New South Wales Show Holidays 2026

New South Wales Show Holidays and Local Public Holidays 2026

New South Wales continues its tradition of observing a diverse array of local public holidays in 2026, specifically gazetted for certain Local Government Areas (LGAs) or designated townships. These holidays are granted in recognition of significant local events, predominantly annual agricultural shows and major horse racing carnivals, which are integral to the cultural fabric and community life of these regions. These events serve as vibrant celebrations of regional identity, history, and collective spirit. The following is the complete list of these declared holidays for 2026.

Walcha Cup Holiday

Date: Friday, 6th February 2026 (Part-day from midday to 6pm)
Location: Walcha Racecourse, 334E South Street, Walcha, NSW 2354
More Info: This local part-day holiday marks the annual Walcha Cup, the highlight of the Walcha Jockey Club’s two-day racing carnival. The Walcha Cup remains a cherished tradition in the New England region, attracting significant crowds for a day of competitive country racing, fashion, and social interaction. It is an event where the entire community converges, demonstrating the best of country hospitality and providing a substantial economic and social impetus to the town.
Official Website: Walcha Jockey Club

Kangaroo Valley Show

Date: Friday, 13th February 2026 (Part-day from 9am to 5pm)
Location: Kangaroo Valley Showgrounds (Osborne Park), Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley, NSW 2577
More Info: This public holiday is in support of the Kangaroo Valley Show, affectionately known as “The Friendly Show.” Established in 1886, it stands as one of the oldest and most beloved agricultural shows in the region. Osborne Park, with its stunning escarpment backdrop, provides a picturesque setting for a quintessential country show experience. The event encompasses horse and cattle judging, woodchopping, a dog show, a rodeo, and a wide array of pavilion exhibits, truly celebrating the valley’s rich agricultural heritage.
Official Website: Kangaroo Valley Show

Albury Gold Cup Holiday

Date: Friday, 20th March 2026 (Half-day from midday)
Location: Albury Racecourse, 16-46 Fallon Street, North Albury, NSW 2640
More Info: The half-day public holiday for the City of Albury is dedicated to the Commercial Club Albury Gold Cup, recognised as one of Australia’s most prestigious country racing carnivals. Established in 1881, the Albury Racing Club hosts this premier event, which draws top-tier horses, trainers, and jockeys. The Albury Gold Cup day is the city’s largest annual social gathering, fostering a vibrant atmosphere with racegoers enjoying high-stakes racing, ‘Fashions on the Field’, and premium hospitality.
Official Website: Albury Racing Club

Maclean Show

Date: Wednesday, 22nd April 2026 (Part-day from 1pm to 5pm)
Location: Maclean Showground, 12 Cameron Street, Maclean, NSW 2463
More Info: This part-day holiday is for the Maclean Show, an event that has been central to the community for over 130 years. Known as “The Family Show,” it is a major event for the Clarence River towns of Maclean, Iluka, and Yamba. The show celebrates the region’s diverse agricultural industries, from sugarcane to beef cattle and fishing. It features classic show events like woodchopping and showjumping alongside local exhibits, sideshow alley, and a grand fireworks finale.
Official Website: Maclean Show Society

Scone Cup

Date: Friday, 15th May 2026 (Half-day from midday)
Location: Scone Race Club, 434 Satur Rd, Scone, NSW 2337
More Info: The Scone Cup is the feature event of the prestigious Scone Horse Festival and a premier country racing day in Australia. This half-day holiday covers Scone and surrounding towns in the Upper Hunter, the undisputed horse capital of Australia. The Scone Cup Carnival attracts thousands, showcasing elite thoroughbred racing and country style. The two-day event is the richest country racing carnival in Australia, making it a major social and sporting event for the entire region.
Official Website: Scone Race Club

Yeoval Show Holiday

Date: Tuesday, 19th May 2026 (Part-day from 8:30am to 7pm)
Location: Yeoval Showground, Forbes Street, Yeoval, NSW 2868
More Info: This holiday is for the Yeoval Agricultural, Pastoral & Horticultural Association Annual Show. For over 90 years, the Yeoval Show has been a cornerstone of the local community, which sits across two council areas (Cabonne and Dubbo). It is a classic small-town country show, celebrating local farming, produce, and talent with exhibits, livestock competitions, a popular dog show, and family entertainment.
Official Website: Yeoval Show

Nyngan Show Holiday

Date: Monday, 25th May 2026 (Full day)
Location: Nyngan Showgrounds, 83-91 Hoskins Street, Nyngan, NSW 2825
More Info: The Bogan Shire enjoys a full-day public holiday for the Nyngan Show, a two-day event that is a highlight of the year for the region. The show brings together the community from across the shire for a traditional agricultural show featuring horse events, sheep and wool judging, pavilion exhibits, and a vibrant sideshow alley. It is a major social gathering and a celebration of the region’s strong pastoral identity.
Official Website: Nyngan Show Society

Grafton (Ramornie Handicap & Grafton Cups)

Date: Wednesday, 15th July & Thursday, 16th July 2026 (Part-day, 1pm to 5pm each day)
Location: Clarence River Jockey Club, 7-11 Powell Street, Grafton, NSW 2460
More Info: The city of Grafton is granted consecutive part-day holidays for its pinnacle racing events, the Ramornie Handicap and the Grafton Cup. This is the heart of the July Racing Carnival, one of the most significant country racing carnivals in Australia. The Ramornie Handicap (Wednesday) is a time-honoured sprint race, while the Grafton Cup (Thursday) is the region’s most prestigious staying race. The carnival transforms Grafton, attracting huge crowds and creating an electric social atmosphere.
Official Website: Clarence River Jockey Club

Trundle Show

Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026 (Part-day from 9am to 5pm)
Location: Trundle Showground, Trundle, NSW 2875
More Info: The Trundle Show is hailed as “The Best Little Show in the West” and is the first of three consecutive shows held within the Parkes Shire. The part-day holiday allows the communities of Trundle, Bogan Gate, and Bruie Plains to participate in this traditional show, known for its friendly atmosphere, large crowds, and excellent exhibits, particularly its impressive sheep and wool displays.
Official Website: Trundle P&A Society

Peak Hill Show

Date: Wednesday, 19th August 2026 (Part-day from 9am to 5pm)
Location: Peak Hill Showgrounds, Warrah Street, Peak Hill, NSW 2869
More Info: Following the Trundle Show, the town of Peak Hill has its turn with the Peak Hill Annual Show. This event has a long history dating back to the late 1800s. It’s a classic country show featuring a full ring of horse events, pavilion exhibits, a yard dog trial, and community competitions, providing a day of entertainment and agricultural celebration for the local community.
Official Website: Peak Hill Show

Parkes Show

Date: Tuesday, 25th August 2026 (Part-day from midday to 5pm)
Location: Parkes Showgrounds, Victoria Street, Parkes, NSW 2870
More Info: The Parkes Annual Show is the largest of the three shows in the Parkes Shire. The event runs for two days, with the part-day public holiday declared for Tuesday. It’s a major regional event featuring a huge range of attractions, including agricultural displays, a full equestrian program, a demolition derby, an animal nursery, and a spectacular fireworks display, drawing visitors from across the Central West.
Official Website: Parkes Show Society

West Wyalong Show

Date: Wednesday, 2nd September 2026 (Part-day from midday to 6pm)
Location: West Wyalong Showgrounds, Showground Road, West Wyalong, NSW 2671
More Info: Residents of the Bland Shire enjoy this part-day holiday for the annual West Wyalong Show. This is a significant local event that brings the community together for a traditional country show experience. The day is packed with family-friendly entertainment, including horse jumping, a dog show, cattle and poultry competitions, an animal nursery, and a variety of carnival rides, serving as a vital link to the region’s agricultural roots.
Official Website: West Wyalong Show Society

Grafton Jacaranda Festival

Date: Thursday, 5th November 2026 (Part-day from 1pm to 5pm)
Location: Various locations throughout Grafton, NSW 2460
More Info: This public holiday is for the Grafton Jacaranda Festival, Australia’s oldest family floral festival, founded in 1934. The festival celebrates the magnificent blossoming of Grafton’s hundreds of jacaranda trees, which paint the town in a sea of purple. The holiday falls on “Jacaranda Thursday,” a key day when the town’s main streets close and businesses and locals take to the streets in costume to soak up the lively carnival atmosphere, making it a truly unique community event.
Official Website: Grafton Jacaranda Festival

The recurring pattern of local public holidays in New South Wales for 2026 underscores the enduring vitality and adaptive nature of regional events in a changing world. While the dates shift annually, the core purpose remains constant: to celebrate local identity, support economic activity, and reinforce community bonds.

The Economic Ripple Effect in Regional NSW:

These seemingly small, localised holidays have a profound aggregate economic impact. The timing of many of these holidays around significant agricultural shows or horse racing carnivals is strategic. For instance, the Albury Gold Cup, with its long history and significant prize money, attracts not just local attendees but also a substantial influx of visitors, trainers, and jockeys from outside the region. This translates directly into increased patronage for local hospitality venues, retail outlets, and accommodation providers. Small businesses, the backbone of regional economies, experience a vital surge in trade during these periods. The economic uplift extends beyond the immediate day of the event, with preparation and aftermath contributing to local employment.

Furthermore, these events often provide an essential platform for local producers and artisans to showcase their goods, fostering direct-to-consumer sales and strengthening regional supply chains. The prize money, entry fees, and sponsorship associated with these events circulate within the local economy, creating a tangible economic ripple effect that benefits entire communities.

Community Resilience and Cultural Preservation:

Beyond the financial benefits, the cultural preservation aspect of these holidays is paramount. In an increasingly globalised world, these events serve as powerful anchors of local identity and tradition. They are living museums, demonstrating skills like woodchopping, animal husbandry, and agricultural innovation that have shaped Australia’s rural landscape. The multi-generational participation, evident in events like the Kangaroo Valley Show (established 1886) and the Maclean Show (over 130 years old), ensures the transmission of these traditions and values to younger generations. Children growing up in these areas learn about their heritage not just from textbooks but through hands-on experience and shared celebration.

The “part-day” or “half-day” holiday structures, common across many of these events, are particularly insightful. They allow local workers to participate in the festivities without entirely shutting down the economy. This pragmatic approach recognises the importance of both community engagement and business continuity, a balance crucial for regional sustainability.

In essence, the 2026 local public holidays in NSW represent a dynamic interplay of economic benefit, cultural preservation, and community resilience. They are a testament to how regional towns leverage their unique events to foster pride, maintain traditions, and build stronger, more vibrant communities for the future.