ENTECH, Australia and NZ’s longest-running AV trade roadshow and the only event for AV and entertainment technology professionals that visits every major population centre, is heading to its final 2026 shows in New Zealand after completing record-breaking events across Australia.
Having toured five cities across Australia with a packed one-day program of seminars, hands-on demonstrations and its new Tech Train the ENTECH roadshow is staged fresh in NZ, opening at the new Auckland International Convention Centre on Tuesday 28 July then rolling Thursday 30 July into Lower Hutt Events Centre in Wellington and crossing the straight to Te Pae in Christchurch for Tuesday 4 August.
The 2026 ENTECH Australian Roadshow saw record visitor numbers, a revitalised exhibitor floor and a clear signal that the professional AV, lighting and production industry is spending well.
ENTECH CEO Kate McKenzie explained, “It encompassed five cities, one amazing crew and thousands of handshakes. After rolling through Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide the ENTECH Roadshow has packed up its trucks and called 2026 a wrap in Australia with the numbers making for very good reading as we head to New Zealand.”
Total visitor registrations across the five-city Australian tour were up 27 per cent with Sydney leading the charge up 37%, then Melbourne up by 32%, Brisbane continued its strong upward trajectory up 20%, Adelaide up 28% and Perth up 3%.
McKenzie added, “Registration counts only tell part of the story, though. What exhibitors care about is the ‘quality’ of visitors and ‘who’ walks through the door and on that measure, 2026 delivered emphatically.”
Across all cities, 85 per cent of registered visitors reported some form of purchasing role including final decision-maker, specifier or influencer. Critically, 82% indicated active or near-term purchasing intent, either buying at the show or flagged projects in the pipeline they were looking to buy for in the next 12 months. For ENTECH exhibitors, that’s a well-stocked order book walking around the floor.
Audio and sound remained the dominant interest category selected by 74% of all Australian visitors, followed by lighting at 60% and video/broadcast at 49% which meant all 68 exhibitor stands were filled and busy throughout each show in each city.
The ENTECH touring crew that makes the whole thing happen covered 10,563 kms across the country, managing bump-in, floor operations and bump-out across every city – a considerable logistical undertaking that involved four Live Event Logistics trucks and up to 30 local crew supported by 30 venue staff at each event.
From 2027, the ENTECH Roadshow restructures as an even more focused Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane event – a change the organising team describes as a “sharpening” of focus. If the 2026 numbers are any guide, the industry will follow wherever ENTECH goes.
For now, the ENTECH Roadshow next rolls into its final 2026 legs in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch where, as always, attendance is free for trade guests.
