The original founder of Sexpo has acquired the assets of the defunct adult lifestyle exhibition and plans to rebrand the current SexEx event back to its original name. David Ross, who launched Sexpo in Australia in 1996, purchased all assets from the liquidator after the previous operators ceased operations in September 2024.
Ross, often called “Mr. Sexpo,” had sold the Australian operations to Australian Exhibition Group Pty. Ltd. in 2019 before the event’s eventual collapse. He said the new operators had strayed from his original concept of producing inclusive, female-friendly events that showcased content beyond adult products, including spa pools, photography studios, fashion and beauty services.
The acquisition includes international trademarks for the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa and other countries. Ross said he finalized the purchase “for cents on the dollar” and plans to complete the rebranding from SexEx to Sexpo in time for a Sydney event scheduled for May 22-24, 2026 at Sydney Showgrounds, Olympic Park.
A Melbourne event is scheduled for February 6-8, 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Ross said the revived event will return to its original format, which previously attracted up to 68,000 attendees. He had previously expanded the brand internationally, launching events in South Africa in 2007 and London in 2015.
