Australian events we’ll be attending in 2025

Australia loves to celebrate and 2025 promises a packed calendar of festivities, from world-class culinary festivals to thrilling sports events. If you’re a gourmet foodie, a music lover, sports fans or culture seeker - mark the calendar and join in the fun with our guide to some of the best 2025 events happening across the country.

The world’s second largest arts festival and the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, Adelaide Fringe is a cultural highlight of Australia. Spanning an epic 31 days and nights in February and March each year, the festival features 8000+ independent artists from around the globe in performances across theatre, comedy, music, circus, and visual arts. 

With pop-up venues, street performances, and immersive installations throughout the city, Adelaide transforms into a hive of creative activity and excitement. The award-winning festival’s inclusive vibe celebrates diversity too - anyone with an event is welcome to participate, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The festival of footy, AFL Gather Round 2025 is a unique celebration of Australian Rules Football, where all 18 clubs play in a series of matches in one state over the four-day program. South Australia is hosting the event for the third year in a row, giving fans a chance to see their favourite teams in action while enjoying the state’s vibrant culture and hospitality. 

In 2025, two Gather Round matches will be played at a new sports ground in the Barossa Valley wine region, making it a dream weekend for both AFL and wine lovers. The AFL Gather Round draws huge crowds each year, making it a great way to immerse yourself in Australia’s sporting spirit.

Where to stay

Find the best holiday accommodation in Adelaide, from comfortable inns and suites to stylish and historic boutique hotels. 

Melbourne’s love affair with food and wine takes centre stage at the iconic Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. This internationally-renowned event celebrates Victoria’s culinary excellence with exclusive dinners, masterclasses, and food-focused events in stunning locations, including the famed World’s Longest Lunch curated each year by a different chef. 

Over ten days, you can savour tastings from top wineries, and indulge in creations by renowned chefs and hospitality luminaries. Take your pick from sake workshops and celebrity sausage sizzles, or head to Federation Square and visit the tasty pop-ups from local producers. The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is a true feast for the senses and a hot ticket for gourmands.

Where to stay

You’ll find a range of quality accommodation across Melbourne, from self-contained apartments to boutique hotels.

Now in its 15th year, Vivid Sydney has earned its place as one of Australia’s most beloved arts and culture experiences. A festival of light, music, and ideas, Vivid transforms Australia’s harbour city over 23 neon nights. Spectacular art installations and 3D light projections illuminate iconic landmarks around the city, like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

More than just a light show, there’s also live music, performances, talks exploring new ideas, and culinary events from world-class chefs and restaurants. Whether you’re an art lover, a tech enthusiast, or simply looking for a magical night out, Vivid Sydney 2025 delivers something truly extraordinary. 

Where to stay

Sydney also delivers quality hotels across the CBD and beyond the city limits.

A bucket-list experience for motorsport enthusiasts, the Repco Bathurst 1000 is a legendary motorsport event and a highlight of Australia’s racing calendar. Held on ‘The Mountain’ at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit in New South Wales, this endurance race attracts motor racing fans from across the globe to witness high-speed thrills and fierce competition. 

Dubbed the ‘Great Race’, the atmosphere at Mount Panorama is electric, with passionate supporters, thrilling on-track action, and guaranteed unforgettable moments. The buzz is not just track-side though with plenty of off-track events and attractions throughout the city during Race Week, including street parties, twilight markets and the Australian Supercars legends dinner. 

Where to stay

After taking in the spectacle of the 2025 Bathurst 1000,  Comfort Inn Serenity Bathurst offers a central location and modern, comfortable rooms.

For a burst of springtime colour and creativity, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2025 is an enchanting escape. One of Australia’s premier flower festivals, it’s a four-week celebration of spring’s beauty. Toowoomba’s exquisite public and private gardens, and vibrant floral parades, draw families and flower lovers from far and wide. 

Dating back to 1950, the long-running festival is now in its 76th year and has grown from a few brilliant floral displays to include live entertainment, the Festival of Food and Wine and a packed calendar of events and festivities across the city. Don’t miss the iconic Grand Central Floral Parade, the Teddy Bear Picnic, and the fireworks and fun at Sideshow Alley. 

Where to stay

Enjoy relaxed accommodation at the Comfort Inn Grammar View in a quiet, tree-lined street, while the Comfort Inn Glenfield is ideally located within walking distance to shops and restaurants.

Australia’s largest celebration of country music, the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2025 attracts hundreds of thousands of artists and fans. Heading into its 53rd year, it’s also the longest-running live country music festival in the Southern Hemisphere. With live performances across multiple stages, street buskers, and fan meet-and-greets, the festival is a musical powerhouse.

When the Golden Guitars roll into town, you don’t need to be a die-hard country music fan to enjoy the spectacle. Drawing a wealth of national and international talent from Texas to Tamworth, the 10-day festival offers a range of free and ticketed shows and a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere.

Where to stay

For Tamworth Country Music Festival accommodation, the CH Boutique Hotel & Apartments offers premier apartments in the heart of Tamworth, from luxurious executive suites to classic rooms. Econo Lodge Gateway Tamworth is a cosy motel ideal for families with comfortable, modern rooms and an on-site restaurant.

Each year Australia’s capital, Canberra, is lit up in a dazzling display of art and light at the renowned Enlighten Festival. A celebration of light, culture, and creativity, Canberra’s iconic architecture is illuminated with stunning projections, while the event’s program includes spectacular musical performances, art installations and film screenings.

Foodies will love the Night Noodle Markets, offering delicious street food under the stars, as well as the Bent Spoke Beer Garden, and Symphony in the Park. Extend your stay to see the famous Canberra Balloon Spectacular 13-15 March, where the skies over the capital are filled with colourful hot air balloons.

Where to stay

Close to shops, restaurants and cafes, with easy access to Enlighten Festival Canberra, the Quality Hotel Dickson offers modern, comfortable accommodation and a licenced club next door.

Considered the ultimate Geelong wine festival, Toast to the Coast is one for the wine lovers. A celebration of the region’s outstanding cool-climate wines, the event offers tastings, masterclasses, and the chance to meet the winemakers behind some of Victoria’s finest vintages from the Surf Coast, Moorabool Valley and Bellarine Peninsula. 

Paired with gourmet food and set against the backdrop of the Geelong waterfront, this festival is an indulgent experience not to be missed. Each session includes five hours of free tastings of wine, spirits, beer and cider, as well as a delicious snack, live music and entertainment, and a Plumm glass to take home.

Where to stay

Enjoy tranquil views over Corio Bay at the Quality Hotel Bayside Geelong, a 15-minute walk from the CBD and local attractions.

From the ocean to the hinterland, The Curated Plate Food and Drink Festival is a 10-day love fest of the Sunshine Coast’s local produce and culinary talent. Spread over two weekends with lots of events in between, the festival features collaborations between top chefs, farmers, and artisans, with a host of immersive dining experiences. 

Events are held in different settings, from farms and boats to distilleries and award-winning restaurants. Whether you’re sampling ocean-fresh seafood under the stars, sipping handcrafted beer or trying a hands-on cooking class, the festival showcases the best this picturesque region has to offer.

Where to stay

From beachside apartments to resort-style accommodation, you’ll find plenty of places to stay to make the most of the Curated Plate Sunshine Coast.

Header image credit: Tourism and Events Queensland