Gamers, it is time to stretch those thumbs and clear your calendar. PAX Aus 2026 has officially unveiled its expo floor line-up, and to put it lightly, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is going to be packed to the rafters from 9–11 October.
Whether you love massive shooters, sprawling fantasy epics, or just want to drive a mini digger in a sandpit (yes, really), this year’s event has something lined up for you. Here is a look at what you can expect on the show floor.
Play Big Releases Months Early
Getting to play unreleased games before your mates is the ultimate bragging right and is a big reason why people fly from all different corners of Australia to attend this event. PAX Aus 2026 is gearing up to be one of the biggest events of the year.
SEGA is bringing serious firepower with four playable titles. Attendees can dive into the gritty combat of Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000, test their nerves in Alien: Isolation 2, try out Stranger Than Heaven, or check out the gorgeous remake Persona 4 Revival.
Meanwhile, Activision is delivering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to the floor, giving Australian players an exclusive crack at its multiplayer mode ahead of its 23 October release.
Square Enix is also turning up in style. Beyond a deep dive into the upcoming FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION, they are bringing FINAL FANTASY XIV Online stations to play (a title I’ve only recently fallen in love with now that there is a playable Nintendo Switch 2 version). Look out for the developer panel featuring an escalating hot sauce challenge. If you want to see game creators sweat for their art, that is where you need to be.
Over 90 Indie Gems and Wild Tech
Big-budget blockbusters are great, but the heart of gaming often beats strongest in the indie corner. The Aus Indie Showcase, PAX Rising, and New Zealand’s CODE will feature over 90 games. It is the best spot to spot the next breakout hit before the rest of the world catches on.
On the tech side, hardware brands are getting creative. Mwave is installing an actual sandpit with remote-controlled excavators where you can dig up PC prizes. Aftershock PC is offering a stamp-collecting quest across six stalls for a shot at winning a custom rig, and PowerA is giving fans hands-on time with their 2027 Meridian Flight Controller.
Wildcard Esports, Supercars, and Cosplay
If watching other people play is more your speed, the entertainment options are wide open. Red Bull is running an in-person wildcard tournament for EA SPORTS FC 27, sending the weekend’s best players directly to the National Final in Sydney.
Lexus is showing off a gaming-inspired supercar, one of fewer than 200 made in the world, alongside racing simulators to test your lap times. Ubisoft is bringing everything from serious esports finals for Rainbow Six Siege to an Assassin’s Creed sea shanty singalong and a high-energy Just Dance stage in the foyer.
Need a rest from sensory overload? The AFK Room returns in partnership with Beyond Blue, offering quiet, sensory-friendly spaces supported by occupational therapists so everyone can pace themselves throughout the weekend.
Tickets are on sale now, and with a line-up this stacked, Melbourne is once again set to become the gaming capital down under this October.
