
The Australasian Hydrographic Society’s (AHS) internationally recognised hydrographic conference program will return in 2026, beginning with the Hydrospatial 2026 Conference.
The conference will be held from 23 to 26 March 2026 at Shed 6 in Wellington, New Zealand.
With a theme of ‘Shaping the Future of Marine Discovery,’ the event will bring together professionals and thought leaders from across government, defence, research, industry and academia to explore the evolving role of hydrography.
The four-day program will feature keynote speakers, technical sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities across six key themes:
- Advances in hydrographic technology and autonomous systems
- Blue Economy and sustainable maritime development
- Coastal infrastructure, ports and harbour innovation
- Climate change, oceanography and marine environmental science
- Law of the Sea, sovereignty and maritime domain awareness
- Hydrospatial data for marine policy, planning and heritage
Further details of the event will be posted on the conference website and also on the Society’s website during the coming months.

LOCATE is Australia and New Zealand’s flagship geospatial event, where the region’s smartest minds meet to explore the technologies, ideas and innovations shaping our world.
Each year, leaders from government, industry, research, and emerging sectors come together to uncover the latest breakthroughs and real-world applications transforming infrastructure, environment, agriculture, energy, mining, emergency response, and urban planning.
If you want to stay ahead of spatial trends, connect with decision-makers, and be part of the conversations driving smarter, data-led futures, this is the place to be.
LOCATE26 will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 24 to 26 November.
Organisers expect at least 1,000 people to attend, making it a not-to-be-missed opportunity for speakers to share their news and views, and for companies and organisations to promote their products and solutions to a prime audience.
Co-located with LOCATE26 will be the 2026 Digital Earth Summit, a major annual global conference of the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE).
The ISDE has brought together global experts for more than two decades, delivering world-leading summits and symposia across 15 countries. In 2026, the combination of the Summit and LOCATE26 will bring a unique international gathering of scientists, industry innovators, educators and government leaders to Australia.