With just one week until the doors open on the 2026 ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo, excitement is building across the industry, and registrations remain open for anyone who wants to secure a place at the event.
From Thursday 8 to Friday 9 October, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will become the beating heart of Australasia’s cleaning and facility solutions industry, with a new Healthcare Surfaces Forum kicking things off on Wednesday 7 October for those focused on infection prevention and patient outcomes.
The show floor anchors the event, and more than 2500 attendees are expected to walk it across the two days as 55 exhibiting companies showcase products, equipment and solutions that visitors can see and test in person. Manufacturers, distributors and suppliers from across the cleaning and facility solutions sector will fill the hall, while the ISSA Innovation Zone houses the products shortlisted for this year’s ISSA Excellence Awards. Visitors can back their favourite finalist in the People’s Choice vote during the Expo. ISSA Oceania Manager Lauren Micallef sums up the appeal for attendees. “It’s that combination of innovation and learning that makes the Expo such a valuable experience.”
A new healthcare forum opens the week
Making its debut on Wednesday 7 October, the day before the Expo opens, the ISSA Healthcare Surfaces Forum is hosted by ISSA Healthcare, a division of ISSA, and sponsored by Virtual MGR. This highly interactive forum unites infection prevention professionals, environmental services (EVS) leaders, clinicians, researchers, healthcare executives, manufacturers and building service contractors to explore how evidence-based environmental hygiene, surface selection, cleaning practices and emerging innovation can strengthen patient safety. Linda Lybert, Executive Director of the Healthcare Surfaces Institute and ISSA Healthcare Lead, says, “The Forum is designed to encourage collaboration across disciplines, with expert presentations, facilitated discussions and practical problem-solving focused on advancing healthcare environmental hygiene.”
For anyone working in healthcare or aged care, the Forum opens a three-day run of specialised content. The Healthcare Cleaning Masterclass on Thursday afternoon works through practical strategies for high-risk environments, and Friday adds two complimentary sessions that examine how teams prove a space is clean and where the blind spots in environmental hygiene remain. Alicia Morgan, Account Manager at ISSA Oceania & Asia Pacific, explains the thinking behind the expanded offering. “In response to industry demand, ISSA has expanded its healthcare and aged care offering through the ISSA Healthcare division.”
Sessions for every role on the floor
Supervisors, operations managers, business owners and commercial leaders will each find sessions built around the challenges they face every day. Topics include workforce reform, the psychosocial safety obligations that employers must meet, the reasons capable companies lose tenders they should win, and what asset stewardship means as buildings grow more expensive to run. Teams weighing up robotics can join a session that asks whether the industry is ready for humanoids. These sessions run complimentary in the Education Theatre on the show floor and come included with visitor registration. Alissa Shida, Regional Manager at Kikkoman Biochemifa Company and Education Theatre Sponsor, says, “We’re excited to contribute to the conversations shaping the future of cleaning and hygiene.”
Four interactive workshops offer a deeper dive for those who want to build specialist knowledge. Two focus on people, with From Supervisor to Leader developing the skills that turn capable operators into effective managers and the Healthcare Cleaning Masterclass preparing teams for high-risk environments. The other two focus on business, with Building a Business That Wins showing how compliance can become a commercial advantage and Bringing Science to Cleaning Decisions making the case for evidence over habit when choosing products and methods. Places are limited and bookings are essential.
Leadership, awards and networking
Thursday morning opens with the Women in Cleaning and Facility Solutions Breakfast, presented by the ISSA Hygieia Network, where clinical psychologist, leadership expert and bestselling author Dr Amy Silver delivers her keynote, The Courage to Lead the Future. Dr Silver will share practical strategies for building courage, leading through uncertainty and developing the confidence to navigate change, which makes the session valuable for anyone who wants to strengthen their leadership capability and connect with peers.
The first day of the Expo closes with the ISSA Excellence Awards Celebration in the Innovation Zone, where attendees can enjoy drinks and canapés, recognise this year’s finalists and cheer on the announcement of the winners. Networking continues across both days in dedicated spaces, including the RapidClean Coffee Cart, which gives visitors a chance to meet exhibitors, peers and industry leaders between sessions. Morgan encourages every level of the industry to attend. “Whether you attend to discover new innovations, connect with community or invest in professional development, there is value at every stage of your career journey.” ISSA members enjoy significant savings on workshop registrations.
The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo is the place where the industry comes to learn, connect and shape what happens next, and the doors open in just one week. Register today to lock in your place, book your workshops and build your personal planner before spaces fill.
Registrations for all sessions and workshops are still available on the 2026 ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo website.
