Rules

Eligibility, the vote, integrity, refunds

Short and public. If a rule changes, the change is dated here.

Eligibility

  • A show, conference, summit or festival must have run at least once between 1 January 2026 and 30 July 2027, with a physical audience, in the region entered.
  • A show that runs in several regions may enter each region separately.

Nomination

  • Nomination is public. Anyone can nominate a listed show for an award in its vertical and region.
  • One nomination per verified email per award. Email verification is required; a nomination counts only after the link in the email is clicked.
  • Nominations are counted within attendance size bands: under 5,000; 5,000 to 20,000; over 20,000. Large shows do not swamp small ones.

Entry

  • A show may enter one vertical in one region. Entry is US$99 per show per region.
  • Team awards are US$49 per entry, one award in one region.
  • Organiser awards are US$199 per award per region, and Show Reel of the Year is US$199 per show.
  • Host of the Year, in any of its versions, is US$99 per award per region.
  • Supplier awards are US$199 per category per region.
  • Exhibitor awards are US$99 per award per region, and an entry names the show it exhibited at.
  • Every entry fee is one-time. Prices step up with the date you pay: Founding rate until 31 January 2027, then the Standard rate to 30 June 2027 and the Final rate to 30 July 2027. There is no discount for entering more than one category. Startup of the Year in The Entrepreneur Awards is free.

How many entered

  • Every category is decided on its own, however many entered it, and the number of entries is shown on the award.
  • There is no minimum. An award with one entry is still presented, and the page says it had one entry.

How winners are decided

  • Every award is decided by public vote. One verified vote per person, per award, confirmed by email.
  • An entrant may vote for themselves, once, like anybody else.
  • The entries with the most counted Round 1 votes in each attendance band are the finalists, and the finalist with the most counted votes in Round 2, finalists only, wins. The count is independently certified.
  • Finalists are announced online on Monday 9 August 2027, and entries and Round 1 of the vote close before that, everywhere on 30 July 2027.
  • Round 1 of the public vote is open to every entrant and closes Friday 30 July 2027, end of day Melbourne time. It decides the finalists.
  • Round 2 is for finalists only and runs Monday 9 August to Sunday 29 August 2027, Melbourne time. Every count starts again from zero, and Round 2 decides the winners.
  • Votes are counted in private. No running total is published during either round, so an early lead never puts anyone off entering. A nominee can see their own count in their portal.
  • Winners are announced online at The Virtual Awards Night, streamed. Nobody is named a winner before then, and nobody is awarded twice.
  • The Global Expo of the Year is decided by public vote among the regional winners and announced at The Virtual Awards Night.

Integrity

  • Bot, bulk and traded votes and nominations are flagged and removed before the finalists are named.
  • Sponsors never vote and never see the count.
  • The programme reserves the right to disqualify an entrant for vote manipulation.

Refunds

  • Every entry fee is 100% refundable if the application isn’t approved. Payments are taken by Stripe.
  • Entry fees are also refundable within 14 days if the category is withdrawn.
  • Otherwise entry fees are non-refundable.

Excluded categories

  • Ticketing, registration, event technology and software suppliers may not enter the supplier awards.

Prize

  • Any cash prize attached to the Global Expo of the Year is announced with the winners and paid to the entering organisation.

Version 1.2, 5 October 2026. Changed on 5 October 2026: winners, including the Global Expo of the Year, are announced online at The Virtual Awards Night. Changed on 27 September 2026: the award floor is removed, there is no minimum number of entries, and the number of entries is published on each award. Consumer-law wording on nominations is under legal review.