Australian Cotton Conference sets attendance record
More than 3,000 delegates attended a record Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast.
What’s Happening?
The 2026 Australian Cotton Conference gathered on the Gold Coast for its major national conference from 4 to 6 August.
Held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event combined learning, networking, celebration and practical industry discussions. Organisers described it as the biggest and best conference yet, reflecting strong optimism about the industry’s future.
The Future Fit Cotton theme examined how Australian cotton can respond to changing production, market and policy conditions. It also focused on maintaining the industry’s reputation as a sustainable, high-quality fibre supplier.
Why It Matters?
Rather than treating farm issues separately, the program connected them with markets, workforce needs and public policy. Sessions covered productivity, risk, sustainability, traceability, digital agriculture, soils, water stewardship and market access.
Science, community wellbeing and the policy settings shaping the industry’s future also formed part of the discussion.
The speaker program combined agricultural knowledge with business, leadership, market and wellbeing perspectives. Entrepreneur Mark Bouris and former Australian women’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy appeared alongside industry participants.
ANZ Head of Geopolitical Risk Cameron Mitchell also spoke during the conference. TradeMutt and TIACS founders Daniel Allen and Edward Ross joined growers, researchers and supply-chain experts.
Local Impact
Hosting the conference made the Gold Coast a national meeting place for growers and the wider cotton supply chain. The Trade Hall supported practical discussions by bringing machinery, technology, services and research into the same space.
That mix allowed delegates to compare solutions, share regional experiences and form new industry connections.
The conference also supported mental health services for rural and regional Australians through its Beyond Blue fundraiser. Delegates wore TradeMutt conversation-starter shirts and blue outfits on the final day, creating a visible show of support.
Queensland was also represented among the conference’s leading award recipients. The Brimblecombe family from Moira Farming in the Lockyer Valley received the 2026 Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year award.
By The Numbers
A record 3,070 delegates attended from across the Australian cotton supply chain.
The program included 29 sessions and six workshops, with more than 150 presenters contributing.
More than 150 Trade Hall sites displayed machinery, technology, services, research and practical solutions.
The live auction and direct donations raised more than $41,000 for Beyond Blue.
Zoom In
Conference Chair Gus O’Brien said the scale and spirit of the event reflected the strength of Australian cotton.
“To say I’m proud to be part of this industry is an understatement,” Mr O’Brien said. “People say there’s no other ag conference like it, and we proved this right once again.”
Mr O’Brien also credited attendees, volunteers and organisers for creating the energy behind the conference.
“Thank you to everyone who attended, for your engagement in the sessions, your energy and enthusiasm. And a huge thanks to our volunteer committee and team, who did so much heavy lifting behind the scenes.”
Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said bringing the full supply chain together supported stronger decisions and clearer industry communication.
“By bringing people together across the supply chain, we’re helping the industry make more informed decisions and tell a stronger story for Australian cotton,” Mr Kay said.
While the formal program provided research and expert discussion, Mr Kay said the informal conversations were just as valuable.
“While the formal sessions delivered headline speakers, research updates and expert debate, some of the most valuable moments happened between sessions - over coffee, in the aisles of the Trade Hall and in conversations between old friends, new connections and people comparing notes from different regions and parts of the supply chain.”
Zoom Out
The conference concluded with the 2026 Australian Cotton Industry Awards, which celebrated growers, innovators, leaders and researchers. Organisers have also published the full list of recipients and details about their contributions.
The wider program showed how farm performance connects with sustainability, traceability, market access, community health and public policy. Bringing these topics together helped participants consider how decisions across the supply chain affect farms, markets and regional communities.
What To Look For Next?
Conference presentations are now available under the program tab on the Australian Cotton Conference website.
The conference will return from 1 to 3 August 2028. When delegates return, they may assess how this year’s discussions have influenced farms, markets and industry policy.