So, you’ve decided to brave PAX Aus for the first time. Congratulations! You’re about to enter a magical world filled with video games, cosplay, giant lines, questionable sleep schedules and the sudden realisation that you absolutely need that piece of merch you saw 20 minutes ago.
PAX Aus 2026 is heading back to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 9-11 October, bringing three days of gaming, panels, live shows, special guests, tournaments, cosplay, tabletop and enough things to see and do to make your head spin.
Whether you’re coming for the games, panels, esports, cosplay, tabletop, merch, or simply to soak up the chaotic energy of thousands of gamers in one building, your first PAX Aus can feel a little overwhelming.
The good news? A little planning goes a long way.
With the PAX Aus 2026 schedule now live, there’s no better time to start figuring out what you actually want to do. Here’s everything we wish someone had told us before our first PAX.
Plan Your Day - But Don’t Overplan It
PAX Aus has a lot happening at once.
The 2026 schedule is packed with panels, live shows, special guests, gaming deep dives, tournaments and community events across all three days. There are already some seriously exciting names on the programme, including World of Warcraft Executive Producer Holly Longdale, CD PROJEKT RED and Fool’s Theory, Austin Creed, Jasmine ‘ThatBronzeGirl’ Bhullar, Gregory Louden, Ify Nwadiwe, Mick Gordon and legendary Australian fantasy author Isobelle Carmody.
And that's before you even get distracted by the games on the show floor.
Before you arrive, take some time to look through the schedule and pick out your absolute must-dos.
Get Familiar With the PAX Aus App
If it’s your first PAX, downloading the official PAX Aus app before you arrive is one of the easiest ways to make your day a whole lot less chaotic.
The app lets you browse the panel and event schedules and build your own personalised timetable, meaning you can keep track of the things you actually want to see without constantly trying to remember what’s happening when.
It also includes interactive maps, which can be particularly handy once you’re inside the convention. Use them to find exhibitors, booths and key areas around the show floor instead of wandering around wondering where the heck you are.
And if you’re the kind of person who sees the words digital badge quest and immediately thinks, challenge accepted, there’s PAX XP. The interactive feature lets you participate in the digital badge quest and scan checkpoints around the venue as you explore.
You can also use the app to check out exhibitor lists, making it easier to find the studios, publishers and special guests you don’t want to miss.
Basically, download it before you get there, have a play around with it and use it to build yourself a loose game plan.
Think of it as your PAX GPS, except instead of getting you to the nearest petrol station, it’s getting you to the panel you desperately want to see.
Build Yourself a Priority List
Rather than trying to schedule every single minute of your day, think of your convention plans in three categories:
Must see: The panel, game or event you would be genuinely devastated to miss.
Would love to see: Things you’d like to do if the timing works out.
If I happen to walk past it: Everything else.
Trying to schedule every single minute of your day sounds efficient until you realise you’ve spent the entire convention speed-walking between halls and haven’t actually had time to enjoy anything.
Give yourself some breathing room.
If there’s a particular panel you really want to attend, arrive early enough to account for queues and seating. Popular sessions can attract big crowds, so don’t assume you can simply stroll in five minutes before it starts.
And there are some very tempting panels on this year’s schedule.
On Friday, PAX Aus 2026 kicks off with Storytime with Holly Longdale, Executive Producer of World of Warcraft, at 12pm. Holly will take fans behind the scenes of World of Warcraft, sharing stories from her career, the evolution of WoW Classic and the ongoing development of the Midnight expansion and wider Worldsoul Saga.
Saturday is bringing some particularly big gaming energy, with A Realm Reburned: The Stories Behind the Stories of FINAL FANTASY XIV, featuring FINAL FANTASY XIV veterans Koji Fox and Toshio ‘Foxclon’ Murouchi. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, audience questions and, naturally, increasingly fiery hot sauces.
There’s also a behind-closed-doors live demo of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Songs of the Past from team members at CD PROJEKT RED and Fool’s Theory, followed by a developer panel.
Elsewhere across the weekend, you can catch Austin Creed discussing his career across gaming, wrestling and entertainment; Jasmine ‘ThatBronzeGirl’ Bhullar talking D&D, Dimension 20, Critical Role and storytelling; and Australian game developer Gregory Louden discussing his career across Control, Returnal and beyond.
Sunday brings a chaotic live D&D one-shot with Ify Nwadiwe and Deerstalker Pictures, while Mick Gordon will reflect on the creative journey behind some of gaming’s most iconic IPs.
There’s plenty for fantasy fans too, with legendary Australian author Isobelle Carmody appearing for a Saturday fireside chat.
And yes, Back Pocket’s PAX PRIME is returning daily, bringing the latest and greatest alongside special guests and your favourite hosts.
Basically, there’s a lot to choose from.
And that’s exactly why you shouldn’t try to see everything.
Leave some time to explore.
One of the best parts of PAX is discovering something you weren’t expecting. You might stumble across an indie game you end up loving, find a cool creator, discover a tabletop game you’ve never heard of or spot a piece of merch that immediately empties your wallet.
Basically, have a plan, but leave room for the chaos.
Prepare Yourself for Queues
This is one of those things you probably know intellectually before attending PAX, but you don’t truly understand until you’re standing in one.
There will be queues.
Queues for games. Queues for panels. Queues for food. Queues for merch. Potentially queues for things you didn’t even realise would require a queue.
Wear comfortable shoes, bring something to keep yourself entertained and make sure your phone is charged.
Queues can actually be a great opportunity to catch up with your friends, chat with other attendees or scroll through the schedule and figure out where you’re heading next.
Just remember to be patient and respectful of the people around you. Everyone is there to have a good time.
Plan Your Cosplay Around Comfort
Yes, PAX is absolutely the perfect excuse to finally wear that cosplay you’ve been working on for months. But before you commit to six-inch platforms, three layers of fabric and a giant prop, remember one very important thing: you are going to be on your feet. A lot.
Between lining up for games, wandering the show floor, waiting for panels and navigating a packed convention hall, you could easily spend most of the day walking or standing.
If you’re planning a cosplay, think about how it will feel after several hours rather than how it looks when you first put it on.
Comfortable shoes are your best friend. If your character absolutely requires elaborate footwear, consider bringing a more comfortable pair to change into when your feet inevitably start begging for mercy.
The same goes for costumes that are particularly warm, restrictive or difficult to move around in. PAX can get busy, and a packed hall combined with a warm cosplay can turn you into a human oven surprisingly quickly.
It’s also worth thinking about your props. Is it easy to carry? Will it survive being bumped into? Can you comfortably sit down while wearing it? And, most importantly, does it comply with PAX’s cosplay and prop rules?
A small emergency kit can also be a lifesaver. Pack things like safety pins, fashion tape, blister patches, deodorant, a small sewing kit and anything else you might need for a quick costume repair.
And remember: you don’t have to cosplay every day. Sometimes the best convention outfit is simply something you can comfortably walk around in for eight hours.
Don’t Forget the Big PAX Traditions
Some PAX staples are returning in 2026, so make sure you leave room in your schedule for the things that make PAX feel like PAX.
The Cosplay Central Crown Championships are returning to PAX Aus for the Australian leg of the competition. While the judges deliberate, you can also catch the PAX Aus Cosplay Catwalk and Kids Cosplay Catwalk.
And, of course, the Omegathon is returning.
If you’ve never experienced it before, consider this your warning: you may arrive with absolutely no intention of getting invested in a competitive gaming spectacle and somehow end up emotionally attached to the outcome.
The full PAX Aus schedule also includes plenty of performances, tournaments and community events still waiting to be discovered.
Lunch and Hydration Are Non-Negotiable
This might be the most important piece of advice in the entire article:
Eat. Drink water. Please.
It is incredibly easy to get caught up in everything happening at PAX and realise at 4pm that you’ve survived the entire day on an iced coffee and sheer determination.
Pack a water bottle and make a conscious effort to drink throughout the day. You’re likely going to be walking considerably more than you normally would, and if you’re wearing cosplay, you may be sweating more than usual too.
When it comes to food, don’t wait until you’re absolutely starving before thinking about lunch.
If you have a break in your schedule, use it. Grab something to eat, sit down for a few minutes and give your body a chance to recover.
If you’re bringing snacks, choose something easy to eat and carry. Muesli bars, fruit, crackers or other portable snacks can be handy when you need a quick energy boost between activities.
Your convention day doesn’t need to be fuelled entirely by expensive food court meals and caffeine.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of sitting down.
Find somewhere to take a proper break, especially if you’ve been walking around for hours. You don’t have to maximise every second of your PAX experience. Sometimes sitting down with your friends and talking about everything you’ve seen so far is one of the best parts of the day.
Give Yourself Time to Wander
One of the biggest mistakes you can make at your first PAX is thinking you need to see everything.
You don’t.
In fact, you probably can’t.
PAX is designed to be explored, and some of your favourite moments might be the things you didn’t plan for.
Give yourself permission to wander through the show floor without a destination. Check out the indie games. Watch people play something you’ve never heard of. Look at the cosplay. Visit the exhibitors. Say hello to creators.
You never know what you’ll find.
And with the 2026 schedule already packed with panels, special guests and events, there’s plenty of reason to put the phone down occasionally and simply see where the convention takes you.
Pack the Convention Essentials
Before leaving for the day, do a quick bag check.
Your PAX survival kit might include:
- Your ticket or badge
- Phone
- Portable charger or power bank
- Water bottle
- Snacks
- Hand sanitiser
- Deodorant (PLEASEEEEEE I BEG YOU)
- Any medication you need
- Comfortable shoes
- Cosplay repair supplies
- A small amount of cash, just in case
- An empty tote bag for the inevitable merch purchases
And speaking of merch...
If you see something you really want, check whether you actually want to carry it around for the next six hours before buying it at 10am.
Your future self will thank you.
Most Importantly: Have Fun
Your first PAX Aus doesn’t need to be perfect.
You might miss a panel. You might spend three hours playing one game. You might abandon your carefully planned schedule because you found something much cooler. You might realise your cosplay was far too warm.
That’s okay.
PAX is a huge event, and trying to experience every single thing can take away from actually enjoying it.
Pick a few things you’re excited about, give yourself time to explore, stay hydrated, look after your feet and embrace the unexpected.
The PAX Aus 2026 schedule is now available online and through the PAX Aus mobile app, so start building your wishlist, but don’t be afraid to throw the whole thing out the window once you arrive.
And if you leave PAX already planning what you’ll do differently next year?
Congratulations.
You’ve officially caught the PAX bug.
