Experience over extravagance: ANZ redefines event success in 2026

Event planning focus shifts to quality experiences

Rather than chasing standout moments at any cost, businesses are focusing on delivering events that run well, feel considered, and respect the time attendees invest.

Employee engagement sits at the heart of this shift. In ANZ, 65.5% of respondents cited it as the primary reason for increased spend, with internal alignment, leadership connection and capability building now driving agendas more than spectacle.

Katie Fraser, Business Leader Australia, FCM Meetings & Events, says the focus on experience is urging teams to think more broadly about how events are planned and delivered.

“Time is a precious commodity in the business world. If people are travelling, stepping away from work and investing their energy, the entire event experience needs to justify that commitment.”

Safety, security and sustainability in event planning

Safety and security still remain critical, with 74.2% of ANZ respondents rating it as the second-highest priority, slightly below the global figure of 79%.

"ANZ enters 2026 with steady demand for in-person meetings, but planning is defined by scrutiny and distance," says Fraser. "Budgets remain broadly stable, with 85.7% of organisations expecting spend to hold or increase. Yet scale is measured.

“Medium-sized events dominate global allocation at 36.6%, and that preference for manageable formats is evident across ANZ, where organisations are looking for impact without operational strain."

Corporate event spending trends in 2026

The report reveals that 34% of organisations globally now expect to manage between US$1 million and US$10 million in meetings spend in 2026, a 19-percentage point increase on the previous year.

This focus on precision and efficiency is reflected in ANZ's planning cycles as the region with the shortest average lead time globally at just 52 days between RFP and event, demonstrating both market maturity and mounting pressure to deliver quality outcomes in compressed timeframes.

Incentive travel and sustainable event practices

The emphasis on experience also extends to incentive travel programs, with ANZ businesses favouring short-haul and mid-haul destinations that balance memorable experiences with cost and travel time considerations.

Meanwhile, sustainability remains embedded in planning decisions. More than half of ANZ respondents (51.7%) often or always consider destination selection through a sustainability lens, while 100% of bookings in 2025 included requests to remove at least one item to support sustainable events, including plastic bottles, paper cups and notebooks.

"Across the region, confidence is intact," Fraser notes. "What has changed is the level of precision applied to every decision."