Peak Australian Travel Dates 2026

PLAN AHEAD AND SAVE
7
Business Travel Guide · Australia · 2026

Peak Australian Travel Dates 2026

Plan smarter, avoid unnecessary travel costs and give your travellers the best chance of securing flights, hotels and other travel services when demand is high.

Timing can make a big difference to the cost and availability of business travel. Major sporting events, conferences, festivals, public holidays and other large-scale events can put significant pressure on flights, accommodation and ground transport in particular destinations.

Our Peak Australian Travel Dates 2026 guide brings together key dates across every Australian state and territory, helping travel managers, bookers and business travellers plan ahead and make more informed decisions about when to travel.

📅

Plan ahead

Where possible, book well in advance when travelling around major events and peak periods.

💰

Protect your budget

High-demand periods can put upward pressure on fares and hotel rates, so flexibility can help.

✈️

Check availability

Popular events can mean fewer available flights, rooms and transport options, particularly close to the event dates.

2026 Peak Travel Dates by State

Select a state or territory below to view the key events and dates that could influence business travel demand throughout 2026.

New South Wales
Start Date End Date Event
28/12/20251/1/2026New Years
4/1/20268/1/2026Ashes Series
8/1/202625/1/2026Sydney Festival
25/1/20261/2/2026Flickerfest
26/1/202626/1/2026Australia Day
1/2/20261/2/2026UFC 325 Qudos
6/2/20266/2/2026Sydney Summit 2026
13/2/202615/2/2026Ed Sheeran concert
14/2/202617/2/2026Reed Gift Fairs Sydney 2026
17/2/20263/3/2026Chinese New Year
20/2/202622/2/2026Sydney 500 (Supercars)
28/1/20261/3/2026KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix
28/2/202628/2/2026Mardi Gras Parade
14/3/202614/3/2026Womens Asia Cup Quarter Final
21/3/202621/3/2026Womens Asia Cup Final
2/4/202613/4/2026Sydney Royal Easter Show
2/4/20265/4/2026Byron Bay Bluesfest
3/4/20266/4/2026Easter Weekend
9/4/202612/4/2026Australian Athletics Championships
13/4/202617/5/2026Sydney Comedy Festival
25/4/202625/4/2026Anzac Day
29/4/202630/4/2026Sydney Build Expo
30/4/202630/4/2026Women's State of Origin, Newcastle
12/5/202616/5/2026Australian Fashion Week
22/5/202613/6/2026Vivid Sydney
27/5/202627/5/2026State of Origin
8/6/20268/6/2026King's Birthday Public Holiday
8/8/20269/8/2026City2Surf
23/8/202626/8/2026Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Global Conference
29/8/202630/8/2026Sydney Marathon
19/9/202621/9/2026AGHA Sydney Gift Fair
4/10/20264/10/2026NRL Grand Final
5/10/20265/10/2026Labour Day Public Holiday
14/10/202616/10/2026South x Southwest (TBC)
17/10/202617/10/2026Everest, Royal Randwick
7/11/20268/11/2026Rugby League World Cup Semi Finals (Sydney and Newcastle)
13/11/202615/11/2026Australian Supercross Championship (Wollongong) - TBC
Victoria
Start DateEnd DateEvent
12/1/20261/2/2026Australian Tennis Open
26/1/202626/1/2026Australia Day
14/2/202628/2/2026Melbourne Fashion Festival
17/2/20263/3/2026Chinese New Year
20/2/202622/2/2026MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship (Phillip Island)
26/2/202628/2/2026Ed Sheeran concert
5/3/20268/3/2026F1 Grand Prix
9/3/20269/3/2026Labour Day Public Holiday
20/3/202629/3/2026Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
25/3/202629/3/2026Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
25/3/202619/4/2026Melbourne International Comedy Festival
1/4/202611/4/2026Ripcurl Pro Surfing Championships (Bells Beach)
3/4/20266/4/2026Easter Weekend
25/4/202626/4/2026Ballarat Marathon
25/4/202625/4/2026Anzac Day
16/5/202617/5/2026Great Ocean Road Running Festival
28/5/202629/5/2026Digital Workplace Conference
8/6/20268/6/2026King's Birthday Public Holiday
17/6/202617/6/2026State of Origin
8/8/202612/8/2026AGHA / Reed Gift Fairs Melbourne
25/9/202627/9/2026AFL Grand Final
17/10/202617/10/2026Caulfield Cup
23/10/202625/10/2026Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (Phillip Island)
24/10/202624/10/2026Cox Plate
30/10/20267/11/2026Spring Racing Carnival
3/11/20263/11/2026Melbourne Cup Day
13/11/202615/11/2026Penrith Oil Sandown 500 (Supercars)
26/12/202631/12/2026Boxing Day Test & NYE 2026
South Australia
Start DateEnd DateEvent
12/1/202617/1/2026Adelaide International Tennis
16/1/202625/1/2026Tour Down Under
26/1/202626/1/2026Australia Day
12/2/202615/2/2026LIV Golf
17/2/20263/3/2026Chinese New Year
20/2/202622/3/2026Adelaide Fringe Festival
28/2/20265/3/2026Adelaide Writers Festival
5/3/20265/3/2026Ed Sheeran concert
6/3/20269/3/2026WOMADelaide
3/4/20266/4/2026Easter Weekend
9/4/202612/4/2026AFL Gather Round
25/4/202625/4/2026Anzac Day
6/5/20267/5/2026AHICE – Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Conference
10/5/202614/5/2026ATE 2026
8/6/20268/6/2026King's Birthday Public Holiday
5/10/20265/10/2026Labour Day Public Holiday
26/11/202629/11/2026BP Adelaide Grand Final
2/12/20266/12/2026V8 Supercars
Queensland
Start DateEnd DateEvent
1/1/20261/1/2026Wildlands Music Festival
26/1/202626/1/2026Australia Day
12/2/202615/2/2026Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
17/2/20263/3/2026Chinese New Year
18/2/202622/2/2026Gold Coast Open
20/2/202622/2/2026Ed Sheeran Concert
3/4/20266/4/2026Easter Weekend
25/4/202625/4/2026Anzac Day
1/5/20263/5/2026Brisbane Magic NRL
4/5/20264/5/2026Labour Day Public Holiday
8/5/202610/5/2026Brisbane Magic NRL
14/5/202619/5/2026Brisbane Truck Show (date TBC)
14/5/202614/5/2026Women's State of Origin, Brisbane
15/5/202617/5/2026Brisbane Magic NRL
28/5/202628/5/2026Women's State of Origin, Gold Coast
1/6/20265/6/2026IEEE International Blockchain Conference
7/6/20267/6/2026Brisbane Marathon
11/6/202614/6/2026Noosa Food and Wine Festival
8/7/20268/7/2026State of Origin, Brisbane
10/7/202612/7/2026NTI Townsville 500 (Supercars)
12/7/202612/7/2026Cairns Marathon
2/8/20262/8/2026Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival
12/8/202612/8/2026Ekka (Brisbane area only)
15/8/202622/8/2026Hamilton Island Race Week
29/8/20266/9/2026Brisbane River Fire Festival
2/10/20265/10/2026King's Birthday Long Weekend
23/10/202625/10/2026Boost Gold Coast 500 (Supercars)
15/11/202615/11/2026Rugby League World Cup Men’s And Women’s Final- Suncorp Stadium
Western Australia
Start DateEnd DateEvent
2/1/202611/1/2026United Cup Tennis
17/1/202618/1/2026Oracle Perth Sail Grand Prix
21/1/202615/2/2026Perth Fringe World Festival
26/1/202626/1/2026Australia Day
31/1/20261/2/2026Ed Sheeran Concert
6/2/20261/3/2026Perth International Arts Festival
17/2/20263/3/2026Chinese New Year
14/2/202614/2/2026AFL Origin Optus stadium
1/3/202631/3/2026AFC Women's Asian Cup
2/3/20262/3/2026Labour Day Public Holiday
10/3/202612/3/2026Energy Exchange Australia (EXA)
3/4/20266/4/2026Easter Weekend
17/4/202627/4/2026Margaret River Pro Surfing
25/4/202625/4/2026Anzac Day
27/4/202627/4/2026Additional public holiday for Anzac Day
5/5/20267/5/2026ALTA Mining & Metallurgical Conference
1/6/20261/6/2026Western Australia Day
31/7/20262/8/2026Perth Super 440 (Supercars)
23/9/20269/10/2026Perth Royal Show
28/9/202628/9/2026King's Birthday Public Holiday
6/10/20268/10/2026Land Forces Exhibition
15/10/202618/10/2026Cape to Cape MTB Race Event
2/11/20267/11/2026Perth International Jazz Festival
Tasmania
Start DateEnd DateEvent
24/1/202624/1/2026Foo Fighters (Launceston)
26/1/202626/1/2026Australia Day
9/2/20269/2/2026Royal Hobart Regatta
15/2/202615/2/2026Hobart Run the Bridge
17/2/20263/3/2026Chinese New Year
9/3/20269/3/2026Eight Hours Day
13/3/202615/3/2026ECHO Festival
3/4/20266/4/2026Easter Weekend
25/4/202625/4/2026Anzac Day
22/5/202624/5/2026Super 440, Launceston (Supercars)
8/6/20268/6/2026King's Birthday Public Holiday
11/6/202622/6/2026Dark MOFO
2/11/20262/11/2026Recreation Day (not across all of TAS)
15/11/202620/11/2026TARGA Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory
Start DateEnd DateEvent
8/01/2611/01/26Summernats
26/1/202626/1/2026Australia Day
17/2/20263/3/2026Chinese New Year
9/3/20269/3/2026Canberra Day
14/3/202622/3/2026Canberra Balloon Spectacular
3/4/20266/4/2026Easter Weekend
12/4/202612/4/2026Canberra Marathon
25/4/202625/4/2026Anzac Day
10/5/202610/5/2026Federal Budget (exact dates TBC)
1/6/20261/6/2026Reconciliation Day
8/6/20268/6/2026King's Birthday Public Holiday
4/7/20265/7/2026AVCon Anime & Gaming Festival
13/7/202617/7/2026Kanga Cup
12/9/202611/10/2026Floriade
5/10/20265/10/2026Labour Day
12/12/202612/12/2026Spilt Milk (exact dates TBC)
Northern Territory
Start DateEnd DateEvent
26/1/202626/1/2026Australia Day
17/2/20263/3/2026Chinese New Year
5/3/20267/3/2026Darwin Comedy Festival
26/3/202629/3/2026fabAlice Festival
3/4/20266/4/2026Easter Weekend
10/4/202619/4/2026Parrtjima - Festival of Light
25/4/202625/4/2026Anzac Day
4/5/20264/5/2026May Day Public Holiday
8/6/20268/6/2026King's Birthday Public Holiday
19/6/202621/6/2026betr Darwin Triple Crown (Supercars)
17/7/202625/7/2026Darwin Fringe Festival
31/7/20263/8/2026Darwin Cup
31/7/20263/8/2026Garma Festival - East Arnhem Land
3/8/20263/8/2026Picnic Day
6/8/202623/8/2026Darwin Festival
14/8/202617/8/2026Run Larapinta 2026
15/8/202615/8/2026Henley on Todd Regatta
10/9/202620/9/2026Darwin International Film Festival

How to travel smarter during peak periods

You don't necessarily need to avoid every peak travel date. Sometimes business takes you where it takes you. But knowing what's happening at your destination means you can plan with greater confidence.

  • Book early. If your trip coincides with a major event, don't leave flights and accommodation until the last minute.
  • Consider flexibility. Moving a meeting by a day or travelling slightly earlier or later can sometimes open up additional options.
  • Look beyond the obvious. When a city is busy, alternative airports, nearby hotels or different transport options may provide better availability.
  • Build travel dates into your planning. If your organisation regularly sends people to the same destinations, these dates can be incorporated into your travel programme and booking processes.
  • Use your TMC's expertise. A travel management partner can help identify availability issues, alternative options and the most appropriate travel arrangements for your travellers.
A note about the dates

Event dates can change, and additional events may be announced during the year. Some dates in this guide are marked TBC where final dates were not confirmed when the guide was compiled. Always check the latest information when making travel arrangements.

Need help planning business travel?

From finding the right flight and hotel to navigating peak demand, Gray Dawes Travel combines smart technology with real people who understand business travel. We're here whenever and wherever you need us.

Talk to Gray Dawes Travel
Peak dates and events shown in this guide are intended as a planning reference only. Availability and pricing are subject to change.

Related Articles

A New Traveller’s Guide to Better Business Trips

A New Traveller’s Guide to Better Business Trips

Jun 12, 2024

As a new business traveller, going on a business trip can be a daunting prospect. You are expected to ingratiate yourself with people from different cultures and embrace new ways of working. But it is also a highly rewarding experience in which you might meet lifelong connections and find opportunities to advance your career. In this article, we give our top tips to making the most of a business trip both before you leave and during your visit.

Hong Kong: A Business Traveller’s Guide

Hong Kong: A Business Traveller’s Guide

Jun 10, 2024

Strategically located in South China, Hong Kong offers unparalleled access to the burgeoning Asian market and is often defined as the city where East meets West. Colonial-era architecture stands proudly beside soaring modern structures, while ancient temples co-exist with bustling financial districts. This harmonious blend reflects Hong Kong’s fascinating history as a British colony that later transitioned to a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. In this comprehensive guide to Hong Kong for business travellers, we delve deeper into navigating the city’s unique corporate landscape, offer our top tips for getting around, and pick out our top 3 things to see or do to make your trip unforgettable. 

Flight100: Testing The Limits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Flight100: Testing The Limits of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

May 27, 2024

The use and effectiveness of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) remains one of the hottest topics in business travel. Back in 28 November 2023, Virgin Atlantic successfully operated Flight100 – the world’s first commercial SAF flight from London to New York. In this article we extract the key findings of the ground-breaking feat as outlined in the Executive Summary produced by the team behind it all.

discover more articles

GET IN TOUCH

I’m a Client

Let's Go

I’m a Prospect

Let's Go

I’m a Supplier

Let's Go

I’m a Fan

Let's Go