SMAANZ 2026
We are delighted to announce that the 32nd annual SMAANZ Conference will be hosted by Flinders University on Kaurna Country in Adelaide, Australia.
The conference will be held at Flinders University’s City Campus in the Adelaide CBD, with social events and networking functions located nearby.
Early-bird registration is available until Wednesday 30 September 2026.
Conference Theme
The theme for SMAANZ 2026 is Fearless Transformation in Sport.
Sport is experiencing a period of unprecedented progress and accelerating change. SMAANZ 2026 invites researchers, educators and industry leaders to consider how they can act as agents of change - advancing sport theory, practice, policy and governance through collaborative, rigorous and values-led scholarship.
The conference will create space to examine transformation across the sport industry, challenge established ways of thinking and explore new possibilities for research, education and professional practice.
Recognising the important role of sport management education in developing future leaders across research and industry, the third day of the conference will feature a dedicated stream focused on educational innovation and partnership practice. We particularly encourage contributions from scholars and industry professionals involved in university–industry collaboration, work-integrated learning and the future of sport management education.
Conference Programme
The full programme will be live in mid-September.
Tuesday 1 December
-
Higher Degree Research (HDR) Day
-
Conference Welcome Function in the evening
Wednesday 2 - Friday 4 December
-
Three-day academic and industry conference programme
-
Academic research presentations
-
Industry and practitioner contributions
-
Facilitated networking and connection opportunities
-
Dedicated sport management education stream on Friday
-
Conference Dinner on Friday evening
The conference will continue the 10/10 presentation format, comprising a 10-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes of discussion. This format is designed to encourage meaningful conversation, constructive feedback and deeper engagement with each presentation.
Informal meeting and connection spaces will also be available throughout the City Campus, allowing conversations to continue beyond the formal programme.
Whether you are attending SMAANZ for the first time or are a long-standing member of the community, we look forward to creating an environment in which delegates feel connected, energised and empowered to contribute to the ongoing transformation of sport.
Key Dates
Abstracts and Awards
Abstract and award submissions are now closed.
Registration
-
Registration opened: Monday 8 June 2026
-
Early-bird registration closes: Wednesday 30 September 2026
-
Standard registration rates apply from: Thursday 1 October 2026
Conference
-
HDR Day: Tuesday 1 December 2026
-
Welcome Function: Tuesday 1 December 2026
-
Conference: Wednesday 2–Friday 4 December 2026
-
Conference Dinner: Friday 4 December 2026
Registration Fees
All prices are in Australian dollars (AUD$)
Early-bird Registration
Available until Wednesday 30 September 2026.
| Registration type | Price |
|---|---|
| Full delegate package | $895 |
| Student delegate package, including HDR Day | $495 |
Package includes access to all conference sessions, the Welcome Function, the Conference Dinner and annual SMAANZ membership from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027
Standard Registration
Available from Thursday 1 October 2026.
| Registration type | Price |
|---|---|
| Full delegate package | $995 |
| Student delegate package, including HDR Day | $595 |
Day 3 conference passes
Day passes provide access to the dedicated sport management education stream on Friday 4 December.
| Registration type | Price |
|---|---|
| Day 3 conference pass | $350 |
| Day 3 conference pass and Conference Dinner | $450 |
Additional Tickets
Additional tickets are subject to availability.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Conference Dinner | $160 |
| Welcome Function | $120 |
Payments made through the SMAANZ website incur a transaction fee of 2% plus $1.60. This fee is charged by the payment provider and is not received by SMAANZ.
Planning your Travel
Please note that the SMAANZ 2026 Welcome Function will be held on Tuesday 1 December, rather than Wednesday evening as in previous years. Delegates wishing to attend should take this into account when arranging their travel and accommodation.
The HDR Day will also take place on Tuesday 1 December, before the Welcome Function that evening.
We look forward to welcoming you to Adelaide and to SMAANZ 2026.
Dr Rubi Cury
SMAANZ 2026 Conference Chair