A new national event for Australia’s sports, media and marketing community has been announced, with Podium Sport Summit set to launch in Brisbane in October 2026.
Held over two days on 28-29 October 2026 at Howard Smith Wharves, Podium Sport Summit is a high-energy conference built for the people who bring sport to life, from marketers and storytellers to strategists, creators and commercial teams working across clubs, codes, leagues, media, agencies and brands.
Produced by The Content Division, the team behind Content Summit Australia, Podium Sport Summit is the next event from the creators of one of the country’s fastest-growing marketing conferences, designed specifically for the sports industry.
Across two days, Podium Sport Summit will feature global and local keynotes, industry panels, live interviews and two program tracks, alongside space for conversation, connection and collaboration. With a major decade ahead for Australian sport across fan engagement, content, commercial strategy and digital innovation, Podium is built to bring the industry together and build momentum for what’s next.
“Sport in Australia is entering a huge period of growth, and it felt like the right time to create an event that genuinely reflects the energy and creativity of the people working in it,” said Phil Swan, head of strategy at The Content Division and former head of digital at the Brisbane Lions.
“I’ve been to my fair share of sports industry events and knew there was a huge opportunity to bring the sports community together at something that’s more inclusive and, honestly, more fun.”
Podium Sport Summit is pitched at professionals working across sport and adjacent industries, including marketing, content, partnerships, ticketing, fan experience, media and broadcast, as well as agencies and brands working with sports organisations.
“Too often these events are aimed at the C-suite only,” Swan said, “making it really rare to walk away with any tangible actions. We wanted to build something for the people on the tools, actually executing the work.”
The event also offers marketers outside sport a rare opportunity to learn from an industry that consistently leads in engagement, loyalty and community building.
The first wave of speakers announced for Podium Sport Summit 2026 includes senior leaders from some of the world’s most influential sporting organisations: William Giles, managing editor for digital content, Wimbledon; Zach Gayer, director of basketball social media, Golden State Warriors; Hannah Warren, head of marketing, Netball Australia; Harrison Orchard, channel strategy lead, Cricket Australia; Ron Shell, CEO, National Pickleball League.
“We’ve got some incredible international speakers coming to Brisbane, but it was just as important for us to use Podium as a platform to showcase Australian talent and campaigns,” Swan said. “There’s world-class work happening here, and it deserves a national stage.”
“Launching this event in Brisbane just makes sense,” Swan added. “Teams and athletes here are winning everything right now, and the road ahead for the city is huge. There’s no reason Australia’s best sports industry event can’t be in Brisbane, so that’s exactly what we’re setting out to build.
“Sport sponsorship alone represents billions of dollars every year. Not only will this event appeal to those working at sports teams and codes and events, but also the brands that leverage sport to reach highly engaged audiences.”
Podium Sport Summit will take place at Howard Smith Wharves, the riverside precinct beneath Brisbane’s Story Bridge, with accommodation, dining and the city’s cultural attractions all within walking distance.
Further speaker announcements and ticket information will be released in 2026.
