Queensland has claimed two of the three titles on offer at the 2026 Australia’s Top Tourism Town Awards, with Stanthorpe named the nation’s top tourism town and Airlie Beach crowned top small tourism town.
Stanthorpe took Gold in the category for towns with a population above 5,000, while Airlie Beach won Gold in the small tourism town category, covering destinations with populations of between 1,500 and 5,000. Both had already claimed their respective state titles at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s (QTIC) 2026 Top Tourism Town Awards before going on to national wins, announced at Parliament House in Canberra.
QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said the double win was an exceptional result for the state.
“This is an incredibly proud result for Queensland and a well-deserved national recognition for Stanthorpe and Airlie Beach,” she said. “These awards recognise much more than a beautiful place to visit – they celebrate the businesses, tourism operators, councils, volunteers and local communities that collectively create an outstanding visitor experience and give people a reason to come back.”
Wheeler said Queensland’s diversity – from regional food and wine experiences to its coastal destinations – underpinned the state’s tourism offering.
Stanthorpe’s national win follows its Granite Belt region taking out the Queensland title for 2026.
“For a regional community, being named the best tourism town in Australia is significant,” Wheeler said of Stanthorpe’s win. “It gives Stanthorpe another platform to showcase what makes the destination distinctive and introduces it to visitors who may not previously have considered a trip to the Granite Belt.”
Meanwhile Airlie Beach’s Gold reinforces the Whitsundays’ status as a key gateway to the state’s coastal attractions.
“It’s an honour for Airlie Beach to be recognised at a national level, against fierce competition from around the country,” Tourism Whitsundays CEO Tim Booth said. “This title is a celebration of Airlie Beach’s passionate tourism industry, and the operators who go above and beyond to create exceptional experiences for our visitors.
“After winning awards at a state level for several years, this title demonstrates the continued growth and innovation of Airlie Beach at a national standard, and the town’s significant contribution to tourism across the entire Whitsundays region.”
Queensland’s other national finalists included Toogoolawah in the Tiny Tourism Town category and Jeb Connelly of Gems Tag A Long Tours, a finalist for Top Tour Guide.
The Australia’s Top Tourism Town Awards bring together Gold winners from state and territory programs and are presented by the Australian Tourism Industry Council as part of the national Quality Tourism Framework.
