The 2026 Global Trends Report from FCM Meetings & Events says 80% of ANZ businesses now rank attendee experience as their highest priority.
The Australasia-based meetings and events specialist says its new research reveals that events that run smoothly, efficiently, and respect attendees’ time will shine as companies prioritise experience over extravagance, and that employee engagement sits at the heart of this shift.
The report showed figures from ANZ outpace the global average of 76.5% and claimed it signals a fundamental shift in how organisations approach MICE. The FCM M&E 2026 Global Trends Report also said that, rather than chasing standout moments at any cost, businesses are focusing on delivering events that run smoothly, feel well thought-out, and respect the time attendees invest.
Employee engagement sits at the heart of this shift, it would seem. In ANZ, 65.5% of respondents cited it as the primary reason for increased spend, with internal alignment, leadership connection and capability building now driving agendas more than spectacle.
Katie Fraser, business leader Australia at FCM Meetings & Events, said the focus on experience was prompting teams to think more broadly about how events are planned and delivered.
“Time is a precious commodity in the business world. If people are travelling, stepping away from work and investing their energy, the entire event experience needs to justify that commitment,” said Fraser.
Safety and security remain critical, with 74.2% of ANZ respondents rating it as the second-highest priority, slightly below the global figure of 79%.
“ANZ enters 2026 with steady demand for in-person meetings, but planning is defined by scrutiny and distance,” Fraser said. “Budgets remain broadly stable, with 85.7% of organisations expecting spend to hold or increase. Yet scale is measured.
“Medium-sized events dominate global allocation at 36.6%, and that preference for manageable formats is evident across ANZ, where organisations are looking for impact without operational strain.”
The report also revealed that 35% of organisations globally now expect to manage between US$1m and US$10m in meetings spend in 2026, a 19-percentage-point increase from the previous year.
This focus on precision and efficiency is reflected in ANZ’s planning cycles, with the region having the shortest average lead time globally at just 52 days between RFP and event.
The emphasis on experience also extends to incentive travel programmes, with ANZ businesses favouring short-haul and mid-haul destinations that balance memorable experiences with cost and travel time considerations.
Just over half of ANZ respondents (51.7%) ‘often’ or ‘always’ consider destination selection through a sustainability lens.
“Across the region, confidence is intact,” Fraser noted. “What has changed is the level of precision applied to every decision.”
