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The AFAANZ 2026 Conference is the annual flagship event of the Accounting & Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand. It brings together researchers, educators and accounting and finance professionals to present current research and discuss developments affecting the discipline.
The conference has a long-standing role within the Australasian accounting and finance community, particularly as a venue for peer-reviewed research presentation. While academic research sits at the centre of the programme, the event also attracts attendees from professional bodies and policy-adjacent organisations interested in how research informs practice and regulation.
Scheduled for early July in Melbourne, the 2026 edition continues the association’s rotating conference model, moving locations each year across Australia and New Zealand.
Rather than focusing on a single headline theme, AFAANZ conferences are structured around accepted research submissions. This results in a broad programme covering established and emerging areas of accounting and finance research.
Commonly represented topics include financial accounting, auditing and assurance, management accounting, taxation, corporate finance, governance, accounting information systems and accounting education. In recent years, conference sessions have also reflected increased research attention on sustainability reporting, ESG disclosures, digital technologies, and regulatory change.
This breadth allows the programme to function as a snapshot of current research activity rather than a themed industry event.
Paper sessions form the core of the conference agenda. Submissions undergo peer review prior to acceptance, and successful papers are presented in parallel streams organised by topic.
Presentations are typically followed by discussion and feedback, creating space for critique and clarification. This format is particularly valuable for researchers seeking to refine work for journal submission or explore implications beyond academia.
While the primary audience for these sessions is academic, practitioners attending the conference often use them to track longer-term research trends that may influence standards, reporting practices or education curricula.
Alongside paper presentations, the conference programme usually includes keynote addresses from senior academics and researchers in accounting and finance. These sessions often focus on broader disciplinary issues, such as research impact, methodology, or changes in the academic and professional environment.
Workshops and panel discussions are also a regular feature, particularly around doctoral supervision, publishing strategies and career development. Dedicated sessions for PhD candidates and early-career researchers are typically included, reflecting AFAANZ’s role as a professional association as well as a research forum.
Attendance at AFAANZ conferences generally numbers in the hundreds. Delegates include university academics, doctoral students, early-career researchers and representatives from accounting bodies and related institutions.
International participation varies by year but commonly includes attendees from Asia, Europe and North America, particularly those with research interests aligned to Australasian accounting and finance contexts.
The conference is primarily academic in nature, though it remains relevant for professionals seeking exposure to research-led discussion rather than vendor-led presentations.
The Pullman Albert Park Hotel will host the 2026 conference. Located close to Melbourne’s central business district and several major universities, the venue is well positioned for interstate and international attendees.
Melbourne’s transport connections and accommodation capacity make it a consistent host city for national and regional academic conferences, particularly during the mid-year academic calendar.
