Brisbane’s Convention and Exhibition Centre is set to be transformed into the state’s epicentre of culinary innovation and business opportunity in October, when Food & Hospitality Queensland takes place once again.

More than 6500 industry professionals are expected to attend the two-day event, which will be held on October 12 and 13, 2026.

The 2026 program will explore the trends, technologies and ideas shaping the future of hospitality, from convenience, AI and automation to emerging food trends and new approaches to business growth. This will include practical insights into menu design, customer experience, marketing, smarter operations and the challenges and opportunities that are front-of-mind for many Queensland operators.

More than 40 free sessions will be held across four stages as part of Food & Hospitality Queensland. The Business and Tech stage will play host to talks about the forces shaping the future of hospitality; the Cafe Success Stage will have speakers that will tackle the real-world challenges of running a venue day-to-day with practical isights about staffing, workflows, cost control and menu execution; while the Chef’s Table will deliver two days of live culinary theatre. Here leading chefs will bring Queensland ingredients to life while sharing the stories, techniques and ideas behind the dishes they create.

Headline speakers across the four stages will include Culinary Director and Head Judge of the Qld Professional Chef of the Year Jamie Cannon, Jenna Muhor from Paddock Bakery, Daniel Semrani from Gigi’s Pizzereria, and Joy Restaurant owner and head chef Sarah Baldwin. Pâtissier and presenter Adirano Zumbo will also take to the stage to discuss rethinking desserts and why this is the last great upsell.

Passes and further information is now available on the Food & Hospitality Queensland website.