Melbourne Royal Show 2026 Opens 24 September With New Animal and Arena Shows

The state's largest annual community event returns to its showgrounds for eleven days this spring, with a set of new attractions added to the program.

The show mixes agriculture, competitions, rides and food, and it draws visitors from both the city and the regions. Organisers have widened the food lineup and added family travel options.

Image: Melbourne Showgrounds Grand Pavilion, by RAS Victoria via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Dates, location and opening hours

The 2026 Melbourne Royal Show runs for 11 days from Thursday 24 September to Sunday 4 October 2026. It is held at Melbourne Showgrounds on Epsom Road in Ascot Vale, within the Moonee Valley local government area, about 7 kilometres from the CBD.

Gates are open from 9.30am to 9.30pm daily. That is 12 hours of access each day, and entry covers the fireworks that finish every night.

The full program and the live daily schedule are published on the Melbourne Royal Show site. The Melbourne Showgrounds event page carries the venue's own travel and access information.

What is new for 2026

Several additions sit at the centre of this year's program. The Great Muster is a 15-minute live show with working dogs, sheep and goats, running four times daily.

The Animal Nursery has moved to a larger location with more space for baby goats, lambs, piglets and ponies. PAW Patrol Playland has been built for the Show, with free activities including mini golf, a scooter track and a craft zone.

Farmer Dave's Super Stunt Dogs performs five times daily from 28 September. A Melbourne Royal Heritage Centre displays historic memorabilia, photography and trophies. Livestock Lane offers a behind-the-scenes look at the animals and their handlers.

Two night-time shows are new. The Drover's Tale is an arena spectacular featuring Cobb & Co coaches, working dogs, horses and cattle. The Blaze FMX Showdown brings freestyle motocross to the main arena.

Animals and competitions

More than 5,000 animals will be on show across the 11 days. Cattle, sheep, horses, alpacas and dogs compete for Melbourne Royal blue ribbons.

The Melbourne Royal Woodchop Championships run across the first four days. The Golden Axe celebrates its 70th year in 2026, and the KG Perpetual Cup in the Horses in Action competition marks 50 years.

The Melbourne Royal All Breeds Championship Show runs from 24 September to 3 October, with more than 3,000 entries from more than 200 breeds. Oodlemania takes over on the final day, 4 October, from 10am to 5pm.

Rides, showbags and carnival pricing

The carnival has 59 rides across three precincts, with three new rides for 2026: Surf Kombi Van, No. 1 Breakdance and The Void. Twenty rides are priced under $8, and carnival games start from 50 cents.

A showbag is a pre-packaged bag of products sold at the Show, usually built around a brand, theme or character. This year's pavilion holds more than 400 showbags starting from $5, in what organisers describe as the largest showbag pavilion in the Southern Hemisphere.

Food and drink

More than 90 per cent of food traders are from the state, and 40 per cent of the offering is new this year. Every food trader will offer at least one item under $10.

The Farmer's BBQ serves a $3.50 sausage sizzle from 11am to 2pm daily, with proceeds going to charity partner Farm Angels. The Country Women's Association tea rooms celebrate 90 years at the Show.

Tickets and pricing

Standard ticket pricing applies from Wednesday 23 September 2026, per the official Show Guide. Adults start from $52, children from $27, and concession tickets from $37.50. Family tickets start from $105, and children aged four and under are free.

Seniors Day is Tuesday 29 September, with $27 tickets. A new Six-Seven ticket for teenagers combines entry from 2pm with a $50 ride pass for $67. Twilight tickets offer entry after 5pm, and a Flexi ticket gives entry on any one Show day without pre-selecting a date.

Getting there

Public transport is free for children under 18 travelling with a youth myki. All other passengers travel at half price to and from Melbourne Showgrounds during the Show.

Trains run directly to Melbourne Showgrounds station. Tram route 57 stops at stop 33 on Epsom Road, across the road from Gate 1. Bus routes 472 and 404 stop nearby.

For regional visitors, V/Line daily fares are capped at $5.70 full fare and $2.85 concession on weekdays, and $4 full fare and $2 concession on weekends and public holidays. Those caps make a day trip from a regional centre a realistic option rather than an overnight stay.

What organisers say

Melbourne Royal Show executive general manager Hannah Von Bibra said the event works because it brings two parts of the state together. "The Melbourne Royal Show is where country and city come together. It's a uniquely Victorian experience that celebrates agriculture and community, with something for everyone, whether it's a much-loved tradition or your very first Show."

She also pointed to the family experience as the core of the event. "The Show is about making memories together, cuddling a lamb for the first time, choosing the perfect showbag, cheering on a blue-ribbon champion or finishing the day under fireworks in the Melbourne sky."

Planning a visit

Weekdays are generally quieter than weekends, and the twilight entry option suits visitors who want the evening program and the fireworks without a full day onsite. Families travelling with young children should allow time for the Animal Nursery, which is larger this year but still popular.

Anyone interested in other cultural events in the city can read Every Suburb's coverage of a recent performing arts exhibition in Melbourne.

For a wider look at how towns and regions across the state are profiled, see the Victoria local guide.

Works Cited

Melbourne Royal Show. "Melbourne Royal Show 2026." Melbourne Royal Show, n.d., https://royalshow.com.au/.

Melbourne Showgrounds. "2026 Melbourne Royal Show." Melbourne Showgrounds, n.d., https://www.melbourneshowgrounds.com/whats-on/2026-melbourne-royal-show/.

RAS Victoria. "Melbourne Showgrounds Grand Pavilion by Day." Wikimedia Commons, n.d., https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melbourne_Showgrounds_Grand_Pavilion_by_day.jpg.