Melbourne is preparing to become the centre of Australian gaming for the next ten days, with Melbourne International Games Week beginning on 2 October and PAX Aus returning to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 9–11 October.
The latest PAX Aus line-up has added Nintendo, World of Warcraft and Bandai Namco Entertainment to an already substantial show floor featuring major publishers, developers, esports, tabletop games and Australian independent studios.
Nintendo, World of Warcraft and Bandai Namco Join PAX Aus
Nintendo will give Australian players hands-on access to a range of upcoming titles and experiences, including Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass, alongside games from Nintendo’s publishing partners.
World of Warcraft executive producer Holly Longdale is scheduled to open PAX Aus as the 2026 Storytime keynote speaker. Blizzard will also showcase World of Warcraft: Forever, including beta gameplay and a behind-the-scenes look at a new dungeon.
Bandai Namco’s presence includes Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, which is set to make its Australian playable debut ahead of its planned 2027 release, while Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve will also be available to play.
A Packed 2026 Show Floor
The latest additions join a line-up already featuring SEGA, Activision, Ubisoft and other major gaming brands. Playable titles announced for the event include Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000, Alien: Isolation 2, Persona 4 Revival and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
Competitive gaming will also feature prominently. Ubisoft’s stage is scheduled to host the Rainbow Six Siege APL Oceania Stage Finals, with four leading Oceania teams competing for a $40,000 prize pool and a place at the Osaka Major.
PAX Aus will again put Australian and New Zealand independent developers in front of a large consumer audience, including the winners of the 2026 PAX Aus Indie Showcase.
Melbourne International Games Week Starts First
PAX forms the closing weekend of the wider Melbourne International Games Week, which runs from 2–11 October across the city.
The 2026 program is spread across hubs including ACMI and Federation Square as well as the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and South Wharf. Public events range from playable games and exhibitions to developer sessions, films and a free Community Games Library at ACMI.
Organisers describe Games Week as Australia’s biggest games festival. The event also arrives at a time when gaming has become firmly mainstream in Australia, with research cited by organisers indicating 82 per cent of Australians play video games.
Victoria has particular reason to make the industry a centrepiece: Australian Bureau of Statistics data cited by Melbourne International Games Week shows the state accounts for the country’s largest share of both digital game studios and the games workforce.
PAX Aus 2026 Dates and Venue
PAX Aus 2026 runs from Friday 9 October to Sunday 11 October at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Melbourne International Games Week begins on Friday 2 October and continues through to the end of PAX on 11 October.