The Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition 2026 will showcase cutting-edge mining safety technologies.
The Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME) 2026, returning to Mackay from July 21–23, is set to be the definitive platform for one of the resources sector’s most pressing challenge: driving world-best practices in safety and worker well-being.
As the largest regional mining event in the state, QME attracted more than 5000 visitors in 2024 and features hundreds of suppliers across its three-day run.
The upcoming edition is now positioning itself as a crucial hub where technological innovation, leadership, and cultural change intersect to create safer, more resilient mine sites across the state.
A key message of the event, reinforced by the conference agenda and major industry partners is that modern safety extends beyond managing physical hazards and demands a comprehensive focus on the mental and emotional health of the workforce.
Dual focus
The exhibition and its concurrent conference are tackling safety from two critical angles.
Firstly, the trade floor will spotlight cutting-edge innovations from major suppliers, including ATOM, Hitachi Construction Machinery, and Brooks/XCMG, with their latest products.
Dedicated conference sessions will delve into the use of artificial intelligence (AI), predictive maintenance, automation and remote operations, technologies that redefine site safety by predicting equipment failures and removing workers from high-risk environments. This shift marks the transition to a proactive, data-driven safety management system.
Secondly, the conference agenda tackles the growing focus on workforce resilience. Dedicated sessions will explore the ‘next frontier of safety’, moving beyond compliance to address mental health, fatigue management, and challenges in remote operations.
Experts will explore how newly designed support systems are crucial for a workforce facing the unique pressures of isolated, digitally connected operations.
“The conference agenda is structured to provide a wide-ranging overview of important industry topics, including conversations about mental health and workforce resilience,” Prime Creative Media show director – mining events Rebecca Todesco said.
Beyond the exhibition floor, QME 2026 will be an all-encompassing showcase of supplier innovation and excellence, illustrating the world-class capabilities of Mackay and the broader central Queensland region.
The event includes a free-to-attend Leadership Series that is meticulously curated to address the current needs of the industry, providing direct, actionable benefits across many mining functions, from operations to maintenance and safety management.
Collaboration for a safer future
The strategic alignment of key industry bodies ensures safety remains at the forefront of the dialogue.
“QME will help to accelerate the adoption of world-class practices,” Todesco said. “Attendees can meet the suppliers, examine the cutting-edge machinery, and engage in the dialogue necessary to confidently upgrade and improve their work sites.”
Another pillar of the 2026 edition of QME will be the dedicated Mining Pavilion. This central hub will bring together key mining companies and major contractors, offering a vital space for them to exhibit their latest projects, initiatives and innovations directly to the thousands of attending mining professionals. The Queensland Government’s strong push for critical minerals, another key QME theme, also has significant safety implications.
“As Queensland mining’s goals evolve, so do the region’s safety needs,” Todesco said. “QME provides a discussion hub to foster meaningful progress on how to manage complex new minerals and supply chains, growing the industry together.”
As an official association partner, the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) embeds leadership in safety, diversity and environmental performance into the event’s DNA. QRC chief executive officer Janette Hewson will deliver a keynote, emphasising how QME provides a platform for sharing the innovation and best practices crucial for a sustainable and safe regulatory environment.
“QME is now a major event on the Queensland resources calendar and, as the industry’s peak body, QRC is proud to be involved,” Hewson said. “The exhibition also takes the resources sector to the wider public and shares the innovation and world best practices that are home-grown in Queensland’s resources sector.”
Additionally, the Queensland Mining Awards, hosted by the Bowen Basin Mining Club (BBMC) during QME, will celebrate industry excellence. The awards serve as a key mechanism for highlighting and promoting innovations that specifically improve safety and environmental outcomes, ensuring that winning solutions are showcased to decision-makers eager to implement them on their own sites.
“QME is always such a significant celebration of the mining industry, so hosting our awards in the midst of that celebration helps to elevate QME even further,” BBMC director Jodie Currie said.
QME 2026 promises to be an unmissable event for stakeholders committed to safeguarding their people, pioneering new technologies, and setting the standard for the future of the Queensland resources sector.
Exhibitor stands are selling out fast for QME 2026. Secure your spot now at queenslandminingexpo.com.au/getinvolved/