From world championship sailing to national cue sports, elite swimming competitions and one of Australia’s largest rural events, the Capricorn Coast and Rockhampton are continuing to cement their reputation as one of regional Australia’s leading sporting event destinations.
Over the next two years, the region will welcome thousands of athletes, officials, support crews and spectators for a diverse calendar of state, national and international sporting events, showcasing not only the region’s world-class facilities but also its ability to deliver memorable visitor experiences both on and off the field.
Among the major events confirmed are the BAPA Australian National Blackball Championships in July 2026, expected to attract around 400 competitors from across Australia to Rockhampton, the Queensland Schools Rowing Championships on the Fitzroy River in September 2026, and the Queensland School Sport State Golf Championships in June 2026.
The Windsurfer National Championships will also return to the Capricorn Coast in July 2026, while the highly anticipated Junior State Cup Touch Football tournament is scheduled to return in 2027.
Rockhampton will further strengthen its reputation as a major sporting events hub when it hosts the Queensland Country Championships (Swimming) from 21–23 January 2027, bringing some of the state’s best regional swimmers to the region.
Beyond sport, the region will also welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for Beef Australia 2027, Australia’s premier beef industry event and one of the nation’s largest agricultural showcases.
The growing sporting events calendar reflects significant investment and ongoing development of the region’s sporting infrastructure, including international-standard hockey facilities, swimming complexes, the Fitzroy River rowing course, mountain bike trail networks, netball courts, tennis facilities, football fields, sailing venues, athletics facilities and one of Australia’s few outdoor velodromes.
Capricorn Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Mary Carroll said the region’s ability to host a broad range of sporting events was becoming a significant driver of visitation and economic activity.
“Sport and major events have become increasingly important pillars of our visitor economy, bringing thousands of competitors, officials, families and supporters into the region each year,” Mary said.
“What makes our region particularly attractive is the opportunity for visitors to extend their stay and experience everything from the Southern Great Barrier Reef and Great Keppel Island to our national parks, local food scene and family-friendly attractions.”
“Whether it’s rowing on the Fitzroy River or sailing on Keppel Bay, athletes are discovering that our region offers the facilities they need alongside the holiday experience they want.”
“Importantly, these events deliver significant economic benefits for local businesses while showcasing our region to new audiences who often return later as leisure visitors.”
The diverse range of events demonstrates the region’s versatility as a host destination, with facilities capable of accommodating everything from international sailing regattas and major cue sports championships through to school sporting competitions and national championships.
With a strong pipeline of sporting events continuing to build, the Capricorn Coast and Rockhampton are increasingly being recognised as a destination where sport, lifestyle and tourism come together, delivering lasting benefits for local businesses, sporting organisations and the broader community.
“We need 1200 new short term accommodation rooms to meet current and future demand by 2032, which is only six years away, so the recent announcement of the sale of the Plaza Hotel has been one more step in the right direction in helping to fill this urgent need. We are proactively talking with investors who are very keen to build accommodation in both Rockhampton and Yeppoon.”
