Busselton to host Emergence Creative Collision 2026, Thursday 20 August

Great things happen when creative minds collide. On Thursday 20 August 2026, Creative Tech Village (CTV) brings that energy to Busselton for Emergence Creative Collision 2026, a full day of connection, ideas and momentum for the region’s creative and innovation community.

The day is open to creative professionals, founders, freelancers and small businesses working across digital media, screen, games, immersive technologies, software and other innovation-driven fields. Entry to the flagship Bandwidth Plug-In session is free.

The program runs from lunch to late, across Busselton venues:
● The Spaces Between: a Collision Commune lunch with the Perth Advertising and Design Club (PADC), in collaboration with Creative Corner. Five founders share five stories: the wins, the wipeouts and everything in between.
● Bandwidth Plug-In Sessions at Saltwater (1.30pm to 4.30pm): CTV’s flagship capability-building and mentoring program, delivered with Creative Corner and supported by the City of Busselton and the South West Development Commission. Expect Q and A panels, practitioner presentations and mentor meet-ups, then networking at Shelter Brewing Co from 5pm.
● Shark Tank South West Style Pitch Night: WA startup founders pitch bold ideas and compete for a People’s Choice Award, with the pitch section live-streamed across the state. Presented with Meshpoints, powered by Spacecubed, and supported by the WA Department of Energy and Economic Diversification’s Innovation Pathways Program.
● Road Spill II at the Firestation: the after-hours finale with a live music jam from local talent, live art and a room of creatives keeping the conversations going.

Confirmed Bandwidth speakers and mentors include Eliza Carbines (Founding Director, Tender Relief; WA SBDC and WA Innovation Advisory Board member), Gunjan Poddar (creative strategist, formerly Leo Burnett and Amazon), Dr Marny Lishman (psychologist, author and performance coach), Yamatji and Yued Noongar artist Amanda Bell, filmmaker Ben Akers, media artist Roly Skender, Co-Founder of Bloom Capital, Toto Boudtara, and visual storyteller Sean Hsu.

Proven impact: In 2025, Bandwidth delivered 157 mentoring sessions to 48 participants in its Amplify pathway, supported by 26 industry experts, with more than 250 attendees across its free Plug-In events. This year, Busselton, Joondalup and Bunbury attendees can register for free for Amplify, a structured online one-on-one mentoring pathway open to regional and metropolitan creatives. (Limited free places.)

Mat Lewis, Director, Creative Tech Village, said: “Emergence Creative Collision 2026 supports the Western Australian Government’s priorities for economic diversification and regional jobs. By building commercial capability, strengthening SME and startup pathways and connecting regional creatives with industry and mentorship, the day reflects the goals of Creative WA and Diversify WA.”

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday 20 August 2026
Location: Busselton, Western Australia (venues include Saltwater and the Firestation)
Bandwidth Plug-In: 1.30pm to 4.30pm at Saltwater. Free entry.
Networking from 5pm at Shelter Brewing Co.
Tickets and full program.
Supported by: City of Busselton, City of Joondalup, City of Bunbury, SWDC and IIF Conference
In collaboration with: PADC, Creative Corner, South West Angels