Fremantle to Host 2026 Australian Tourism Awards

Fremantle will be the host city for the 2026 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

The announcement was made during the 2025 annual awards event held in Adelaide on Friday 21 March.

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

The gala awards ceremony will be held in Fremantle, with Rottnest Island confirmed as the location for the accompanying Talking Tourism Business Forum.

The Awards attract hundreds of delegates and 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.

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.

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.”

For further information about the Australian Tourism Awards visit: australiantourismawards.com.au/