Insights - 28 August 2026
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NEW OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES FOR SYDNEY
NSW will welcome a major new concert series next year, with Sydney Summertime set to bring some of the world’s biggest music artists to Centennial Park across consecutive weekends in February and March 2027.
Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the inaugural Sydney Summertime will add to the city's growing calendar of major events, attracting thousands of music fans while supporting jobs, local businesses and the visitor economy.
Beyond the music, the concert series will celebrate the best of NSW food and drink, with artisan markets featuring restaurants, bars, food trucks and cellar doors.
Learn more here.
FUNDING FOR YOURS & OWLS FESTIVAL
The NSW Government is backing live music in Wollongong, with major event funding confirmed for Yours & Owls Festival for a second year.
More than 15,000 music fans are expected to attend the festival over the October long weekend, bringing millions of dollars in spending to the city’s pubs, restaurants, hotels and local businesses.
Proudly supported by Destination NSW, this year’s festival will expand into a city-wide format featuring more than 80 artists across two days, including G Flip, Ball Park Music and PNAU on the bill, alongside an Australian-exclusive appearance from bbno$.
TAMWORTH LAUNCHES FIRST REGIONAL
ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT
The home of Tamworth Country Music Festival will receive a year-round boost to its night-time economy as it welcomes the state's first regional Special Entertainment Precincts.
Tamworth Regional Council has established two precincts with tailored trading hours and sound rules. The precincts will support the region’s live music, sporting and nightlife offerings; encourage investment in entertainment venues; assist local artists and performers; and provide certainty for businesses, developers and residents.
Learn more here.
FUNDING TO KEEP LIVE MUSIC ALIVE
Live music venues facing rising costs are receiving funding from the NSW Government for stage, sound, planning and cost-cutting works.
The latest $3.8 million round of Venue Upgrade Grants will support 33 venues from Bathurst to Bega and Newtown to Cronulla. The funding combines with a range of measures the NSW Government has introduced through its Vibrancy Reforms to help revive the live music scene.
NEW WEBINARS: ATDW AND ACCESSIBLE TOURISM
Destination NSW will host a series of free webinars from September to December 2026 to help visitor economy businesses develop, promote and sell world-class experiences.
The webinars include:
• Introduction to Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), 16 September 2026. Register here
• Physical Access & Inclusion—Get Skilled Access, 22 September 2026. Register here
• Tips for Online Accessibility Resources—Get Skilled Access, 22 October 2026. Register here
• ATDW Masterclass, 11 November 2026. Register here
• International Day of People with a Disability—Get Skilled Access, 3 December 2026. Register here
MARATHON BOOSTS VISITOR ECONOMY
A record 40,000 entrants from more than 140 countries will participate in the TCS Sydney Marathon on 30 August 2026. Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the event injected more than $100 million into the visitor economy in 2025. Accommodation Australia NSW said occupancy rates for this weekend were approaching a ‘personal best’ for Sydney’s hotels.
NETBALL WORLD CUP: ONE YEAR COUNTDOWN
Sydney is preparing to stage the biggest Netball World Cup in history, with organisers aiming to attract more than 200,000 attendees from 25 August to 5 September 2027. Proudly supported by Destination NSW, the tournament will feature 16 teams competing across 64 matches. The one-year countdown was officially launched this week with a floating netball court on Sydney Harbour.
NEW FUNDING FOR BATHURST
Ahead of the Bathurst 1000, the NSW Government has been working with Bathurst Regional Council to help minimise traffic impacts of the Great
Western Highway closure at Victoria Pass.
Funding has been allocated for a concert on 12 October 2026 to encourage racegoers to extend their stay.
SOUTH KOREAN TV SERIES SHOWCASES NSW
Six South Korean travel creators have explored Sydney and its surrounds in a new four-part television series and seven YouTube episodes. Produced with support from Destination NSW and Tourism Australia, TikiTaka Road in Sydney showcases city attractions, nature, food and outdoor activities.
WINE TOURISM AND CELLAR DOOR GRANTS
The Australian Government has opened the latest Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants Program round, which will provide grants of up to $100,000 to eligible wine and cider producers to upgrade cellar door facilities, expand tourism experiences, build workforce capability and grow their businesses.
FULL POWERHOUSE PARRAMATTA PROGRAM
Powerhouse Parramatta’s opening program will feature five exhibitions showcasing more than 3000 objects across areas including science, engineering, design, visual arts and culture. All exhibitions will be free for visitors under 16 years of age when the museum opens on 7 November 2026.
TOTAL ECLIPSE TO DRIVE TOURISM SURGE
Sydney and western NSW are counting down to the state's first total solar eclipse in 171 years. The rare astronomical event will take place on 22 July 2028 and is expected to deliver a major boost to the visitor economy. Millions of visitors travelled to Spain and Iceland earlier this month to view an eclipse.
WELLNESS TOURISM SUMMIT FOR BYRON BAY
Industry leaders will gather at Crystalbrook Byron from 27-28 August 2026 for the Wellness Tourism Summit Australia. Proudly supported by Destination NSW through the Business Events NSW Program, the event will explore the trends, experiences and partnerships shaping the sector.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
SAVE THE DATE FOR NEON FORUM 2026: The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner's flagship event will return on 4-5 November, exploring topics ranging from data and workforce capability to precinct activation. Register interest here
REGIONAL RAIL FLEET PASSES HALFWAY MARK: Sixteen of the fleet’s 29 new trains are now in the country. Learn more
$95 MILLION TO RESTORE BLUE MOUNTAINS LANDSLIPS: Roads damaged by landslips across the Blue Mountains will be restored following a major investment by the Australian and NSW Governments. Learn more
COPETON BUNKHOUSE REVAMPED: Crown Land manager Reflections has refurbished historic accommodation at Copeton Dam and added six new pod cabins. Learn more
CULTURAL GRANTS RECIPIENTS: The NSW Government’s Cultural Grants program will support 85 local Aboriginal organisations to deliver community-led events. Learn more
QANTAS GROUP ANNOUNCES FY26 RESULTS: Underlying profit before tax fell by $330 million year-on-year to $2.06 billion due to rising fuel costs and the Middle East conflict. Read more
FOLLOW DESTINATION NSW ON LINKEDIN: Stay up to date with all the latest Destination NSW initiatives by following us on LinkedIn. Click here
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