Quick Answer
Diggers and Dealers is Australia's largest annual mining investment forum, held every August in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, WA. For mining contractors and heavy industry, it's the single highest-density event to meet ASX-listed miners, understand which projects are moving, and line up the next 12–24 months of scope.
- Dates: 3–5 August 2026, Goldfields Arts Centre, Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA
- Australia's largest mining investment forum — running since 1992
- 2,500+ delegates, 60+ presenting companies, 80+ exhibitors
- Strong gold and base-metals focus — the pulse of ASX-listed WA mining
- For contractors: highest-density BD event of the year — book meetings 4–6 weeks in advance
What is Diggers and Dealers?
Diggers and Dealers is Australia's premier mining investment forum, held annually in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia. Since 1992, it has brought together mining company executives, brokers, investors, analysts and service providers for three days of company presentations, deal-making and networking. It is widely regarded as the most influential gold and base-metals conference in the Southern Hemisphere.
Diggers and Dealers 2026 — dates and venue
Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum 2026 runs Monday 3 August to Wednesday 5 August 2026 at the Goldfields Arts Centre in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, WA. The forum typically attracts 2,500+ delegates, 60+ presenting companies and 80+ exhibitors, with satellite events, sundowners and site tours across the Goldfields region.
Why it matters for mining contractors and heavy industry
Diggers and Dealers is where capital meets operators. Contractors, OEMs, drilling companies, engineering firms and service providers use it to meet decision-makers from ASX-listed miners and juniors in one place. It's the fastest way to understand which projects are moving from exploration to development — and therefore where the next mine-build, shutdown and maintenance scopes will land across WA and beyond.
Who attends
Executives and boards from mid-tier and junior miners (Northern Star, Evolution, Genesis Minerals, Ramelius, Regis, Bellevue Gold, Westgold, IGO, Mineral Resources and more), brokers and analysts, WA government representatives, and a large contingent of mining services — drilling contractors, camp providers, engineering firms, OEMs (Komatsu, Caterpillar, Epiroc, Sandvik) and technology vendors.
What contractors should get out of it
Treat Diggers as a business development event, not just a conference. Book meetings with GMs, project directors and supply chain leads before you arrive — most decision-makers' calendars fill 4–6 weeks out. Track which juniors are announcing funding, DFS results or FID decisions — those are your next 12–24 month scopes. Use the exhibition hall and the Palace/Exchange sundowners for informal intros.
Format and highlights
The core program is company presentations (20 minutes each) on the main stage, running Monday to Wednesday. Around this sit the exhibition hall, sponsor sundowners, media briefings and the famous social calendar (Palace Hotel, Exchange Hotel, Judd's). The Diggers Awards on the Wednesday night recognise Dealer, Digger and Emerging Company of the Year.
Getting there and staying in Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is a 55-minute flight from Perth or an 8-hour drive on the Great Eastern Highway. Accommodation books out 6–9 months in advance during Diggers week — many delegates stay in Boulder, at short-term rentals, or fly in daily from Perth. Rio Tinto, BHP and the major contractors often charter aircraft.
How to prepare as a contractor or supplier
1) Build a shortlist of 20–30 target companies before you leave. 2) Study their latest quarterly and any recent ASX announcements — know their production, cost profile and next capital decision. 3) Book meetings in advance via LinkedIn or investor relations. 4) Have a one-page capability statement ready. 5) Follow up within 48 hours — Diggers momentum fades fast if you don't.
Related reading: WA field service and workshop software · How many mining companies are in Australia? · Mining tenders in QLD · Tier-1 contractor expectations · What mining contractors need to know for FY27.
