The Marina Industries Association (MIA) has released the complete programme for Marinas26, its biennial conference and trade exhibition, set to take place from 24-27 May 2026 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Marinas26 is expected to bring together marina owners, operators, designers, suppliers and government representatives from across Australia and overseas. With the theme “Future Smart”, the agenda will examine how the marina and boatyard sectors are responding to technological shifts, ageing assets, shifting market conditions and evolving risk.

The event will open with a welcome cocktail party sponsored by Pelagic Risk Services, hosted poolside at the resort, ahead of two days of conference sessions.

Day 1 will begin with demographic, consumer and behavioural trends, presented by social researcher Geoff Brailey of McCrindle, who will examine trends influencing boating and waterfront lifestyle markets. This will be followed by an economic outlook, presented by Taylor Nugent, senior economist at National Australia Bank.

MIA president Andrew Chapman AM CMM will present findings from the 2025 Health of the Australian Marina Industry Survey. MIA CEO Suzanne Davies will outline the association’s performance and priorities for the years ahead.

The Day 1 keynote, AI Future in Marinas & Boatyards, will be delivered by futurist and business strategist Gihan Perera. His address will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping operations, customer experience, asset management and workforce capability in marina and boatyard businesses.

In the afternoon, a plenary session about the Redevelopment of Ageing Marina Infrastructure will examine lessons from projects involving facilities built in the 1980s and 1990s that are approaching the end of their design life. Chaired by James Burbury of Burbury Consulting, the panel will include Brett James of Southport Yacht Club, Jayson McDonald CMM of Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay, and Nick Smith and Julien Pouteau of d’Albora Marinas.

Delegates will select between two sessions. Lessons Learned – Development in the Middle East, chaired by Farrokh Golchin, will examine marina development activity in the region. The Marina Maintenance Panel, led by Les Binkin CMM, will focus on maintenance practices aimed at preserving marina assets and infrastructure.

Gihan Perera will return to moderate AI – Practical Applications for Marinas, a session featuring industry leaders who are implementing AI-based solutions in their operations.

Delegates will then move into concurrent specialist streams. In Superyacht Ready, David Good, CEO of Superyacht Australia, will outline opportunities in the superyacht sector and what marinas must consider to attract and service this market. In Risk on the Waterfront, Nautilus Marine Insurance and McInnes Wilson Lawyers will examine regulatory compliance, environmental obligations, insurance conditions and emerging legal exposure facing marinas.

Following lunch, five companies will present live pitches during the Innovators & Start-Up Showcase, demonstrating products or services aimed at improving facility operations and management. Delegates will vote for the proposal they consider to have the strongest commercial potential, with the winner announced at the Gala Dinner.

At the same time, The Future of Boatyards will bring together Andrew Chapman AM CMM and Lorraine Yates CMP of White Bay 6 Marine Park to discuss boatyard management, equipment developments and changing vessel profiles.

The conference will conclude with Line Honours, a closing address by maritime industry figure Mark Richards, who will speak on leadership, innovation and experience drawn from marine design, competitive sailing and marina ownership.

Marinas26 will close with the Marine Structures Marinas26 Gala Dinner.