Limited spots open for SMEs at the 2026 AI Government Showcase

Hosted by the DTA, AI Government Showcase 2026 will bring together Australian Public Service (APS) leaders, policymakers, digital and data specialists, procurement professionals, and industry experts to explore the practical implementation of artificial intelligence across government.

The full-day in-person event will be held in Canberra, Wednesday 11 November 2026. Continuing our exploration of Adoption in Action, we will be focusing on moving from AI adoption to practical implementation.

This is your opportunity to be part of a day packed with real-world case studies, lessons learned, and expert discussion. Attendees will explore approaches that support the safe, responsible and effective implementation of the APS AI Plan.

Expressions of interest close 5:00PM AEST Friday 11 September 2026. Places are limited.

Connect Australian AI capability with government

The DTA is seeking expressions of interest from Australian SMEs that offer AI products, services and enabling capabilities relevant to government. This includes businesses working in artificial intelligence, data and machine learning, automation, GovTech, assurance, cybersecurity, integration and workforce tools.

Why participate?

The Showcase provides SMEs with an opportunity to demonstrate practical capabilities to public sector decisionmakers and to better understand government priorities, challenges and emerging use cases. The event is designed to strengthen SME participation, support collaboration between industry and government, and create pathways for future procurement engagement.

Last year’s event saw a blend of exhibition booths, concurrent shortform presentations, and featured main stage content.

The 2025 program featured 30 exhibitors, 49 shortform presentations, and 8 featured presentations.

660+ attendees evenly spread across industry expertise and public sector.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered, an organisation must:

• qualify as a small or medium enterprise

• be at least 50 per cent Australian owned

• offer AI products or services, or enabling capabilities such as data, assurance, cybersecurity, integration or workforce tools, that are relevant to government

• demonstrate capability and readiness to engage with government audiences.

Applicants will be asked to provide information about their business, Australian ownership, AI offering, relevant experience and the opportunity their product or service presents for government. 

The EOI also asks whether the offering can be demonstrated, whether the business has worked with or sold to government, and the business’s preferred form of participation with options for exhibiting in a booth or speaking in the agenda.

How applications will be assessed

Submitting an EOI does not guarantee selection. Where demand exceeds available capacity, applications will be assessed against criteria including: relevance to government, demonstrated capability, exhibitor readiness and contribution to a balanced Showcase program.

Submit an expression of interest

Australian SMEs interested in presenting or exhibiting at the 2026 AI in Government Showcase are encouraged to complete the EOI form.

Expressions of interest close COB Friday, 11 September 2026 and successful applicants will be notified by Friday 25 September 2026.

For successful applicants, the fee to exhibit at the Showcase will be AUD$1,100 (inclusive of GST).

Submit an EOI: SME Expression of Interest (EOI) Submission | digital.gov.au

Find out more about the Showcase: AI Government Showcase | digital.gov.au

For enquiries about exhibiting, sponsorship or participation, contact aishowcase@dta.gov.au.