📅 holiday

Royal Launceston Show

Thursday, October 8, 2026

— days to go

Royal Launceston Show is a public holiday across much of northern Tasmania that showcases the region’s agricultural and pastoral life, along with other industries and aspects of the area. In 2026, the Royal Launceston Show holiday falls on Thursday 8 October. The holiday will be on Thursday 7 October in 2027. Note: Municipal areas of Break O’Day, Dorset, George Town, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, West Tamar only. It is the northern counterpart of southern Tasmania’s Royal Hobart Show and takes place at the Launceston Showgrounds in Inveresk, a neighbourhood of Launceston, on the Thursday preceding the second Saturday of October. The show has been running since 1873, though the descriptor “royal” was only added in 1984 after a royal decree was granted giving it this official status. Around 15,000 to 20,000 people attend the Royal Launceston Show each year. Although only the Thursday is a public holiday, the show runs for four consecutive days, from Wednesday till Saturday. At the show, you will see produce on display and for sale from the region surrounding Launceston. There will also be animals on display and in competition, including cats, dogs, cattle, sheep, alpacas (“hump-less camels”), and more. You can expect horse competitions, wood chopping events, various sports events, live entertainment, a fashion show, knitting and quilting contests, food and jam making competitions, and exhibits on traditional industries of all kinds. Also, the kids will enjoy a trip to the animal nursery, where they can pet baby rabbits and lambs and see various other animals, such as piglets, ducklings, calves, and turkeys. The Royal Launceston Show truly has something for everyone, regardless of age or interest, and it is a perfect family outing while visiting the Australian state of Tasmania. Some additional things to do in northern Tasmania during the four-day span of the Royal Launceston Show include: Royal Launceston Show is a major tourist attraction held especially in Launceston but also across all of northern Tasmania. It brings an abundance of activities with it, adding to the already-numerous “year-round tourist stops.”

History

The show has been running since 1873, though the descriptor “royal” was only added in 1984 after a royal decree was granted giving it this official status. Around 15,000 to 20,000 people attend the Royal Launceston Show each year. You can expect horse competitions, wood chopping events, various sports events, live entertainment, a fashion show, knitting and quilting contests, food and jam making competitions, and exhibits on traditional industries of all kinds. It brings an abundance of activiti

How It's Celebrated

Other Years

2026 Thu

8 Oct

2027 Thu

7 Oct

2028 Thu

12 Oct

2025 Thu

9 Oct

2024 Thu

10 Oct

Countries

🇦🇺 AU

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