The Insurance Business Australia Awards 2026 has sold out its 500 seats two weeks ahead of the event, marking the first full sellout in the awards’ history. The Sydney gala event will also draw its biggest crowd since COVID-19.
“It's great to see so many people coming out to support the industry and in a softening market still engaging in-person and celebrating the wins of all of our great excellence awardees,” said Craig Stevenson, Key Media’s sales director of insurance events. Stevenson and event marketing manager, Catherine Lapid, highlighted the awards’ whole-of-industry focus (brokers, insurers, service providers, premium funders), independent judging and a fun format as reasons for the event’s popularity.
“I'm actually pretty excited because even the nominations were up 26% on last year and definitely the numbers are up in terms of delegates,” said Lapid.
Event Partner, AAMC, was thrilled at the news. “It’s great to hear the awards have sold out - a real testament to the strength of the insurance community behind it,” said Daniel Lukich (pictured left), AAMC’s strategic relationship manager.
Lukich said his firm – a long time supporter - is excited to be part of the event and to celebrate alongside peers and partners. Other awards sponsors include Xceedance, ARC Projects, Australia Underwriting, Consolidated Insurance Brokers and Rhodian.
The organisers suggested that a refocusing of the award’s categories a couple of years ago has helped generate rising interest in this annual industry get together. Stevenson described the 2026 format as “an event for the full ecosystem.” Stakeholders also point to the opportunity to celebrate team wins together and to demonstrate publicly their support for their industry and what it does in the wider community.
This year’s MC, radio and television personality and comedian, Ed Kavalee (pictured right), said he’s looking forward to his second time hosting the big event, particularly after what he learned the first time.
"I learnt that insurance people might seem to be very serious in work life," he told IB. "When it comes to awards night, they are still very serious, about having a good time."
The awards ceremony and gala dinner is at Doltone House in Sydney on May 1. For more information, please visit the website.
