From 15 to 17 September, the Christian Media & Arts community gathered at QT Gold Coast for CONNECT26, bringing together people from across Australia and New Zealand for three days of creativity, learning, worship, celebration and connection.
What a few days.
From 15 to 17 September, the Christian Media & Arts community gathered at QT Gold Coast for CONNECT26, bringing together people from across Australia and New Zealand for three days of creativity, learning, worship, celebration and connection.
Centred around our theme RESONANCE, this year’s conference explored what can happen when our creativity, leadership and communication are aligned with the voice of God, carrying truth, beauty and goodness into the world.
Thank You to Our Speakers and Artists
We are incredibly grateful to every speaker who generously shared their experience, insight and encouragement with our community.
Across the conference, we heard from voices including Greg Sheridan AO, Bruce Downes, Craig Bruce, Chris Guerra, Kelsey Cooke-Guerra, Safina Stewart, Strahan Wallis, Anita Anabel, Dr Leah Kadwell, Mathew Eggleston and Phillip Turpin, with sessions spanning faith, leadership, storytelling, creativity, media, technology, audience connection and the future of our industries.
Thank you also to our artists Sean Rodriguez, Lucy Sugerman, Jamey Foxton and LILLI, who brought another dimension to CONNECT26 through their music and creativity.
Sean also helped bring our sold-out CONNECT PLUS+ gathering to life with live music alongside friends, hosted by Chris Guerra and Kelsey Cooke-Guerra.
To every speaker, panellist, breakout facilitator, musician and worship leader who stepped onto a stage across the week, thank you for bringing your gifts so generously.
Celebrating Our Community
CONNECT26 began with the 2026 Excellence in Media & Arts Awards, celebrating outstanding creativity, innovation, service and impact across Christian media and the arts.
The evening also recognised three extraordinary leaders, David Turrell, Penny Mulvey and Alan Rich, with CMAA Legacy Awards honouring their decades of leadership and contribution to the sector.
See all the 2026 Excellence in Media & Arts Awards winners →
We also celebrated the 2026 People’s Choice Awards, voted by audiences across Australia and New Zealand, recognising Ethan Beer / Youth Alive, LILLI, for KING + COUNTRY, Omega Levine and Oscar Ironside.
See the 2026 People’s Choice Awards winners →
It Takes a Village
CONNECT is about far more than what happens on stage.
Some of the most valuable moments happen around tables, over coffee, between sessions and in conversations between people who understand both the opportunities and challenges of working in Christian media and the arts.
That was particularly evident this year through CONNECT PLUS+ and Beyond the Song, which created even more space for relationships, collaboration and industry connection.
None of it would be possible without the many people working behind the scenes.
To our sponsors and partners, thank you for investing in this community and helping make CONNECT26 possible.
To our volunteers, production and AV teams, photographers, videographers, stage teams, MCs, worship team and the team at QT Gold Coast, thank you for the countless details that helped the event run so smoothly.
And to every delegate who travelled, participated, asked questions, shared ideas, encouraged someone and made time for a new conversation, thank you.
You are what makes CONNECT what it is.
We leave CONNECT26 deeply grateful for this community, encouraged by what God is doing through Christian media and the arts across Australia and New Zealand, and excited for where the conversations and connections formed this year will lead next.
Thank you for making CONNECT26: RESONANCE such a special few days.
We’ll see you at CONNECT27.