From a charming Tasmanian port city to Australia's paddlesteamer capital, some of the country's most visitable towns are going head-to-head for the year's coveted tourism crown.
The finalists of the 2026 Australian Top Tourism Town Awards are in, and the results are a love letter to regional Australia.
From sprawling inland cities to tiny coastal townships and everything in between, here are the finalists vying for 2026 bragging rights as Australia's top, small and tiny tourism towns.
Top Tourism Town
This category is for towns with a population over 5000 and some of the country's heaviest hitters will battle it out when the awards are officially announced on September 15 at Parliament House in Canberra.
Three-time state winner Kiama will once again represent NSW, bringing its old-school South Coast surf vibes to the fore.
Tasmania will be represented by Devonport, a laid-back port city with a big role providing the docking spot for the Spirit of Tasmania. Devonport is a former national gold winner in 2024 coming back to reclaim its honour.
Representing Victoria is historic Echuca on the banks of the Murray River, home to river red gum forests and every water sport you can poke a stick at.
Kununurra, the gateway to the East Kimberley, represents WA with its proximity to the spectacular Bungle Bungle Range, and the red rock gorges and freshwater crocodiles of Lake Argyle.
Queensland's Stanthorpe has also made the finalist list, one of the few places you can actually have a cold winter in the northern state, and don't forget to try one of their famous apple pies.
South Australia is being represented by Tanunda, a Barossa Valley town known for its wineries, artisan bakeries and ironstone architecture.
Small Tourism Town
This category is for towns with a population between 1500 and 5000. The finalists this year include Airlie Beach in Queensland, a tropical launchpad for the Great Barrier Reef.
Deloraine, known for its craft fair and for providing a gateway to the Great Western Tiers and the north-west gourmet trail, represents Tasmania.
NSW is represented by Gulgong, a museum town known for its historic buildings and also being the birthplace of bush poet Henry Lawson.
In Victoria, Portarlington, a bayside resort town on the Bellarine Peninsula, will compete for the crown.
And WA's Jurien Bay, a lobster fishing town also famous for its marine park where you can swim with sea lions, also joins the finalists.
Tiny Tourism Town
These towns might be teensy, with populations under 1500, but there'll be stiff competition in this category.
Broke, a NSW country escape town known for its cellar doors, will go head to head with luxurious coastal Victoria town Portsea, where visitors can dive with bottlenose dolphins.
WA is represented by Kalbarri, where the Murchison River meets the Indian Ocean and visitors come to enjoy the red sandstone gorges and sheltered beaches.
Melrose in SA will flaunt its mountain-biking and hiking country around Mount Remarkable.
Toogoolawah will showcase its rolling hills and dairy country in Queensland's Somerset region.
Tasmania's Port Arthur will round out the competition, a UNESCO World Heritage historic site known for ghost tours, convict folklore and eco-cruises showcasing the local marine life.
