend two days on the show floor, the aim is the same. We create the space for people to connect, learn and achieve commercial outcomes that shape the year ahead.” n
ISSUE 140 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 45