Our new venue
We are delighted to announce that the 2026 Melbourne Pen & Stationery Show will be held at the Crown Conference Centre, Southbank.
The show will run over two days: Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 October 2026
Exhibitor registration is now open; applications will close on 30 April 2026. Public ticket sales will commence shortly thereafter.
Lessons learnt
Last year’s show was a bold step forward for us. We moved from a suburban venue to a central city location, offering improved public transport access and convenient accommodation options for interstate and international guests. Our goal was to make the show more accessible to a broader audience, and we succeeded.
Despite severe stormy weather, attendance was more than 250% of our previous 2024 record. However, with great growth comes new challenges. During peak morning periods, the venue reached capacity. Feedback indicated that some visitors found the space uncomfortably crowded and noisy, with limited room to move. Accessibility was not at the standard we aspire to, and a small number of attendees left feeling disappointed.
We listened to the feedback.
Raising the standard for 2026
Our primary focus as we plan for 2026 has been to significantly improve venue capacity, logistics, and overall visitor comfort to ensure we can accommodate attendance levels appropriately.
New venue
The Crown Conference Centre addresses many of last year’s challenges, offering:
- substantially larger floor space
- improved climate control and air conditioning
- undercover parking with wheelchair-friendly access
- professional security and crowd management
- covered queuing areas for entry
- strong mobile reception inside the venue
- reliable Wi-Fi for exhibitors
- extended morning setup time for exhibitors on day 1
Timed entry tickets
To better manage crowd flow and enhance the visitor experience, tickets will be sold in designated timed entry sessions throughout the weekend. Each session will have a capped capacity, limiting the number of attendees admitted per hour.
We understand that selecting an arrival time several months in advance may feel challenging. However, this approach allows us to prioritise comfort, safety, and accessibility for everyone. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement this important improvement.
Exhibitors
The exceptional success of the 2024 show, combined with our new venue and extended two-day schedule, reflects the dedication and hard work of everyone involved.
We have already received expressions of interest from more potential international exhibitors than last year, an exciting sign of the show’s continued growth and reputation.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.