Queensland has emerged as the standout state at the 2026 Australia’s Top Tourism Town Awards, claiming two of the nation’s three tourism town titles.
Stanthorpe has been named Australia’s Top Tourism Town for 2026, taking Gold in the category for towns with a population of more than 5,000, while Airlie Beach has won Gold as Australia’s Top Small Tourism Town, for destinations with populations between 1,500 and 5,000.
The national wins were announced at Parliament House in Canberra and follow both destinations taking out their respective Queensland titles in the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s (QTIC) 2026 Top Tourism Town Awards.
QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said having two Queensland destinations crowned the best in Australia was an exceptional result for the state and a testament to the communities behind them.
“This is an incredibly proud result for Queensland and a well-deserved national recognition for Stanthorpe and Airlie Beach,” Wheeler said.
“These awards recognise much more than a beautiful place to visit. They celebrate the businesses, tourism operators, councils, volunteers and local communities that collectively create an outstanding visitor experience and give people a reason to come back.
“Stanthorpe and Airlie Beach are very different destinations, but that diversity is exactly what makes Queensland’s tourism offering so special. From our regional food and wine experiences to our world-famous coastal destinations, Queensland has extraordinary experiences right across the state.”
Stanthorpe’s national win caps a standout year for the Granite Belt destination after it was named Queensland’s Top Tourism Town for 2026.
Wheeler said the recognition would help put an even stronger national spotlight on Stanthorpe and the wider region.
“For a regional community, being named the best tourism town in Australia is significant. It gives Stanthorpe another platform to showcase what makes the destination distinctive and introduces it to visitors who may not previously have considered a trip to the Granite Belt,” Wheeler said.
Airlie Beach’s Gold in the Small Tourism Town category reinforces the Whitsundays destination’s position as one of Queensland’s most recognisable tourism hubs and a gateway to some of the state’s most iconic visitor experiences.
“Airlie Beach has built an incredibly strong visitor proposition and this national title recognises the work that happens across the whole community to deliver that experience,” Wheeler said.
“What makes these awards particularly valuable is that they celebrate destinations as a whole. Tourism succeeds when communities work together, and these results show what can be achieved when there is pride in place and a shared commitment to giving visitors an experience they will remember.”
The Australia’s Top Tourism Town Awards bring together the Gold winners from state and territory programs to compete on the national stage.
Queensland’s 2026 representatives also included Toogoolawah in the Tiny Tourism Town category and Jeb Connelly of Gems Tag A Long Tours in the Top Tour Guide category.
“We are enormously proud of every Queensland representative who reached the national stage,” Wheeler said.
“Each of them has helped showcase the quality, character and diversity of Queensland tourism to the rest of the country.”
The Australia’s Top Tourism Town Awards are presented by the Australian Tourism Industry Council as part of the national Quality Tourism Framework.
