The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has confirmed Melbourne will host the 2026 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) and Beyond Borders Travel Summit on 9 and 10 October.
The full event weekend kicks off with the Beyond Borders Travel Summit at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Friday 9 October, followed that evening by the NTIA Finalist Celebration at the Cargo Hall on Melbourne’s South Wharf.
The popular (and optional) Wellness 5K at Parkrun Albert Park opens proceedings on Saturday, 10 October, before the NTIA Gala Dinner takes over the Palladium at Crown Melbourne that night and the official After Party at a still-to-be-revealed venue.
The 2026 National Travel Industry Awards is shaping up to be the biggest year on record after receiving the largest number of award nominations ever across 36 categories.
More than 2,000 peer nominations were received across the industry, surpassing last year’s record tally by more than 300 nominations, and reinforcing the awards’ position as the sector’s biggest recognition program.
ATIA CEO Dean Long said the eventful weekend is built to bring the travel industry together and teased the upcoming ticket release for the highly anticipated weekend, including packages for all five events.
“We’re looking forward to bringing the industry together in Melbourne this October. It’s a packed weekend of thought leadership, connection with industry peers and a chance to celebrate the best in travel,” he said.
“We’re excited to announce the venues, which are essential to the excellence of the events, so start booking your travel – we’ll be releasing tickets very soon.”
The record tally caps a strong run for the peak industry association, which recently completed its “most ambitious structural expansion” ever and posted record revenue and member satisfaction.
The 2026 National Travel Industry Awards supplier voting opened on 15 June and closes on 17 July 2026. Finalists in judged categories will be revealed in late July.
KARRYON UNPACKS: A record award nomination tally and a five-event package format signal a busy weekend for advisors planning to travel to Melbourne in October for the 2026 NTIAs and Beyond Borders Travel Summit. With venues locked in and tickets imminent, the diary entries can go in now.
