About Activate Conference
The world stage for exercise and sports science
Activate Conference, powered by Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), is where the global exercise and sports science community comes together to connect, learn and lead.
Held from 30 April – 2 May 2026 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, Activate is a bold reimagining of ESSA’s iconic Research to Practice conference — a world-class experience designed to inspire, challenge, and celebrate our profession.
Whether you’re presenting new research, growing your practice, or looking to connect with the brightest minds in exercise and sports science, Activate Conference is where it all comes together.
Powered by ESSA
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is the nation’s leading voice on exercise and sports science.
ESSA governs and represents university-qualified professionals who support Australians to reach their health and performance goals. ESSA is striving toward a future where exercise and sports science is universally recognised as essential to human health and performance.
Who’ll be there?
Over three dynamic days, you’ll join around 1,500 delegates along with sponsors and exhibitors from across Australia and around the world.
Expect to connect with exercise and sports scientists, exercise physiologists, researchers, educators, allied health professionals, and fitness leaders — all united by a shared purpose: to advance health, performance and wellbeing through exercise and sport.
Why attend
- Hear from world-leading thinkers, shaping the future of the field
- Dive into the latest research, tools and tech
- Meet your CPD requirements in 3 days – 20 CPD points
- Connect with your community (and potential collaborators)
- Head back to your every day with fresh ideas, real case studies and new energy
Explore Adelaide
Step beyond the conference walls to explore Adelaide’s unique culture through curated site visits, live tours and immersive networking events. Why not build in a post conference getaway? Just a short drive from the city, explore world-renowned wine regions like the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Adelaide Hills.
ESSA Awards night
When the work is done, we celebrate! The conference culminates in ESSA’s Awards night, honouring the people and achievements driving our industry forward. It’s where we recognise the people, ideas and breakthroughs shaping the future of exercise and sports science.