Aimagination Lights Up Melbourne: AIME 2026 Welcome Event Unveiled at Evoqé

Evoqé

Melbourne knows how to host a big night, but when the global business events industry arrives in town for AIME 2026, the city’s after-dark energy is set to level up. The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has officially revealed its 2026 Welcome Event, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated opening celebrations on the industry calendar.

Titled Aimagination, the Welcome Event will take place on Monday 9 February at Evoqé, a multi-level immersive venue in Melbourne’s Queen Street precinct. For delegates travelling into Victoria for the week, this is more than a social gathering. It’s a statement event, a scene-setter, and the moment AIME’s signature mix of connection and creativity comes to life.

AIME 2026 Welcome Event: Where the Week Begins

Every major travel and trade event has its defining opening moment, and for AIME, the Welcome Event is the cornerstone. It brings together Hosted Buyers, Exhibitors, Media Partners and industry VIPs in a way that feels celebratory, but still purposeful.

Aimagination is designed to be felt rather than explained, inviting attendees to step into an experience that blends inventive drinks, standout food, and unexpected moments across three immersive levels.

With more than 2200 global business events professionals expected to attend, the Welcome Event is set to deliver a memorable first night in Melbourne and create the kind of atmosphere where introductions become opportunities, and conversations turn into future business.

Evoqé on Queen Street: A Venue Built for Surprise

Evoqé

There’s a reason Evoqé has been selected as the home of Aimagination. The venue has been created to spark curiosity, invite exploration, and gently disrupt expectations, aligning perfectly with AIME’s focus on fresh thinking and new ideas.

Evoqé Managing Director Brad Dabbs describes the venue as one that unfolds as you move through it, revealing playful and immersive moments designed to reward guests who are willing to explore.

It’s a venue concept that suits the modern business events traveller. People no longer want a static room and a predictable program. They want a night that feels like a destination experience, with story, energy and discovery built into every step.

White and Soft Neutrals: The Dress Code That Sets the Mood

A white or soft neutral dress code will set the visual tone, creating a unified, elevated look across the crowd and adding to the immersive feel of the evening.

In a city known for its fashion confidence, the theme adds an extra layer of fun for delegates who enjoy bringing a little style to their professional travel calendar. It also makes the event instantly recognisable as an AIME moment, with the kind of imagery that will travel fast across social channels and industry coverage.

The 9pm Surprise Headliner: A Highlight in the Making

The night will build towards a special surprise headliner performance at 9pm, expected to be a standout highlight for attendees and a bold way to launch the days ahead.

For visitors flying into Melbourne for AIME 2026, this headliner moment will likely become the night everyone references on the show floor, the shared memory that bonds first-time attendees with returning AIME regulars.

AIME 2026 in Melbourne: Bigger, Bolder, More Global

AIME 2026 Welcome Event

AIME 2026 will run from 9 to 11 February 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), welcoming more than 5000 attendees from across the global business events industry.

The 2026 event will feature more than 766 exhibitors, marking the largest show delivered under Event Director Silke Calder and her team at Talk2 Media & Events.

Silke Calder says the Welcome Event is designed to spark connection and creativity as the AIME community gathers in Melbourne, describing Aimagination as bold, immersive and unmistakably AIME.

For business event planners, incentive travel designers, corporate buyers, and suppliers, AIME continues to be one of the most influential dates on the Asia Pacific calendar. It’s where partnerships are formed, trends are tested, and the next wave of event experiences starts taking shape.

How Attend the AIME 2026 Welcome Event

The Welcome Event will be attended by Hosted Buyers, Exhibitors, Media Partners and industry VIPs, with Visitor Buyers able to attend by upgrading their ticket.

For delegates planning their AIME itinerary, it’s worth prioritising the Welcome Event early, not only for the entertainment and atmosphere, but for the quality of connections made before the trade show meetings begin.

In a week built around relationships and results, Aimagination is where the momentum starts.

AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event)
Website: https://aime.com.au

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
Website: https://www.mcec.com.au/

Evoqé Melbourne
Website: https://evoqe.au/

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