The Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition and the Queensland Mining Awards will again unite in Mackay in July this year, creating a mining industry extravaganza.
The 2026 Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME) is set to be another blockbuster, with the event showcasing the best in supplier innovation in the country and highlighting the world-class capabilities of Mackay and the broader Central Queensland region.
QME 2026 will be held at the Mackay Showgrounds, which will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of its historic grandstand in the same year.
Situated within the heartland of the North Queensland mining hub, the Showgrounds are the ideal host site for the event that will take place from Tuesday, July 21, to Thursday, July 23.
Multinational giants such as Hitachi, Eaton, Sime Darby Group, and XCMG, will be present on the exhibition floor, as well as Australian industry leaders including Flexco, Busch ANZ, ATOM, Hidrive, Radical Torque Solutions, MATO Australia, and Hoses24.
The Bowen Basin Mining Club (BBMC) is returning as a key supporter for QME 2026. In the spirit of continuing to champion and connect the resource sector across Queensland, the BBMC will also host the Queensland Mining Awards in Mackay that week, contributing to the significance of QME.
BBMC director Jodie Currie said in a statement that these events are significant not just for the region, but for the entire sector.
“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,” Currie said. “This is the biggest event for the Queensland mining industry, not just for Mackay.”
Established 30 years ago, the Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition regularly attracts over thousands of visitors and hundreds of suppliers.
Currie said the awards will once again recognise outstanding innovations and productivity improvements by mining companies, contractors, and suppliers.
“We always say that the Queensland METS sector leads the way globally for innovation and technology,” Currie said. “For us to be able to showcase that innovation in Mackay, one of the biggest METS incubators in Queensland, is important for the region, and it’s also important for the industry.”
Key industry decision-makers will be on-site in Mackay during the week, with the awards capturing national media coverage.
“For us, it’s all about really getting them out there and showcasing our finalists to every person that comes through the door, to show how innovative they are and how other mining companies or projects might be able to use the innovation on their site,” Currie said.
The bumper week in North Queensland is expected to create unparalleled networking opportunities, with Currie noting there is already strong interest in the 2026 event.
“Going to the Queensland Mining Awards is a perfect opportunity for people to make the most of their networking, and we’ve already seen a strong indication that the event will be quite large again in 2026.”
Space at QME is selling fast. Lock in your positions now at queenslandminingexpo.com.au/getinvolved
This feature appeared in the November-December edition of Safe to Work.