As Australia stands at a critical juncture in its strategic and defence evolution, the 2026 Defending Australia summit will bring together political, military, and industry leaders to explore the central theme of 'Readiness in the Age of Conflict'. The event will be held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Keynote Address and Discussions
SkyNews.com.au will stream the summit live on Tuesday, featuring a keynote address from Defence Minister Richard Marles. Mr Marles will also participate in a discussion on Australia's defence and national security with The Australian's chief international correspondent, Cameron Stewart.
Prominent Speakers
In addition to the Defence Minister, the summit will host Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko, shadow defence minister James Paterson, former United States national security director Liza Tobin (who served under the Biden and Trump administrations), former defence department secretary Dennis Richardson, and Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro.
Panel Discussions
Following Mr Marles' address and a conversation with Ms Tobin, attendees will hear from three panels covering major topics affecting Australia's defence and security:
- Panel 1: The Iran war and its ongoing implications
- Panel 2: Lessons from modern conflicts and their application to Australia
- Panel 3: Strategies for building resilience in energy, manufacturing, and supply chains
Ms Finocchiaro will address the summit between the first and second panels.
How to Watch
Watch the 2026 Defending Australia summit live from 6.30pm AEDT on Tuesday with a Skynews.com.au streaming subscription.
