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Planning your next regional getaway? We’re here to help on the inspo front. Victoria has just crowned its Top Tourism Towns for 2026, with some beloved holiday spots taking home the chocolates. For context, the annual awards celebrate towns that go above and beyond to welcome visitors – from creating wildly unique experiences and supporting local businesses to bringing the community together and giving travellers a reason to stick around.
Drumroll, please! Here are the Victorian towns that came out on top this year.
Top Tourism Town: Echuca Moama
A breezy 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne, the historic river hub of Echuca Moama has been named Victoria’s Top Tourism Town for 2026. Once Australia’s largest inland port, it's now best known for its collection of historic paddlesteamers, which still chug along the Murray River – a magical way to take in the region’s history. But according to the Top Tourism Towns team (and anyone who’s visited), there’s much more to the town than its heritage. Outdoor adventures, a thriving food and drink scene, and a packed calendar of events mean there are plenty of reasons to visit Echuca, even if looking back in time or river cruising isn’t your thing. The other finalists in this category were Mildura, Ocean Grove and Swan Hill, with Bendigo scoring the silver medal and Ballarat taking home bronze.
Top Small Tourism Town: Portarlington
Over on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula, Portarlington has been crowned Victoria’s Top Small Tourism Town (for towns with a population between 1,500 and 5,000 people). Known as Australia’s mussel capital, this laid-back seaside spot has become a big fave for Victoria’s foodies, with a hatted chef opening two waterfront restaurants, a grand hotel restored after a multi-million-dollar makeover and award-winning wineries just a short drive away. The finalists in this category were Alexandra, Cape Woolamai, Rochester, Rutherglen and Warburton, with second place going to Port Fairy and Camperdown taking home bronze.
Top Tiny Tourism Town: Portsea
In the cutest category there is (for towns with a population below 1,500 people), Portsea took home gold. Sitting at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula, Portsea serves up an easy coastal escape just over an hour from Melbourne. Silver in this category went to Glenrowan, and bronze prize went to Port Campbell. The other finalists in this category were Avoca, Dunkeld, Marlo, Ouyen and Whitfield.
You can check out all of the winners and finalists over here.
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