Western Australia to host next Australian tourism awards

Fremantle/Walyalup in Western Australia will be the host city for the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in 2026 where tourism’s best will gather.

The announcement was made during the annual awards at the 2025 event held in Adelaide on Friday night.

The awards are presented by the Australian Tourism Industry Council and are the pinnacle celebration for the Australian tourism industry, with winners and finalists from each state and territory competing across more than 25 categories, from major tourist attractions to cultural tourism experiences, accommodation, and restaurants. The Awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding individuals and businesses from the previous calendar year.

Fremantle won the rights to host the 2026 event after a collaborative bid from Tourism Western Australia and Business Events Perth, with additional support from the Rottnest Island Authority and the City of Fremantle.

The awards bring hundreds of delegates and attracts a high-profile guest list each year, including federal and state tourism ministers, leaders of state and regional marketing bodies, and heads of national tourism industry associations.

Fremantle, as a popular historical and cultural hub, has been announced as the location for the gala Awards ceremony, with the iconic Rottnest Island/Wadjemup, known for its stunning beaches and the famous quokka, confirmed as the location for the accompanying Talking Tourism Business Forum.

Tourism WA managing director, Anneke Brown, said hosting the awards will drive business visitation and elevate WA as a destination to a wide interstate audience, while also generating national media attention and industry recognition for the state’s world-class operators.

““Hosting this event is a fantastic opportunity for Western Australia and will allow us to showcase the wonders of WA and our incredible operators to industry professionals from around the nation,” Brown said.

Business Events Perth chief executive officer, Gareth Martin, emphasised that securing the Australian Tourism Awards and Talking Tourism Business Forum 2025 is a testament to Western Australia’s reputation as a premier destination for world-class business events.

“Hosting this prestigious national event is a significant achievement for Western Australia, providing a valuable platform to showcase our state’s excellence in travel and tourism,” Gareth Martin said. “It will bring industry leaders together, foster collaboration and further strengthen the state’s tourism and business events sector.”

Rottnest Island Authority executive director, Jason Banks, said the Talking Tourism Business Forum showcases the best of Western Australia to local and interstate attendees.

“As the jewel in Western Australia’s tourism crown, we are delighted to welcome the Business Forum to Rottnest Island in 2026,” Banks said. “Delegates will immerse themselves in the island’s cultural history and natural environment while collaborating with the best tourism operators from across Australia.”

City of Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the port city was excited to welcome Australia’s best operators to town in 2026.

“We are excited for the tourism industry’s best to experience all the unique attractions that make Fremantle a must-visit destination, where history, culture and coastal beauty intertwine,” Mayor Fitzhardinge said. “They will see how easy it is to lose yourself in Fremantle’s enchanting streets, with boutique shops, hidden bars and vibrant street art, all set within one of Australia’s largest heritage-listed precincts.”