The cleaning and facility solutions industry is evolving faster than ever. For building service contractors and facility managers, this means navigating ongoing labour shortages, cost pressures and complex compliance requirements while meeting higher expectations around hygiene, sustainability and service delivery. With rapid advancements in technology and increasing demands for efficiency and transparency, businesses are being challenged to adapt, innovate and prove their value like never before.
Against this backdrop, the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo returns to Melbourne on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October 2026, gathering the industry’s leading facility managers, service providers, manufacturers, distributors and decision-makers for two days dedicated to innovation, education and business growth.
Returning to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for the first time since 2023, the Expo is expected to attract more than 2500 attendees from across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. With more than 85 percent of exhibition space already sold, the event is shaping up to be one of the industry’s most significant gatherings, bringing together a connected community of professionals to share insights, build relationships and move the sector forward.
As businesses continue to navigate technological change, workforce pressures and evolving customer expectations, ISSA Oceania Manager Lauren Micallef says the importance of industry collaboration has never been greater.
“The pace of change across the cleaning and facility solutions industry continues to accelerate, creating both challenges and opportunities for businesses,” she says. “That’s why events like the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo are so important. The enthusiasm we’re seeing for the 2026 Expo reflects the industry’s desire to come together, learn from each other and explore what’s next. Returning to Melbourne provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the innovation, expertise and resilience that continues to drive the cleaning and facility solutions sector forward.”
More than a trade show
While the Expo remains the industry’s premier showcase for innovative products and services, it has evolved into a platform for education, professional development and connection with community. Through ISSA-led workshops, expert-led sessions and practical learning opportunities, the event addresses the critical issues shaping the future of cleaning and facility management. Attendees are equipped with the knowledge, skills and insights needed to navigate a rapidly changing landscape.
Previous visitor research found the leading reasons for attendance included increasing industry knowledge, staying up-to-date with emerging trends, networking with new contacts and discovering innovative products and services.
As Alicia Morgan, ISSA Oceania & Asia Pacific Account Manager, explains: “One of the most rewarding parts of the Expo is seeing our community come together to learn and support one another – whether that’s through a hands-on product demonstration, the inaugural ISSA Healthcare Surfaces Forum, estimating, compliance and workloading workshops, the Hygieia Network breakfast supporting women in our industry, the Excellence Awards Celebration or the show floor Education Theatre. The goal of this marquee event is to create welcoming space for meaningful conversations and commercial advantage.”
From autonomous cleaning equipment and smart facility technologies to sustainable cleaning solutions and data-driven management platforms, the Expo offers a critical advantage. It gives attendees the ability to see products first-hand and compare options side by side. They can engage directly with suppliers, ask practical questions and experience live demonstrations. This supports more informed, confident procurement decisions and stronger long-term investment outcomes.
For exhibitors, that face-to-face engagement remains one of the Expo’s greatest strengths, providing a platform to showcase innovation in a live environment while building meaningful connections with both existing customers and new prospects. For workforce management specialist iQCheckPoint, returning as a Gold Sponsor is about engaging directly with those driving change across the industry.
“Returning to the Expo allows us to deepen relationships and connect with decision-makers on the ground,” says Steven Tanusoski, Senior Manager of Strategy and Growth at iQCheckPoint. “The conversations are practical and highly valuable, helping us showcase our platform while staying aligned with what the industry needs next.”
A similar view is shared by Makitia, another returning Gold sponsor: “This annual event provides a great opportunity for us to connect with the industry and demonstrate our support for the market,” says Stephen Keighley, Product Manager OPE & Commercial Cleaning, Makitia. “We’ve seen first-hand the value of engaging directly with attendees and highlighting the advantages of Makita’s cordless technology at this important industry event.”
While innovation and education continue to attract attendees, the Expo’s true value lies in the connections it fosters and the strong business community it brings together. From suppliers and contractors to facility managers and procurement professionals, it offers a rare opportunity for the entire supply chain to connect in one place.
Supporting the attendee experience this year is the RapidClean cooperative, exclusive sponsor of the Expo Coffee Cart. Located on the show floor, the coffee cart will provide attendees with a convenient meeting point to connect with colleagues, suppliers and industry peers while taking a break from the busy exhibition and education program.
Education driving industry progress
As industry challenges become more complex, education continues to play a critical role in helping organisations stay competitive. The complimentary ISSA Education Theatre attracts professionals eager to gain practical insights they can immediately apply within their businesses. This year’s program will feature presentations and panel discussions covering topics including infection control, healthcare cleaning, sustainability, technology and automation, workforce development, business growth and evolving facility hygiene standards.
The importance of ongoing professional development has attracted the support of Kikkoman Biochemifa as exclusive sponsor of the Education Theatre.
“Sponsoring the Education Theatre at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene is a natural extension of our mission,” says Alissa Shida, Regional Manager, Kikkoman Biochemifa. “We provide rapid, reliable hygiene and sanitation testing that empowers professionals to make confident, evidence-based decisions. That commitment aligns perfectly with the role education plays in strengthening industry standards.”
The popularity of the theatre continues to grow year after year. As Garry Carroll from Restore Solutions observed following last year’s event, “It was standing room only and the seats were packed. There were some great industry speakers in there.”
For professionals looking to go beyond the show floor, the Expo will also feature a series of paid, in-person workshops designed to deliver practical skills and actionable strategies that can be implemented within their organisations.
Covering areas such as business growth, leadership, estimating, work loading, compliance and service delivery, the workshops are tailored to help cleaning and facility solutions professionals strengthen their capabilities, improve business performance and build long-term success.
The workshops will be led by experienced industry practitioners, including ISSA Associate Director of Education, Training and Field Services Derek Oliveira, who believes continuous learning is essential in today’s operating environment.
“The pace of change across our industry means that standing still is no longer an option. Businesses are facing increasing pressure from rising costs, workforce challenges and higher customer expectations, making operational excellence more important than ever. The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo and its workshop program provide a valuable opportunity for professionals to step away from day-to-day operations, learn from industry experts and gain practical strategies they can take back and implement immediately within their organisations.”
Leadership conversations take centre stage
Among the highlights of the 2026 program is the ISSA Hygieia Network’s Women in Cleaning and Facility Solutions Breakfast, proudly sponsored by Tork. Now in its third year, the event returns on Thursday morning ahead of the Expo opening, bringing together professionals for a morning focused on leadership, connection and professional growth.
This year’s keynote speaker, Dr Amy Silver, will present on ‘The Courage to Lead the Future’. Drawing on more than 30 years’ experience as a clinical psychologist, leadership expert and author – alongside her own family background working within the industry – she will explore how leaders can navigate uncertainty, overcome fear and build the courage needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
“Tork’s Inclusive Hygiene initiative is focused on developing solutions that meet the diverse needs of all washroom users. Inclusive hygiene means ensuring that as many people as possible can access safe, comfortable and dignified hygiene experiences. Research shows that poor public washroom experiences can negatively impact both business reputation and revenue,” says Jasmine Gribble, Brand and Communications Manager ANZ Professional Hygiene, Tork Australasia.
“Tork’s commitment to inclusivity aligns closely with the membership mission of ISSA Hygieia, which supports women and their allies in the cleaning industry to accelerate their careers and reach their full potential through inclusive leadership and professional development opportunities,” Alicia Morgan ISSA Oceania & Asia Pacific Account Manager adds.
Following Dr Silver’s keynote, a panel of leading women from across the industry will explore topics including leadership, mentorship, workplace culture and the future opportunities shaping the sector. The event continues to attract strong support as both a networking and professional development opportunity. Reflecting on last year’s event, Nicole Scott from Whiteley Corporation says, “The show has been great. Kicked off with the networking session. It was great to see the number of women who showed up from across the cleaning industry.”
A new healthcare forum focused on patient safety
Further expanding the educational offering, the association will launch the inaugural ISSA Healthcare Surfaces Forum on Wednesday 7 October 2026, the day before the Expo show floor officially opens.
Presented by ISSA Healthcare, a division of ISSA, the Forum brings together healthcare professionals, environmental services teams, building service contractors, manufacturers and scientists to address one of healthcare’s most critical challenges – creating safer, smarter healthcare environments through improved surface management and infection prevention.
Unlike traditional offerings, the Healthcare Surfaces Forum is designed as a highly interactive, hands-on event where participants work collaboratively to identify industry challenges and develop practical solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with experts from across the healthcare ecosystem, explore the role environmental surfaces play in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and examine current standards, testing methods, protocols and product compatibility requirements.
“The Healthcare Surfaces Forum is designed to bring together people who don’t often have the opportunity to sit around the same table,” says Linda Lybert, Executive Director, ISSA Healthcare. “When healthcare professionals, environmental services teams, manufacturers, contractors and scientists collaborate, we uncover challenges, identify gaps and develop practical solutions that can improve patient safety.”
More than just a one-day event, the Forum is designed to drive lasting change. Participants will contribute ideas, join working groups and help shape initiatives that continue beyond the event itself, making it a valuable opportunity for anyone committed to advancing patient safety, environmental hygiene and healthcare outcomes.
“The most valuable conversations often happen when different disciplines come together to solve a common problem,” Lybert adds. “The Forum creates that environment – bringing healthcare, science and industry together to turn knowledge into action and improve outcomes for patients, staff and healthcare facilities.”
Celebrating innovation
Innovation has always been at the heart of the ISSA Cleaning and Hygiene Expo, and nowhere is that more evident than in the ISSA Excellence Awards. Recognising the products, technologies and services transforming the cleaning industry, the awards highlight solutions that address some of the sector’s most pressing operational challenges while improving performance, efficiency and occupant wellbeing.
The awards also provide a powerful community platform to gain recognition and showcase latest advancements. As Lisa Michalson, Director of CLEANSTAR/XPOWER and ISSA Member reflects, “The benefits and recognition from the industry have been profound. The awards provided a great platform for us to showcase our latest products and innovations. We highly encourage other organisations to participate and, in doing so, continue to raise the recognition of the industry.”
This value is shared across the industry. Reflecting on the broader impact of the Expo, last year’s People’s Choice winner was PUDU MT1. Petros Papas of PUDU Robotics HK Limited, highlights its role in connecting innovation with real-world application. “The ISSA Show is an important event for us. We get to showcase our latest technology and innovation. It is the one place where we can bring together new potential clients and existing customers, giving us the opportunity to educate and demonstrate our solutions.”
Finalists will be showcased throughout the Expo within the dedicated Innovation Zone, giving attendees the opportunity to experience emerging technologies first-hand and vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award, which will be announced on the final day of the event. The Excellence Awards presentation will take place on the Expo floor on Thursday afternoon, providing exhibitors and visitors alike with the opportunity to celebrate achievement, with industry peers and gain insight into the innovations shaping the future of cleaning and facility management.
Looking ahead
As the cleaning and facility solutions industry continues to evolve, opportunities to connect, learn and innovate have never been more important.
From cutting-edge technology and industry-leading education to leadership development, healthcare innovation and business networking, the ISSA Cleaning and Hygiene Expo 2026 is set to deliver an experience that reflects both the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the industry.
For professionals looking to stay ahead of change, discover new ideas and strengthen industry connections, the ISSA expo will once again become the place where the cleaning and facility solutions community comes together.
Pre-registration is now open, with industry professionals encouraged to secure their place and join the wait list. To learn more about ISSA Oceania and Asia-Pacific, the association behind the ISSA Cleaning and Hygiene Expo, visit issa.com/oceania
