Holly Longdale, Executive Producer of World of Warcraft, and a tenured veteran of Blizzard Entertainment, will headline the speakers at this year’s PAX Aus 2026 in Melbourne in October.
The annual Melbourne show celebrates gaming in all its forms, from the world of digital games to tabletop and beyond.
This year, Longdale will deliver a keynote speech as the elected Storytime Speaker, sharing her wisdom and experiences after years of working on high-profile, award-winning online video games.
Holly Longdale comes to PAX Aus – quick links
Holly Longdale joins PAX Aus 2026 line-up
Longdale has worked for over two decades in the games industry, working across companies including Blizzard Entertainment, Disney and Sony Online Entertainment. Her most recognisable games include Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch and EverQuest.
She currently serves as the Executive Producer of World of Warcraft, leading its development and evolution as one of the world’s most popular and enduring MMORPGs. She has contributed to both the Classic and Modern editions of the game, as well as the recently-released and long-anticipated Midnight expansion.
Longdale’s work has largely revolved around Massively Multiplayer Online games, including developing methods to foster communities long-term and to keep evolving content fresh and engaging.
This expertise was gathered while working on EverQuest (1999) under Sony, a game that remains live and has an active player base even today. Working at Disney Interactive Studios, Longdale strengthened her skills working on many licensed titles, including online adaptations of TRON, Pirates of the Caribbean and Hannah Montana.
Over the years, Longdale has gathered a rare expertise and understanding of online play – an arena that has evolved rapidly over the last few years, particularly with the rise of live service games designed to serve audiences with constantly evolving content. We expect she’ll speak at length on this subject matter, revealing more about this process of change and what to expect in future.
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Holly Longdale set to speak on the future of interactive worlds
‘I’m honoured to be joining PAX Aus to celebrate the power of games and the communities that grow
around them: places where people come together through play, creativity and connection,’ Longdale said.
‘From World of Warcraft to gaming more broadly, it’s those communities that shape what we build and I’m looking forward to sharing how we’re thinking about the future of Warcraft with the same focus on listening, creativity and deep respect for the players who make Azeroth feel like home.’
The PAX Aus 2026 organisation team shared they were ‘thrilled’ that Longdale is joining the event.
Lauren Luciani, PAX Aus Event Director, said, ‘Holly Longdale represents the very best of what PAX Aus celebrates: creativity, community and the power of games to bring people together.
‘Her experience in shaping MMORPGs and globally recognised franchises makes her uniquely positioned to speak to the future of interactive worlds.’
While the full schedule has yet to be announced, it’s likely that Longdale, as the Storytime Speaker, will present one of the first talks of PAX Aus 2026.
PAX Aus 2026 runs from 9 to 11 October at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
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Katherine Grace is one of the unsung heroes of Australia’s local games industry. Currently serving as PAX Australia’s Content Manager at RX Global, she helps guide the annual Melbourne show – which brings together all parts of the industry, from commercial to enthusiast – through her expertise, oversight and curation skills.
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