Australia's Northern Territory experiencing a successful 2025 and beyond
01 May 2025
In 2025, the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia will host more than 55 international and national business events across the NT’s diverse business events destinations of Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru.
Rebecca McCaig, Director of Northern Territory Business Events, spoke about the many reasons why the NT continues to be such a highly competitive conference destination.
“With Darwin being Australia’s northernmost capital, its close proximity to Asia and direct aviation services make it a strategic and accessible hub for global delegates attending business events, as well as those from across Australia” she said. “Our network of government contacts, competitive bid support via the NT Business Events Support Fund and the opportunity for delegates to engage with the world’s oldest living culture are all genuine contributing factors.”
The cosmopolitan NT capital, Darwin, has recently secured hosting rights for a number of global business events to be staged within the next seven years, succeeding against highly competitive bids from countries such as South Africa, Canada, Brazil and Malaysia.
These include prestigious events such as the 25th Commonwealth Law Conference which is expected to welcome over 800 delegates to Darwin in 2027. Attracting this event was the result of a collaborative partnership with the Darwin Convention Centre and Charles Darwin University. Strong support was also provided by the NT Government’s Chief Justice and the Attorney-General, who is also the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality. In 2026, the International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding expects to attract 400 delegates and further afield in 2032, the International Radiation Protection Congress will welcome over 1000 delegates to Australia’s Northern Territory.
Upcoming international conferences for Darwin include the 10th World Archaeological Congress (1200 delegates) and the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses Quadrennial Congress
(200 delegates), which will be staged respectively in June and July 2025.
Darwin will welcome delegates to these conferences through growing aviation access, with new direct international flights between Darwin and Asia launched by carriers including Qantas, Indonesia AirAsia and AirAsia Malaysia. These are complemented by existing services operated by Singapore Airlines and Jetstar.
Darwin also continues to attract global hotel brands which include the recently opened 186-room Courtyard by Marriott Darwin, a new 87-key IHG Hotels & Resorts voco Darwin Suites property later in 2025 and the planned development of a new 236-room Darwin Convention Centre Hotel. These investments reflect further confidence in the Northern Territory to attract and stage world-class business events.
Rebecca McCaig also referred to how NTBE provides a valuable pathway for business events planners to connect with NT industry sectors.
“Our ongoing strategies have included identifying key industries and sectors where NT local expertise and strengths are an asset,” she said. “Our close connections with these sectors have enabled us to undertake a highly targeted approach, alongside our NT industry partners, to showcase how the NT is ‘different in every sense for business events.’”
For further information on Australia’s Northern Territory, visit www.ntbusinessevents.com.au