Organisers are turning the lights down and the volume up with the inaugural MICE at Night, an after-hours twist bringing a fresh buzz to the show floor.
For many café owners, operators, and baristas, attending industry events during standard business hours has always been a challenge – but a new sunset soirée is about to change that at MICE26.
A natural extension of the exciting roster of events throughout the expo, MICE at Night has been designed to better serve the people powering the industry every day.
“We know how hard baristas, managers, and café owners work, so MICE at Night will be an opportunity for them to let off steam while they network,” says Prime Creative Media General Manager – Events Siobhan Rocks.
Taking place on day two (Friday 27 March) of MICE, the initiative will extend show hours into the evening to allow coffee professionals to attend after service, connect with peers, network with industry suppliers, do business, participate in educational discussion, and experience the best of the expo – all at night.
MICE organisers are adjusting the schedule to accommodate the new evening experience. The expo will open an hour later at 11am, with the Global Coffee Report (GCR) Symposium running throughout the morning. MICE at Night will take place from 4pm to 7.30pm, featuring an extended conference program.
The event will serve as a continuation of the expo, shifting the energy from daytime discovery to evening connection, with a special after-4pm entry ticket available.
Curated education for café owners
Education remains a cornerstone of MICE, and in 2026 the Café Owners Education Series on the BeanScene Stage will also be extended as part of the Day 2 program, extending into the MICE at Night program. Three timely and thought-provoking panels will be available to attendees.
How to establish your first caféand be profitable
4:30pm to 5:15pm
Want to start your first café but don’t know where to begin? This panel discusses all the things you need to do to prepare for your first café venture and come out thriving.
Speakers include:
Eddie Cho, Coffee Director/Owner, The Hideout Specialty
Junnie Phyu, Director, Cafe and Coffee Training
John Harte, National President, Restaurant & Catering Association of Australia
Tim Noye, Founder, Clever Cafe
Longevity in the café market
5:30pm to 6:15pm
From navigating market shifts to overcoming inevitable challenges along the way, this panel explores the non-negotiables of building a resilient café business.
Speakers include:
Yuri Angele, CEO & Owner, Brunetti Oro
Bridget Amor, Co-Owner, Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters & Brother Baba Budan
Paris Nassif, Co-Owner, Martha Cafe
Has the art of customer service disappeared?
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Australia’s coffee and food standards are world-class – but how are we really performing when it comes to hospitality?
Speakers include:
James Hennebry, CEO, Rosslyn Coffee
Chris Tate, Operations Manager, Pablo & Rusty’s Coffee Roasters
George Skell, Café Manager, Kuranga Native Nursery Paperbark Café
This article features in the MICE 2026 Showguide: A coffee lover’s guidebook. Pick up your copy of the showguide at MICE.
