The Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council (APNGBC) has announced that its 41st Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum (#41APNGBF) will be held in Brisbane in 2026, coinciding with the city’s highly anticipated Magic Round weekend.
Under the theme Game On for Growth, the forum will bring together business leaders, policymakers, and long-standing partners from both Australia and Papua New Guinea. The timing is designed to leverage the energy and networking opportunities generated by one of Australia’s largest sporting events, while providing a flagship platform for discussions on trade, investment, and bilateral partnerships.
Magic Round, an annual National Rugby League (NRL) showcase, draws tens of thousands of fans from across Australia and the Pacific. By aligning the Forum with this event, APNGBC aims to combine commercial engagement with a unique cultural and networking experience, creating opportunities for informal dialogue alongside formal sessions.
The council has urged members and prospective delegates to plan ahead, noting that hotel availability in Brisbane is already tightening due to the influx of visitors for Magic Round. Formal registrations and the detailed programme will be released in due course, but early accommodation booking is strongly recommended to ensure full participation.
The 41st Forum will build on a year of APNGBC initiatives aimed at strengthening Australia-Papua New Guinea business links. This includes sectoral briefings, policy roundtables, trade missions, and engagement across key industries such as resources, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and tourism. The Forum will offer attendees the chance to reconnect in person, review recent developments, and explore the next phase of commercial and institutional cooperation between the two countries.
APNGBC has emphasised that the Forum is not only a platform for policy and business discussion but also an opportunity to celebrate the enduring Australia-PNG relationship, foster partnerships, and identify practical opportunities for collaboration in trade and investment.
Further updates on the forum’s programme and registration process will be shared by APNGBC in the coming months.
