When the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers run out at the MCG for the NFL's first-ever regular season game on Australian soil, Melbourne won't just host history. It will command the global stage.
That's the energy surrounding SportNXT Melbourne 2026, a three-day summit (7–9 September) bringing the world's most influential sport executives, rights holders, investors and innovators to the city that loves sport and builds businesses around it.
Backed by the Victorian Government, SportNXT has scaled fast and with intent. Since launching in Melbourne in 2022, it has become one of the southern hemisphere's premier sport business gatherings, where global deals are explored, technology is showcased, and the future of sport takes shape. The 2026 Summit is expected to be the largest yet, with more than 1,000 attendees from over 20 countries and 80-plus globally renowned speakers.
This week's launch set the tone. More than 300 of Victoria's sport and business leaders gathered as LA Rams Head of International and Special Projects Stephanie Cheng joined senior global figures to unpack the innovations, investment trends and strategic plays redefining the industry.
If that's the warm-up, the NFL choosing Melbourne for a regular season game sends a clear message to the world. This is where global sport comes to do serious business. The September timing is designed to maximise global attendance, aligning with the NFL's historic Melbourne game and Australia's blockbuster summer of sport.
Victoria's major events calendar injects around $3.3 billion into the state's economy each year, creating a powerful pipeline of global connections, commercial opportunities and export-ready capability.
Where Victorian exporters meet the world
But the real opportunity for exporters isn't just in the stadiums. It's also in the rooms where conversations happen.
Behind every major event is a network of global decision-makers, from leagues and clubs to broadcasters, rights holders and technology companies actively looking for innovation, capability and competitive advantage. Global Victoria puts Victorian businesses in front of them.
Global Victoria's tailored business matching program connects export-ready Victorian companies directly with international buyers, partners and investors attending the summit. It's curated. It's strategic. And it delivers.
Past participants have secured high-value leads, opened new markets and built partnerships that extend well beyond the event itself.
For Victorian exporters ready to scale globally across sport, technology, infrastructure, fan engagement, media, data or major events delivery, SportNXT Melbourne 2026 is a gateway.
And the world will be watching.
