South Australia has secured the hosting privileges to an international wine event which attracts major purchasers from across the globe.
Adelaide will host the November 2026 International Masters of Wine Symposium, bringing together around 500 delegates from premier wine importing nations around the world.
Attendees comprise half masters of wine, the rest buyers, retailers, and sommeliers – mostly from Australia’s biggest trading partners including the UK, US, Europe, and SE Asia.
The 2026 International Masters of Wine Symposium provides South Australia the opportunity to showcase its premium wine while bringing a global wine-loving audience and industry leaders to the State.
The event – supported by the Department for Trade and Investment – will enable attendees to experience, raise a glass and invest in the very best the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra and other regions and South Australia’s unique terroir has to offer.
South Australian wine exports were valued at $1.3 billion in the year ending April 2023 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, making up 64 per cent of the total value of Australian wine exports.
In the year ending April 2023, wine exports to the United Kingdom ($231 million), United States of America ($178.1 million) and Hong Kong ($161.2 million) had a combined value of $570.3 million and represented 43 per cent of South Australia’s total wine export value.
Adelaide was due to host the conference in 2022, however it was cancelled due to COVID and replaced by Wiesbaden, in Germany, in 2023.
The Malinauskas Labor Government is sponsoring the event, with the Department for Trade and Investment, the South Australian Tourism Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions providing support to Wine Australia.
The 11th International Masters of Wine Symposium will run from 12-15 November 2026.
Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison said with international tourism still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic it is incredibly important to continue to put South Australia on the world map at every chance.
“South Australia’s wine is a key driver of visitors to our state. As Australia’s wine capital and one of just 11 around the world, it is terrific to have representation at an international wine event – putting our state in front of the people who will help sell it,” Minister Bettison said.
“South Australia’s convention economy provides the rest of the world a window into our beautiful state.
“This event is about more than just a convention, it’s about taking full advantage of showcasing our State to these global leaders of industry.”
Wine Australia Chief Executive Officer, Martin Cole said bringing this event to Australia would not have been possible without the wonderful collaboration and support of the South Australian Government.
“In addition to the actual conference here in South Australia, hosting IMW will undoubtedly bring broader opportunities for inbound visits and other potential events in the lead up to 2026,” Mr Cole said.
IMW Executive Director, Julian Gore-Booth said the Institute of Masters of Wine is absolutely delighted to be partnering with Wine Australia and the South Australian Government for what will be the 11th International Symposium.
“This time we will be in Adelaide, a beautiful city that is known as the wine capital of Australia. Adelaide and its surrounding wine regions make for an ideal location for such a stellar event and we look forward to seeing you there in November 2026,” Mr Gore-Booth said.
