Australia's top QSR operators to tackle investment, growth and customer strategy

The event is a full day of panels and keynotes on the forces reshaping Australian QSR.

Australia's quick-service restaurant industry will gather in Sydney in October for a full day of panel discussions examining the pressures and opportunities reshaping the sector, as the QSR Media Conference & Awards 2026, powered by Red Bull, prepares to bring together the country's leading operators, investors and brand strategists.

Taking place on 12 October 2026 at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, the conference will feature four panel sessions spanning the most consequential issues facing Australian QSR operators right now.

The day's opening panel will bring together chief executives and senior leaders from some of Australia's most recognised restaurant brands for a candid conversation about what it actually takes to win in the current environment — from shifting consumer expectations and emerging formats to the pressure of international entrants raising the competitive bar.

The investment landscape will be examined in a dedicated session featuring multi-brand operators, consumer equity analysts and institutional investment professionals. The conversation will centre on what makes a QSR brand investable right now, what taking on capital looks like from the operator's side, and where institutional money is moving next in the sector.

A third panel will explore how Australian QSR brands are growing beyond their store footprints through retail product extensions, convenience channel partnerships, and format innovation, and how operators are finding new revenue streams without diluting what made their brands worth taking beyond the restaurant in the first place.

Meanwhile, another panel will focus on customer intelligence, bringing together experts in social listening, financial transaction data and brand perception research to give operators a clearer picture of the gap between how brands see themselves and how their customers actually experience them.

The QSR Media Awards will also be held on the day, recognising the standout brands, campaigns and individuals across Australia's quick-service restaurant industry over the past year.

Tickets are now available for the QSR Media Conference & Awards 2026, powered by Red Bull.

Secure your place at one of the industry's most important days of the year. For more information about the conference, click this link.