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Consider your annual leave officially sorted. The 2026 finalists for Australia’s prestigious Top Tourism Town Awards have finally all been revealed, celebrating winners across four categories: Top Tourism Town, Small Tourism Town, Tiny Tourism Town and Top Tour Guide. From beloved coastal hideaways to lesser-known outback spots, this list pretty much doubles as a bucket list of charming regional Aussie destinations worth visiting.
After winning their state and territory heats, Australia’s Top Tourism Town finalists will go head-to-head in a national showdown at Parliament House on September 15. The competition is fierce, with the champions decided through a combination of public votes and scores from an expert industry judging panel.
The most highly anticipated award of the night is Australia’s Top Tourism Town for regional gems with more than 5,000 residents. This year’s line-up sees coastal favourites and 2025 runners-up Devonport (TAS) and Kiama (NSW) go up against High Country hotspots Tanunda (SA) and Stanthorpe (QLD), and inland gems Echuca (VIC) and Kununurra (WA).
Next up is the Small Tourism Town award, celebrating mid-sized regional stars with populations between 1,500 and 5,000. The 2026 lineup pits coastal hotspots Airlie Beach (QLD), Jurien Bay (WA) and Portarlington (VIC) against the charming country towns Deloraine (TAS) and Gulgong (NSW).
Perhaps the most charming category of all, Australia’s Top Tiny Tourism Town celebrates destinations with fewer than 1,500 residents. The 2026 finalists include seaside escapes like Kalbarri (WA), Port Arthur (TAS) and Portsea (VIC), wine country gems Broke (NSW) and Toogoolawah (QLD), and the outback town of Melrose (SA).
The final award of the night is Australia’s Top Tour Guide, celebrating the passionate locals who bring these regional destinations to life. You can check out the full list of finalists below.
Australia’s Top Tourism Town Awards 2026 finalists:
Top Tourism Town
- Devonport, TAS
- Echuca, VIC
- Kiama, NSW
- Kununurra, WA
- Tanunda, SA
- Stanthorpe, QLD
Small Tourism Town
- Airlie Beach, QLD
- Deloraine, TAS
- Gulgong, NSW
- Jurien Bay, WA
- Portarlington, VIC
Tiny Tourism Town
- Broke, NSW
- Kalbarri, WA
- Melrose, SA
- Port Arthur, TAS
- Portsea, VIC
- Toogoolawah, QLD
Top Tour Guide
- Angie Ouyang – National Museum of Australia, ACT
- Chantell Field – Busselton Jetty, WA
- Dr Lisa Gershwin – Glow Tours Tasmania, TAS
- Jeb Connelly – Highlands Development Corp, Jebs Gems Tag-A-Long-Tours, QLD
- Jools De Loryn – Go West Tours/Bunyip, WA
- Laura Stone – Sydney By Kayak, NSW
- Scott Nugent – Experience Coffin Bay, SA
Note: There are no NT finalists, given the territory didn’t submit entries for this year’s awards.