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Wednesday, 4 March 2026

AIME 2026 Welcome Event: Aimagination Comes to Life in Melbourne

AIME 2026

The global business events community gathered in Melbourne for AIME Asia Pacific 2026, and this year’s Welcome Event set the tone with creativity, emotion and immersive design. Hosted at the exclusive Evoqé Events venue, the AIME 2026 Welcome Function delivered a bold opening celebration that reflected the show’s evolving vision for the meetings and incentives industry.

With the theme “Aimagination,” the 2026 Welcome Event invited international delegates to step beyond the expected and into a world of colour, connection and possibility. Designed to ignite conversation and foster meaningful engagement, the event demonstrated why AIME remains the leading meetings and incentives trade show in the Asia Pacific region.

A Show-Stopping Selfie Tunnel Experience

Creative Hire partnered with DisplayWise to create a striking Selfie Tunnel activation that quickly became one of the most talked-about features of the night. This immersive red-carpet installation hosted the Phototainment and FT Events Glambot experience, delivering high-impact, shareable moments for guests.

With customisable RGB LED lighting and an ombre graphic backdrop, the tunnel transformed a simple photo opportunity into a fully immersive brand activation. Guests were invited to step inside, strike a pose and capture a dynamic, high-energy keepsake from the evening.

The Selfie Tunnel perfectly embodied the Aimagination theme, celebrating experience and emotion while reinforcing how live events can create lasting impressions through interactive design.

Aimagination: A Bold Vision for Business Events

According to AIME Event Director Silke Calder, the Welcome Event plays a central role in shaping the spirit of the show.

She described the Welcome Event as an opportunity to bring the AIME community together in a meaningful and fun way. Aimagination represents stepping outside the expected, opening the door to new ideas, new conversations and new possibilities. The 2026 theme was bold, immersive and unmistakably AIME, setting the benchmark for what delegates could expect across the exhibition.

Spanning three levels at Evoqé Events, the Welcome Function combined dynamic lighting, layered environments and experiential storytelling, ensuring every space felt intentional and engaging.

Hosted Buyer Lounge: Experience Begins at the Entry

AIME 2026

Beyond the Welcome Event, Creative Hire also played a key role in the Hosted Buyer Lounge at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where AIME 2026 was staged.

Supplying next-generation LED panels, the team created an illuminated Entry Arch designed to stop traffic and build anticipation. The large-scale installation demonstrated how impactful environments begin at the point of entry, setting expectations before guests even step inside.

The Hosted Buyer Lounge was themed as an Airport Gate Lounge, with LED panels forming a visually dynamic archway that guided visitors from the bustling exhibition floor into a quieter, more refined networking space. The result was a seamless extension of AIME’s event storytelling, blending functionality with immersive design.

Redefining Success in the Exhibition Landscape

AIME 2026 highlighted a significant shift in the global exhibition industry. Success is no longer defined by visibility alone, but by experience, connection and measurable impact. For event professionals attending from across Australia, Asia and beyond, the message was clear: immersive environments drive engagement and meaningful business outcomes.

The collaboration between Creative Hire and DisplayWise showcased a shared vision of scalable builds, integrated delivery and bold creative thinking. From the Selfie Tunnel activation at the Welcome Event to the LED archway in the Hosted Buyer Lounge, every element reinforced how modern exhibitions must move beyond static displays to create memorable, interactive experiences.

Plan Your Visit to Future AIME Events

As the Asia Pacific’s leading meetings and incentives exhibition, AIME continues to position Melbourne as a premier destination for global business events. With world-class venues, cutting-edge production and a thriving creative sector, the city remains at the forefront of industry innovation.

For more information about AIME Asia Pacific visit:
https://aime.com.au/

To learn more about Creative Hire’s exhibition and event build capabilities visit:
https://creativehire.com.au/

For venue information visit:
https://www.mcec.com.au/

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