Business Events Sydney (BESydney) has delivered a record year in 2025–26, securing 104 global and national business events that will bring 77,000 delegates and an estimated $345 million in direct expenditure to NSW.

The result builds a confirmed pipeline of 108 events through to 2030, worth an estimated $611 million in direct expenditure. Together the events will bring 144,000 delegates together in Sydney to collaborate and drive industry development.

Globally, business events are a major driver of economic growth and innovation, generating US$1.8 trillion in total GDP in 2025, a figure comparable to the global pharmaceutical industry.

Business Events Sydney CEO Amanda Lampe said Sydney was well positioned to continue growing its share of high-value global business events, particularly in the areas of technology, health and critical minerals.

“This year we helped secure a series of the world’s leading artificial intelligence and robotics conferences, reinforcing Sydney’s growing reputation as a destination for innovation and future industries,” she said.

“Governments are now recognising that business events are strategic economic infrastructure rather than tourism activity, because the returns show up in investment, skills and industry capability,” Lampe said.

In FY2025–26, 80 global and national business events secured by Business Events Sydney were held, 53,000 delegates and generating an estimated $257 million in direct expenditure for the state.

The business events sector has been identified as a key growth priority in the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, delivering high-value visitors who stay longer, spend more and create year-round demand for accommodation, venues and visitor experiences across the state.

Tourism Research Australia data shows NSW welcomed 7.8 million business event visitors in the year ending June 2026, who generated 12.9 million visitor nights and spent $6.3 billion.