That’s a wrap! PAX Aus 2026 has officially come to a close following three action-packed days celebrating everything gaming, with tens of thousands of fans descending on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 9–11 October for Australia’s biggest gaming festival.
From exclusive first plays of highly anticipated games and appearances by international gaming icons to epic tabletop battles, spectacular cosplay and a buzzing community atmosphere, PAX Aus once again transformed Melbourne into the ultimate playground for gamers.
The weekend culminated in one of the event’s most anticipated moments, the Cosplay Central Crown Championship, with Miss Twisted taking out the prestigious Australian title for an extraordinary portrayal of Fearne Calloway from Critical Role in a gorgeous costume crafted from foam and 3D printing, including stilt hoofs – a cosplay that took her two years to create.
Coming in a very close second was Benjettt who cosplayed as Alva from Horizon Forbidden West with a cosplay made using 3D printing and 120 hours of sewing.
The judging panel was made up of Cinderys from France, Soylent Cosplay and Spicythaidesign who came from New Zealand.
The judges said picking a winner was very difficult with the calibre being so high this year and every cosplay showing great techniques and beautiful detail.
Now in its fifth year at PAX Aus, the competition showcases the very best in Australian cosplay craftsmanship, creativity and dedication. Impressing an international judging panel with their intricate costume design, construction and attention to detail, this year’s winner will go on to represent Australia at the Cosplay Central Crown Championship Global Final at MCM London Comic Con in May 2027.
Along with the coveted title, Miss Twisted receives a $3,500 travel contribution, three nights’ accommodation and two weekend passes to MCM London Comic Con, while runner-up Benjettt takes home a $500 prize.
The competition was a fitting finale to a weekend that saw cosplay take centre stage, with PAX Aus introducing its brand-new Cosplay Land, a dedicated destination bringing together the community through workshops, panels, meet-ups and stunning costume creations.
Blockbuster Games and Australian Firsts
Across the massive Expo Hall, attendees were treated to a huge line-up of new and upcoming releases from some of the world’s biggest gaming publishers, with Nintendo, Blizzard, SEGA, Activision, Square Enix and Bandai Namco among the major names bringing gaming experiences to Melbourne.
Nintendo delighted fans with the opportunity to get competitive with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort ahead of its 22 October release, alongside experiences featuring Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass and Pikmin Bloom.
Other highlights included early hands-on experiences with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, SEGA’s Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 and Persona 4 Revival, while Square Enix brought the world of FINAL FANTASY XIV Online to life and gave fans a look at FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION.
It wasn’t just global gaming giants drawing attention. More than 90 games featured across the Aus Indie Showcase powered by Superloop, PAX Rising and New Zealand’s Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE), shining a spotlight on innovative independent developers and giving attendees the opportunity to discover their next favourite game.
International Gaming Icons Take the Stage
PAX Aus 2026 also delivered an incredible line-up of special guests, with one of the weekend’s standout moments coming from Holly Longdale, Executive Producer of World of Warcraft, who opened the festival with her fascinating Storytime keynote, who was accompanied by Clay Stone, Associate Production Director for World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment.
Sharing insights from her career and the evolution of one of the world’s most iconic online games, Longdale gave fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at the world of World of Warcraft.
The festival also welcomed gaming and pop culture favourites including Austin Creed, Lenore Zann, Mick Gordon, Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Toshio ‘Foxclon’ Murouchi, alongside a packed program of developer panels, live entertainment, interactive sessions and community discussions.
Tabletop Takes Over
Beyond the screens, tabletop gaming proved another major drawcard, with PAX Aus delivering its largest tabletop offering yet.
The eBay Tabletop Hall brought together board games, trading cards, role-playing games, collectables and passionate communities from across Australia.
From discovering new titles and competing in tournaments to trading collectables or connecting with fellow Classic Gaming enthusiasts in the new Magpie Room, the event reinforced the continued growth of tabletop gaming and its importance within the broader gaming community.
A Celebration of the Gaming Community
Throughout the weekend, the excitement extended well beyond the Expo Hall, with thousands of attendees embracing everything from the energetic morning atmosphere of PAX Hall to the extraordinary creativity on display in Cosplay Land.
Whether it was families discovering gaming together, friends competing in tournaments, fans meeting their gaming heroes or independent developers sharing their creations with the world, PAX Aus 2026 once again demonstrated the power of gaming to bring people together.
Lauren Luciani from PAX Aus said the weekend was a celebration of the passion and diversity of Australia’s gaming community.
“PAX Aus is so much more than an opportunity to play the latest games. It’s a place where communities come together, friendships are made and a shared love of gaming creates something truly special.
“From the incredible energy across the Expo Hall and our biggest-ever tabletop offering, to the hundreds of excellent panels and guests, to the creativity of our cosplay community and the excitement of seeing fans meet their gaming heroes, this year’s PAX Aus has been an amazing celebration of everything that makes gaming culture so unique.
“A huge congratulations and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make PAX Aus 2026 such an incredible three days. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!”
With the controllers finally down, the dice packed away and the costumes safely stored, PAX Aus bids farewell to Melbourne for another year, leaving fans with plenty of memories, new discoveries and excitement for what’s to come.
PAX Aus looks forward to welcoming you home in 2027.
For more information, visit www.paxaustralia.com.au.
