Melbourne Wins Global RoboCup 2028 as Australia Becomes the Future Home of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

RoboCup and RoboCup Symposium

Melbourne has once again demonstrated why it is one of the world's leading destinations for international business events after securing the prestigious RoboCup and RoboCup Symposium for 2028. The globally recognised event will bring together thousands of robotics experts, researchers, students and technology innovators from around the world, further cementing Melbourne's reputation as Australia's innovation capital.

To be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), RoboCup 2028 is expected to attract up to 3,000 delegates, more than 15,000 spectators and generate an estimated economic impact exceeding $14 million for Victoria's visitor economy.

The successful bid represents another major achievement for Melbourne's thriving business events sector and further strengthens the city's growing international profile in robotics, artificial intelligence and advanced technology.

Melbourne Becomes the Global Stage for Robotics Innovation

RoboCup is recognised as the world's largest and most prestigious robotics and artificial intelligence competition.

Founded to accelerate the development of intelligent robotics through real-world challenges, RoboCup provides an international platform where universities, research organisations, technology companies and students showcase groundbreaking innovations that could shape the future of society.

Visitors attending RoboCup 2028 will witness autonomous robots competing in soccer tournaments, advanced disaster response simulations, industrial manufacturing challenges and logistics competitions. The event also features RoboCupJunior, where school-aged students demonstrate their own robotic creations while inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators.

The combination of cutting-edge technology and interactive public demonstrations makes RoboCup one of the world's most exciting science and technology events.

A Winning Partnership Delivers the Event

The successful bid was led by the Melbourne Convention Bureau in partnership with the RoboCup Federation, RMIT University and RoboCup Junior Australia.

Strong support from the Victorian Government, Tourism Australia's Business Events Bid Fund and professional conference organiser ICMS Australasia helped secure the highly competitive international event.

Their collaborative efforts demonstrated Melbourne's exceptional capability to host major global conferences while showcasing Victoria's strengths in innovation, education and advanced technology.

Victoria Leads Australia's Artificial Intelligence Revolution

RoboCup and RoboCup Symposium

Victoria has become one of the Asia-Pacific region's fastest-growing centres for robotics, automation and artificial intelligence.

Home to internationally recognised universities, leading research institutions, innovative technology companies and advanced manufacturing industries, Melbourne provides an ideal environment for collaboration between academia and industry.

Its strengths in automation, digital technologies, engineering and applied artificial intelligence continue to attract international investment while producing world-class research and technological breakthroughs.

Hosting RoboCup will further strengthen Victoria's position as a global leader in future technologies and innovation.

A Major Boost for Business Events and Tourism

Beyond the technological achievements, RoboCup 2028 will deliver significant economic and tourism benefits for Melbourne and Victoria.

Thousands of international delegates will spend several days exploring the city while attending the conference and competition, supporting hotels, restaurants, attractions, transport providers and local businesses.

Many visitors are also expected to extend their stay before or after the event to experience Melbourne's celebrated dining scene, cultural attractions, sporting precincts, nearby wine regions and the spectacular Great Ocean Road.

Business events such as RoboCup continue to demonstrate how international conferences contribute not only to knowledge sharing but also to long-term tourism growth.

Melbourne's Growing International Events Calendar

RoboCup joins an impressive calendar of international conferences already secured for Melbourne.

The city will also host the inaugural Australian AI Summit in September 2026, attracting more than 800 delegates, alongside the IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces and the International Conference on Neural Information Processing.

These events reinforce Melbourne's position as one of the Southern Hemisphere's leading destinations for knowledge exchange, scientific collaboration and international business events.

Industry Leaders Welcome the Announcement

RoboCup and RoboCup Symposium

Victorian Minister for Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said Victoria is the ideal destination to host RoboCup, highlighting the state's globally recognised strengths in technology, advanced manufacturing and digital innovation.

Melbourne Convention Bureau Chief Executive Julia Swanson said securing RoboCup 2028 reinforces Melbourne's reputation as a city where innovation thrives. She noted that bringing together the world's leading robotics experts will strengthen international collaboration while inspiring future generations of scientists and engineers.

RoboCup Federation President Ubbo Visser welcomed the opportunity to return to Melbourne, recalling that the city was one of RoboCup's inaugural host destinations more than twenty-five years ago. He praised the quality of Melbourne's successful bid and said the global RoboCup community looks forward to returning to Australia.

Tourism Australia Executive General Manager Industry and Business Events Sally Cope said RoboCup 2028 would deliver substantial economic benefits while reinforcing Australia's standing as a premier destination for world-leading technology conferences and business events.

A Bright Future for Innovation and Travel

The successful bid for RoboCup 2028 highlights Melbourne's continuing ability to attract internationally significant events that combine tourism, education, research and economic development.

As artificial intelligence and robotics increasingly shape industries around the world, Melbourne will become the global meeting place where researchers, students, businesses and innovators come together to exchange ideas, develop new technologies and inspire future generations.

For travellers with an interest in technology, innovation and the future of science, RoboCup 2028 promises to be one of Australia's most exciting international events.

Melbourne Convention Bureau

Website: https://www.melbournecb.com.au/

RoboCup Federation Website: https://www.robocup.org
RoboCup Junior (Australia) Inc. https://www.robocupjunior.org.au/robocup-major/
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Website: https://www.mcec.com.au
Tourism Australia – Business Events Australia Website: https://businessevents.australia.com/en

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