SportNXT is set to return to Melbourne from 7-9 September 2026, backed by the continued support of the Victorian Government.
Taking place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for the first time, SportNXT 2026 will deliver access to voices across global sport and business. Across three days, delegates will hear from world‑class speakers, experience a dedicated program of Main Stage and stream content, and take part in curated VIP site visits showcasing Melbourne’s world‑leading sports infrastructure.
Minister for Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said that he’s excited to once again bring the leaders in the business of sport to Victoria.
“As the sporting capital of Australia, there’s no better place to hold such an influential sports event, giving a boost to local businesses in the lead up to our historic first-ever NFL regular season match. SportNXT positions Victoria as a leader in sports business and major events, and showcases our state-of-the-art venues, which welcome hundreds of thousands of sports fans, and the very best athletes every year,” he said.
“As SportNXT has grown, we’ve listened closely to the industry about when and where the big conversations need to happen,” said SportNXT co-founder Eddie McGuire. “By shifting the Summit into September, right in the sweet spot between the winter and summer codes, on the eve of the AFL finals and alongside the historic NFL Melbourne game, we’re creating a moment where the world’s decision‑makers can be in the same room.”
“Melbourne is one of the world’s great sporting destinations and we look forward to assembling the most credentialled leaders in our industry here. SportNXT is where you come to do business, tackle the major issues, and explore what innovations will shape sport over the next decade,” added Bart Campbell, SportNXT co-founder.
Speaker line‑up
Peter O’Reilly: Executive Vice President, Club Business, International & League Events, National Football League
Kevin Demoff: President of Team & Media Operations, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Jennifer Prince: Chief Commercial Officer, Los Angeles Rams
Kathryn Kai-ling Frederick: Chief Marketing Officer, Los Angeles Rams
Stephanie Rogers: Chief Marketing Officer, San Francisco 49ers
Craig Drummond: Chairman, AFL
Jason Gannon: President, Chelsea FC
Joe Tomek: VP and Executive Director, Presidents Cup 2028
Todd Greenberg: Chief Executive Officer, Cricket Australia
Content themes
The growing list of global leaders joining in Melbourne will unpack the state of world sport, new commercial and revenue models, the evolution of the fan experience, the rise of streaming, and how brand, technology, and AI are reshaping the way sport connects with fans.
The 2026 program will explore the issues that will define the next decade of global sport, including: keynote sessions with global and domestic leaders; state of sport and emerging macro trends; trends in capital investment in sport across different investment groups; technology and an AI‑centred look at performance, operations and content; global impacts and how the on-field product is adapting to a changing environment, competition, technology and fan bases; big brands and sport and how the rules are changing; women’s sport – from momentum to maturity; examining the challenges and opportunities of the future of sports streaming; the continued emergence of regions such as the Middle East and India; and mega-events – what does the next era of major events look like?
Breakout streams will focus on commercial and revenue, fan engagement, AI, and brands and marketing.
Further details on SportNXT 2026, including the full program and additional speaker announcements, will be released in the coming months.
