GIS Global Sports Summit Australia 2026: What To Expect

GIS’ signature Global Sports Summits are hosted in some of the world’s biggest sporting nations and venues, offering students behind-the-scenes access to world-class facilities, powerful guest speakers, and pivotal networking opportunities.

London, Miami, and Toronto are some examples, while students fancying a trip to the southern hemisphere now have the opportunity to head down under!

Our first Global Sports Summit of 2026 will be held in Australia, taking place across both Melbourne and Sydney from the 17th-26th of January, and will be hosted by the BBC’s Mark Clemmit.

So what can you expect on your trip? 

Saturday 17th: Arrival

Landing in Melbourne on the 17th, you’ll be staying in the heart of the city, with the accommodation located in the Central Business District. 

You’ll have your own private room as a base to explore the Victoria capital, with plenty to do on the Saturday evening after you arrive.

Sunday 18th: Free Day

To help students settle in, Sunday is a free day to explore. The Royal Botanical Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, and Federation Square are all must-see sights, while the city is known as one of the best in the world for its coffee!

Monday 19th: Conference Day at the MCG

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the world’s most iconic sporting venues, and has witnessed historic moments in the world of sport. 

This famous ground will be your base during your time in Melbourne, with students receiving special access to the venue. This begins with a campus tour, followed by industry speakers from Melbourne Renegades, the Melbourne Grand Prix, and more.

There will then be a sports industry networking event, where students will be able to connect and build relationships with experts in their field – a vital practice for those wanting to excel in the tight-knit sports industry.

Tuesday 20th: Australian Open Tennis Site Visit

During the Global Sports Summit, students will be in Melbourne during tennis’ first Grand Slam of the year: the Australian Open.

Held in the stunning Melbourne Park just a stones throw away from the MCG, students will hear from Tennis Australia guest speakers before watching a live match at the Australian Open.

Wednesday 21st: Travel to Sydney and Big Bash Fixture

Students will then travel from Melbourne to Sydney, another Australian city that lives and breathes sport. 

Students will check into their accommodation in the suburb of Camperdown, located under 30 minutes from the city centre.

The action doesn’t stop though, and that night, students are set to attend a Big Bash League Final* fixture, seeing the fast-paced action of Twenty20 cricket.

Thursday 22nd: Conference Day at the Allianz Stadium

Home to the Sydney Roosters, New South Wales Waratahs, and Sydney FC, it’s safe to say that the Allianz Stadium has a lot going on. 

A perfect opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the local sports scene, the conference day kicks off with a stadium tour.

Then, students will hear from industry speakers in pivotal roles at both national and international organisations. This includes insight from those working at the Rugby World Cup, Rugby League Players Association, AFL, and La Liga.

The evening consists of National Basketball League action, as the Sydney Kings take on the Tasmania Jackjumpers at the Qudos Bank Arena in the Sydney Olympic Park.

Friday 23rd: Conference Day 2 at the Allianz Stadium

A staple of our Global Sports Summits, students will have been given time to build their case study presentations. This involves students working in groups to solve a ‘real-world’ problem faced by our partners at Venues NSW, before presenting their ideas and solutions to a panel from VNSW.

With 10 minutes to present, students will develop their public speaking as part of an excellent opportunity to showcase problem-solving and presenting skills to senior executives.

The industry access doesn’t stop of course, and students will hear from speakers working within Football Australia and Paralympics Australia too, before heading to another scheduled Big Bash League Final fixture.*

Saturday 24th: Free Day

As the weekend begins, students will have the chance to explore Sydney. Plan for a busy day as there’s a lot to see, from Sydney Harbour and The Rocks to Bondi Beach and Manly, students can take in the city. 

For more ideas on what you can get up to, visit our student or tourist guides to Sydney!

Sunday 25th: Game Day

Rounding off a summit filled with live sport, students will attend two more games on this day.

The first is some football, watching the Western Sydney Wanderers take on Perth Glory at the Allianz Stadium, before heading to the Sydney Cricket Ground for their final fix of Big Bash League Final action.*

Monday 26th: Australia Day and Departure

The 26th of January is Australia Day, a national day marking the 1788 landing of the First Fleet.

It is also the final day of the trip, with students checking out of the accommodation and departing Sydney after a fast-paced week of industry insight.

*TBC, schedule is subject to change

Article by Zakaria Anani