ARBS 2026 has closed its doors at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre following three days that drew record attendance and set a new benchmark for the biennial event.

A total of 10,200 attendees made this the largest ARBS in the exhibition’s history, with more than 300 exhibitors filling a 19,000m² show floor – the largest exhibitor footprint the event has ever seen that showcased the latest products, technologies and innovations in air conditioning, refrigeration and building services.

The exhibition was officially opened by Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece, with a visit from The Hon. Andrew Giles, Minister for Training and Skills, reflecting the event's growing profile across government and industry.

ARBS 2026 delivered the most comprehensive education program in the event's history, with over 100 seminars and product demonstrations attracting 7,000 session registrations, and more than 140 speakers drawn from industry, research, government and the global built environment community. Sessions spanned the full breadth of the sector, from refrigerant transitions and heat pump technology to smart buildings, decarbonisation and workforce development.

Amanda Searle, ARBS CEO says: “ARBS 2026 has exceeded every expectation. The energy across the three days was high, from the show floor to the seminar rooms to the networking events and the record attendance speaks to just how strong and connected this industry is. We’re incredibly proud of what the team and the industry have built together and deeply grateful to every exhibitor, speaker, partner and attendee who made this gathering so successful.”

The event brought together professionals from across HVAC&R, mechanical services, building automation and allied sectors, with visitors travelling from across Australia and internationally. The IBTech Pavilion, International Pavilion and Education Pavilion each drew strong engagement throughout the three days.

Among the program highlights was the Women Igniting Change event, co-delivered with FPA Australia, which featured inspirational speakers including Governor General Samantha Mostyn, Dr Bronwyn King, Pam Rogers, Melinda Davis, Michael Morgan and Debbie Lee. The inaugural Future Leaders Forum also made its debut, featuring a thought-provoking panel discussion by industry leaders alongside the presentation of the Future Leader Award winners.

Prof. Tony Arnel, ARBS Chair says: “ARBS exists to serve this industry and events like this remind us of the extraordinary depth of talent, innovation and dedication within it. Record attendance is a wonderful outcome, but what matters most is the connections made, the knowledge shared and the sense of community that ARBS brings together every two years.”

Awards Program

The ARBS Industry Excellence Awards Gala Dinner was held at Zinc, Federation Square on the evening of 6 May, hosted by Myf Warhurst. Seven awards were presented across product innovation, project delivery and education, alongside the induction of six outstanding individuals into the ARBS Hall of Fame. The 2026 program received a record number of submissions, reflecting the breadth and strength of work being done across the sector.

The ARBS Future Leader Awards, supported by the ARBS Foundation, were presented on 7 May and recognised exceptional emerging talent across three categories, with $25,000 in scholarships awarded to five winners to support their professional development, education and research pursuits.

Future Leader Award Winners

Young Achiever Award: Finn Veeneklaas, WSP

HVAC&R Tradesperson Award: Adam Morgan, Clements Airconditioning Refrigeration and Electrical and Jaimee Van Leerdam, D&E Air Conditioning

Outstanding Female in Industry Award: Deepika Naicker, Actron Air and Manasa Marasani, GWA Consultants

Industry Excellence Award Winners

Education & Training Excellence Award: Precise Air Aboriginal Pathways (PAAP) Program, Precise Air Group

HVAC Product Excellence Award: ECU45DV Dual-Voltage Environmental Control Unit, Cold Logic

IBTech Product Excellence Award: Refrigerant Leak Detection Solution, Bueno Analytics

IBTech Project Excellence Award: 123 Albert Street, Brisbane QLD, VAE Group

Major Project Excellence Award: Sydney Metro Martin Place, NSW, A.G. Coombs Group

Minor Project Excellence Award: Eastland Shopping Centre Stage 1 Chiller Replacement, VIC, Airmaster

Refrigeration Product Excellence Award: Panasonic Transcritical CO₂ (TCO2) Outdoor Condensing Unit, Hussmann Australia

ARBS Hall of Fame – 2026 Inductees

AIRAH: Bryon Price

AMCA: David Eynon

AREMA: Robert Beggs

ARWA: Paul Campbell

CIBSE: Steve Hennessy

RACCA: Paul Wright

Looking ahead

The next major ARBS exhibition will be held in Sydney in 2028. In the meantime, the industry’s attention turns to ARBSQLD, the boutique Queensland event with a focus on hands-on-learning, which is set to take place on 2–3 June 2027 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Full details and registration will be available at arbs.com.au.

Architecture & Design Team

ARBS

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