Australian Made Week 2026 highlighted the growing strength of local manufacturing, championing sovereign capability, regional industry and consumer support for homegrown products.
Australian Made Week 2026 concluded as the campaign’s largest and most ambitious celebration yet, with a packed national program designed to highlight the strength, diversity and economic impact of local manufacturing. Led by Australian Made Campaign Limited (AMCL), the week brought together manufacturers, retailers, government and consumers in a coordinated push to reinforce the value of buying Australian-made products at a time of growing global uncertainty.
The campaign expanded on previous years, with a broader calendar of launches, business events, media activations and social engagement initiatives aimed at connecting Australians more directly with local manufacturers and growers. Across the week, manufacturers from a wide range of sectors were featured through national media, live events and collaborative industry initiatives designed to showcase the depth of Australian capability.
One of the headline moments of the week was the official launch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, chosen to demonstrate the extensive supply chains behind Australian manufacturing. The venue itself became a case study in local industry collaboration, centred around Abel Sports – manufacturer of the MCG’s goal posts – and the network of businesses supporting the product’s development and installation.
“We’ve never had a fuller calendar of activity and events,” said AMCL chief executive Ben Lazzaro. “We’re launching at the MCG because one of our Australian Made businesses, Abel Sports, manufactured the stadium’s goal posts. While Abel Sports directly employs 15 staff, the economic impact generated by the business extends far beyond the company itself, with the production of these footy goals supporting more than 6,000 jobs across the broader supply chain, including Capral Aluminium and ARC, a division of InfraBuild. It’s a really great story to showcase.”
Bringing Australian-made into the home
Another addition to the 2026 campaign was Australian Made House, a new concept developed to demonstrate how consumers could incorporate locally-made products throughout everyday life. The activation featured a series of themed rooms fitted with Australian-made products, spanning living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms.
The initiative became a central hub for media activity and social content during the week, while also serving as the base for several broadcast segments and influencer events. AMCL partnered with the Today show for weather crosses throughout the campaign, using the platform to highlight Australian-made products and businesses in practical settings.
“We know that if every household spends an additional $20 a week on Australian Made products – which is about three items per shop for a family – an additional $11 billion can be generated for the economy and up to 20,000 new jobs created,” Lazzaro said.
“By choosing Australian Made, consumers are investing in local craftsmanship while contributing to local jobs, industries and communities – creating a ripple effect that extends well beyond the home.”
Alongside the consumer-facing elements of the campaign, AMCL also expanded its business engagement activities. Events were held in partnership with chamber of commerce networks across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, while an export-focused event explored opportunities for Australian brands in China.
New voices, growing engagement
The 2026 campaign also benefited from the involvement of media personality Andy Lee, who served as the face of Australian Made Week following previous ambassadors including Ariarne Titmus, Jessica Mauboy, Ash Barty and Adam Liaw. Lazzaro said Lee brought a new demographic reach to the campaign while also maintaining an authentic connection to Australian production.
“We were thrilled to have Andy Lee as this year’s Australian Made Week Ambassador,” said Lazzaro. “Andy has been a long-time champion for Australian-made, both here and overseas – passionately supporting and spruiking the best of Aussie manufacturing and production.”
“He’s got a production company, Lee Bones, and they’ve licensed their TV show to carry the Australian Made logo because it’s made right here. All the animation is done here. He walks the walk and talks the talk.”
Beyond the public campaign, Australian Made Week 2026 also reflected momentum within the manufacturing sector itself. Engagement across AMCL’s digital platforms increased in the lead-up to the event, while applications to use the Australian Made logo rose year-on-year.
According to Lazzaro, applications to use the logo increased by around 24 per cent, signalling stronger interest from manufacturers seeking to align themselves with Australian production and sovereign capability. Close to 200 licensees were featured across campaign activities, media opportunities, giveaways and event partnerships throughout the week.
SMEs at the heart of Australian manufacturing
The campaign also reinforced the importance of small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMEs) within Australia’s industrial landscape. SMEs account for around 65 per cent of businesses licensed to use the Australian Made logo, with many operating in regional communities where the direct economic impacts of manufacturing are often most visible.
“They’re incredibly important,” said Ben Lazzaro. “Around 65 per cent of the businesses using the logo are SMEs, meaning they make up the majority of our licensees. They play a critical role in Australia’s manufacturing sector.
“Our research shows that regional communities have a strong understanding of the flow-on benefits of local manufacturing, because in many areas they see the impact firsthand through businesses and jobs in their own communities.”
Collaboration between manufacturers, retailers and government agencies was another defining feature of the campaign. Retailers, including Harvey Norman, intensified their promotion of Australian-made products during the week, while supermarkets also increased visibility of locally-produced goods.
AMCL also received an investment from the federal government in 2026 to promote and protect the Australian Made logo domestically, helping expand campaign activity across the financial year.
Building capability beyond the week
The broader message underpinning Australian Made Week remained centred on sovereign manufacturing capability and supply chain resilience – themes that have become increasingly relevant since the Covid-19 pandemic and amid ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Lazzaro said Australians had become more conscious of the importance of maintaining local manufacturing capability, particularly following the disruptions experienced during the pandemic years.
“It’s never been more important than right now that we then focus on buying Australian, supporting our Australian businesses, and making sure we do have that resource here,” he said. “We were very lucky that we were able to pivot and make some of those important products that became in short supply globally, but we were able to change our manufacturing plants to start making those products.”
The scale of the sector highlighted during Australian Made Week reflected that importance. More than 4,500 businesses are licensed to use the Australian Made logo, collectively representing around 40,000 jobs and generating combined annual revenue of approximately $8.1 billion.
“That is a pretty compelling set of figures,” Lazzaro said. “And something we can’t do without.”
