Melbourne is set to host the world's leading data centre and artificial intelligence tech summit for the first time in Australia - thanks to support from the Allan Labor Government.
The summit will be held in September and is expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees, providing a boost to the state's visitor economy of up to $4 million. It will showcase the spectrum of technology transformations shaping the future of business innovation and advancement.
The two co-located events, Data Center World and The AI Summit, will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre - joining Informa Connect's prestigious global series held in the USA, the UK and Asia.
The bid was secured for Melbourne by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR), with support from Business Events Australia.
Melbourne is home to the largest cluster of AI firms in Australia, with 40 data centres across the state.
The Labor Government is investing in jobs and skills to support this rapid growing sector as part of its Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan, leveraging the state's critical assets to unlock projects in the pipeline worth up to $25 billion in potential capital expenditure.
The announcement follows other major technology and innovation events secured for Melbourne attracting thousands of attendees, including the International Conference on Neural Information Processing (ICONIP) in 2026.
For more information on Victoria's upcoming major conferences, visit melbournecb.com.au.
As stated by Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos
"This is a major vote of confidence in Victoria's thriving tech ecosystem and a powerful boost to local businesses and jobs."
"These events bring world-class experts from across the globe and inject vital economic activity into our hotels, cafes, restaurants and venues."
As stated by Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson
"Hosting this conference in Victoria is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our state as a global leader in tech and innovation."
"Victoria is leading the way in digital transformation and hosting a conference focused on data centres and artificial intelligence will accelerate growth across these critical sectors."
As stated by Melbourne Convention Bureau Chief Executive Julia Swanson
"Melbourne is recognised worldwide as a hub for innovation and technology, and hosting this conference reinforces that leadership."
"By convening experts in data centres and AI, we're showcasing Victoria's cutting-edge capabilities and creating opportunities for collaboration that will shape the future of digital infrastructure."
"This event positions Melbourne as the go-to destination for tech-driven growth and global partnerships."
As stated by Informa Connect President, Tech Events, Marco Pardi
"Expanding Data Center World and The AI Summit Series to Melbourne underscores the growing role these event platforms play in powering the global economy."
"Our goal is to convene a connected, global community of technology innovators and enterprise leaders to advance learning, collaboration and the next chapter of AI- and data-driven transformation."
As stated by Data Centres Australia Chief Executive Officer, Belinda Dennett
"Data Centres Australia welcomes the announcement today. Having a globally recognised conference for our industry here in Melbourne really puts Victoria on the map to be a leading market for artificial intelligence infrastructure and we commend the Allan Government for backing their intention with action."
