The 26 most exciting events in Australia in 2026

When: December 27, 2025 – January 3, 2026

Where: Hobart, Tasmania

When: January 12 – February 1, 2026

Where: Melbourne, Victoria

2026 is off to a smashing start in Oz, with the pre-tournament for the Australian Open – the Southern Hemisphere's largest annual sporting event – beginning a week later than usual on January 12. Last year, more than 1.2 million fans flocked to Melbourne Park to see the biggest names in tennis battle it out across the three-week tennis grand slam. In 2026, the action will be hotter than ever, featuring exhibition matches, giant screens, endless Aperols, Australia's first M&M's pop-up store, and live performances by the Kid Laroi, Peggy Gou and The Veronicas – sounds ace!

When: January 17-18, 2026 & February 28-March 1

Where: Perth, WA & Sydney, NSW

Adrenaline junkies, get ready. The world's fastest sailing competition, the Sail Grand Prix, speeds into Australian waters at the end of summer each year. Unfolding over 11 months around some of the world’s most famous harbours, this league-style global comp sees teams of elite sailors race on super high-performance catamarans that reach speeds of up to 101 kilometres per hour. Thrillingly for Aussies, you can get amongst the action at pre-race parties, watch from official fan zones by the water and even hop on a spectator boat.

When: February 5-8, 2026

Where: Carrick, Tasmania

Forget Woodstock. Party in the Paddock is where it's at. Hosted by Triple J in the rural vicinity of Quercus Park, in Carrick, Tasmania, this all-ages, inclusive arts and music festival is made for all kinds of free spirits. The 2026 line-up features so many big names, like Ocean Alley, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Veronicas, Sofi Tukker and The Temper Trap. Plus with yoga, comedy, wellness activities and art installations, it's a festival worth visiting to kick off the new year. 

When: February 13 – March 6, 2026 

Where: Sydney, NSW

The Emerald City is set to sparkle with glitter and good times when Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras struts back into town with 80-plus events over 20 fabulous days. The jewel in the festival’s crown, the Mardi Gras Parade, will light up Oxford Street in spectacular fashion on Saturday, February 28. Other festival highlights include the opening Progress Pride Flag Raising at Sydney Town Hall on February 13, the Queer Screen’s 33rd Mardi Gras Film Festival, and Laugh Out Proud, presented by the Sydney Comedy Festival.

When: February 20 – March 22, 2026

Where: Adelaide, SA

Among South Australia's many eclectic and exciting events, Adelaide Fringe stands proudly as the biggest festival of the calendar year, not to mention the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere. The 2026 program features more than 8,000 global artists performing across 500 venues in an impressive 1,500-plus shows. From fire breathers to comedy stars to giant food tents devoted to all things gluttony, it's really got something for everyone.

When: March 1-21, 2026

Where: Perth, Gold Coast & Sydney

In autumn, Australia will host the Asia Pacific’s top football teams – including the Matildas – for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026. You can cheer on the Tillies as they face off against 2022 champions China, past runners-up South Korea and Japan, and newly qualified teams from India, the Philippines and Vietnam. If the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is anything to go by – the single biggest female sporting event in the world – we expect the Asian Cup to be a knockout.

When: March 14-22, 2026

Where: Canberra, ACT

One of the best times to visit Canberra is during Australia’s longest-running hot air balloon festival. It’s completely free to attend, and you can get right up close to the action as 40 vibrant balloons are inflated and launched high into the sky for a journey over the city’s most iconic landmarks – a guaranteed Instagram win. Of course, the best view in town is from high above in an actual hot air balloon, with flights available to book via Balloon Aloft or Dawn Drifters. Now that’s real bucket list stuff!

When: March 20-29, 2026

Where: Melbourne, Victoria

When: March 25 – April 19, 2026

Where: Melbourne, Victoria

One of the largest comedy festivals in the world, this cacophony of chuckles is for all those who need a bloody good laugh. Running for a decent few weeks in autumn, you can expect to see some of the world's best comedians work their new material on stages across Melbourne city. With a line-up that includes a mix of (literally) hundreds of international and home-grown comics alike, this festival is guaranteed to be an extremely joyful highlight of your year.

When: April 1-11, 2026

Where: Bells Beach, Victoria

Established in 1962, the Rip Curl Pro isn’t just iconic – it’s the longest-running professional surfing competition on Earth. It’s one of only three Aussie stops on the prestigious World Surf League Championship Tour (alongside Margaret River and Snapper Rocks), drawing the best-of-the-best surfers to Australian shores, including five-time world champion Carissa Moore. Held annually over the Easter long weekend, the 2026 edition will kick off the global championship tour that covers nine countries across nine months.

When: April 10–19, 2026

Where: Alice Springs, NT

Australia’s Red Centre is set to sparkle more than ever in 2026 thanks to the return of Parrtjima – A Festival in Light. Our nation’s biggest light and art spectacular had its most successful year to date in 2025, attracting more than 21,000 attendees. For its 11th iteration, festivalgoers can look forward to iconic light installations, live music, performances, workshops, talks, and markets – all shaped and guided by First Nations voices.

When: From April 2026

Where: Sydney, NSW

The world’s number one musical is heading back Down Under in 2026 – and we are excited to witness those iconic, enormous giraffe puppets strut out onto the stage at the gorgeous Capitol Theatre. It's been more than a decade since The Lion King’s last Australian tour, with this epic show captivating nearly 4 million audience members during its two previous tours Down Under. The new Sydney season of this beloved musical is an exciting opportunity for loyal fans to reconnect and to spark a new wave of excitement in the next generation. 

When: May 14-17, 2026

Where: Gold Coast, Queensland

This May, the beloved blues festival is returning to Queensland's Broadbeach on the Goldie, and you're invited. Headlining the amazingly husky-voiced Teskey Brothers, and boasting an impressive lineup of international and Aussie blues talent, this four-day and four-night celebration of rhythm and blues is bringing out the big guns for its 25th year. 

When: May 16, 2026

Where: Darwin, NT

Every year, Darwin heralds in a perfect storm of sequins, disco balls and world-class talent for BASSINTHEGRASS – the Northern Territory’s biggest and longest-running music festival. Blazing sunsets, incredible street food, stunning acts, a whole plethora of parties, silent discos and rainbows galore make BASS worth your salt. Although this one-day festival only happens once a year, if you're planning on making the trip up north, think about making it coincide with this big and fabulous day out.

When: June 11-14, 2026

Where: Noosa, Queensland

When: June 11-22, 2026

Where: Hobart, Tasmania

Want to walk into a witch's heart and drink a tipple of pagan fire? You basically can at Dark Mofo. Returning once again in 2026, this darkly debaucherous festival will soak Hobart in its signature mystery, chaos and red lights for ten days straight. This one-of-a-kind extravaganza shocks, surprises and delights with rituals like the Winter Feast, Night Mass and Ogoh Ogoh. Made to coincide with the winter solstice, it also features the infamous Nude Solstice Swim – which saw a record-breaking 3,000 people plunge into the icy waters of the River Derwent wearing nothing but red caps last time.

When: July 24 – August 2, 2026

Where: Sunshine Coast, Queensland

The Sunshine Coast is good for more than just glittering beaches and tropical rainforests. It’s home to one of Queensland’s fastest-growing foodie festivals, The Curated Plate, which dishes up almost 100 culinary events over ten tasty days, stretching from the coast to the hinterland. Last year’s program featured long table lunches, night food markets, First Nations cultural cruises, family-friendly picnics and the return of the ever-popular Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2026.

When: July 31 – August 3, 2026

Where: Arnhem Land, NT

There's nothing quite like the Garma Festival. Known as Australia's largest Indigenous gathering, this huge event in remote northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory has been running for almost 30 years. Created by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, it's a deep celebration of Yolngu culture, art and storytelling, right in the heart of Yolngu land. Tickets are inclusive of tent accommodation, food and sleeping bags, so all you need to bring is yourself. 

When: August 13-24, 2026

Where: Hobart, Tasmania

When: September 4-26, 2026

Where: Brisbane, Queensland

Signature pink and white banners start generating Brisbane Fest excitement mid-year, signalling the return of the country’s biggest international arts festival. There’s heaps to get hyped about in 2026, starting with Riverfire, when the city’s biggest firework spectacular explodes over the Brisbane River. The rest of the action takes place around the CBD and South Bank throughout the month, with 1,000-plus gigs and theatre performances, alongside food trucks and art exhibitions. 

When: September 12 – October 11, 2026

Where: Canberra, ACT

You’ve probably heard about the rainbow wonders of Canberra’s Floriade, but if you haven’t been before, this is your year. Entry to the massive spring flower festival is totally free during the day, where you can marvel at the beauty of one million blooms that have been manicured into all sorts of shapes and patterns. As the sun sets, Floriade turns into NightFest, offering a magical atmosphere with live music, bright light shows and an adult’s adults-only Spiegeltent.

When: September 12 – October 6, 2026

Where: Toowoomba, Queensland

Toowoomba has a reputation for being the ‘Garden City’ – so a few smart noggins thought that segued nicely into a celebration of such. Fair to say the idea was a good one, given the town’s flower carnival has been going strong since 1949. Throughout the festival, Toowoomba turns into a sea of colour and a waft of perfume with thousands of flowers blooming across major displays in the Botanic Gardens, Queens Park and Laurel Bank Park. The carnival has a series of side events, including twilight sessions, a teddy bears’ picnic, a floral parade, and a dedicated festival of food and wine.

When: October 2026 (date TBC)

Where: Wynyard, Tasmania

In October, Tasmania springs to life for the Wynyard Tulip Festival – a massive, one-day flower fiesta in Gutteridge Gardens, just two hours from Launceston. This perfectly coincides with peak tulip season at Table Cape Tulip Farm, which is believed to be the largest tulip field in the Southern Hemisphere. The farm is at the heart of the festivities, with free shuttle buses running every 30 minutes from the festival hub. While the tulips are the star of the show, festivalgoers can also look forward to a packed program of local entertainment at Gutteridge Gardens, including delicious street food and a grand fireworks finale at the gardens.