Mumbrella Publish conference rides again as industry faces ‘rewritten rules’

Mumbrella has today announced it will bring back the Mumbrella Publish conference this October, amid what we believe is a critical turning point for the publishing industry marked by economic pressure, fractured audiences, and the accelerating influence of AI and platforms on content, distribution, and business models.

Returning for the first time since the pandemic, Mumbrella Publish will convene the B2B and B2C publishing sectors for an event featuring of off-the-record conversations, provocations, and real-world case studies. 

Earlybird tickets available here.

The focus will be on navigating audience expectations, monetisation models, technology stacks and talent in a media ecosystem that is experiencing unprecedented challenges. 

The conference will be held at the State Library on 28 October.

The Mumbrella Publish Awards, which continue a 29-year legacy dating back to the original Bell Awards, take place on 25th September. The final deadline for entries is 4 July 2025.

Award submissions available here.

Mumbrella founder Tim Burrowes said the return of Mumbrella Publish was a natural extension of Mumbrella’s longstanding role in the publishing sector.

“Throughout Mumbrella’s history, we’ve seen ourselves as part of the publishing community, and wanted to play our part in what is our own industry.

“That included as members of Publishers Australia when that existed as an industry organisation. After Publishers Australia folded, we took seriously our responsibility in keeping the awards going. Having started as The Bell Awards 29 years ago, evolving into the Publishers Australia Excellence Awards and now the Publish Awards, we treasure this annual opportunity to bring our community together.

“That’s why we’re also keen to bring back the Publish conference. Publish has its roots in Magazine Week, which was a partnership between Mumbrella, Publishers Australia and Magazine Publishers of Australia which focused on the glossy end of the market.

“The magazine industry bodies may now be gone, but the contribution Mumbrella can still make is to bring the various parts of the publishing community together under one roof.

“We’ll be looking to work with all of the emerging industry bodies in the space including the Local and Independent News Association and the Digital Publishers Alliance, along with anyone who works in the publishing space.

“With Mumbrella itself seeing a fresh start in its management this year, the return of the Publish conference in October will be an initial effort which we’d love to rebuild into something bigger in coming years.” 

The event will be curated by Mumbrella’s head of curation Cat McGinn, in consultation with industry leaders who will comprise the Publish advisory panel. Anyone wishing to join the advisory or suggest a conference session should contact cat@unmade.media