The Ekka: A Complete Family Guide to the Royal Queensland Show

The Ekka is Queensland’s biggest annual show: nine days each August at the Brisbane Showgrounds in Bowen Hills, with rides, showbags, farm animals, woodchopping, a nightly fireworks finale and a public holiday in Brisbane. It is officially the Royal Queensland Show, but nearly everyone calls it the Ekka, short for “exhibition”.

This guide covers what you need to plan a good day: when it runs, how tickets work, how to get there, what to do first, how to handle showbags and rides, and how to keep the cost down with kids in tow. For the exact dates of the next show, see Ekka 2027.

What the Ekka is

The Ekka is a working agricultural show and a fair rolled into one. The show side is about the state’s farms: cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, dogs, cookery, art, produce and a long list of competitions. The fair side is Sideshow Alley, Kids Carnival, showbags, food stalls and the night program in the Main Arena.

It is run by the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (the RNA), and it is one of the biggest events in the state. In a strong year it draws more than 400,000 visitors.

Most of what you see is included in your entry ticket: animal displays, competitions, entertainment stages and the night show. You pay extra for rides, games, showbags and most food.

A short history of the Ekka

The first show was held on 22 to 26 August 1876 and was called the Intercolonial Exhibition. An estimated 15,000 to 17,000 people came on the opening day, when Brisbane’s population was only about 20,600. It was held at Bowen Hills, on the site that is still the home of the show.

A few milestones from the Ekka’s own timeline:

• 1877: the first ride, a merry-go-round, opened in Sideshow Alley.
• 1894: the first fireworks display was held in the Main Arena.
• 1920: Edward, Prince of Wales, visited.
• 1926: the first night-time ring program, and the first appearance of the Queensland Country Women’s Association.
• 1950: fairy floss, butter board sandwiches, strawberry sundaes and dagwood dogs were introduced.
• 1954: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited.
• 2014: the Ekka ran over two full weekends for the first time.

The show has been cancelled only a handful of times: in 1919 because of an influenza epidemic, in 1942 during World War II when the grounds became a staging depot, and in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19. Attendance came back strongly after that, passing 400,000 in 2023.

The rail line through the grounds is almost as old as the show. A railway to Sandgate was built through the site in 1881, which created the original Exhibition station, and trains still run into the grounds each August.

For more on the wider city, see the Brisbane guides.

When the Ekka runs and the People’s Day holiday

The Ekka runs for nine days in August. The Ekka’s dates page lists the dates years ahead, and the next show is in the Ekka 2027 post.

The Wednesday in the middle of the show is People’s Day. It is a public holiday in the Brisbane area only (the Queensland Government calls it the Royal Queensland Show holiday, and it is held on the Wednesday during the RNA show period). Schools, many offices and plenty of shops in Brisbane are closed that day, and it is the most popular day of the Ekka, with the historic Grand Parade in the Main Arena. Other Queensland regions have their own show holidays on other dates.

That makes the show a good fit for a family day out when you can take the day off, but be ready for a crowd. The Ekka’s own advice is that People’s Day often draws more than 50,000 visitors, and that weekends are also some of the busiest days.

Which day is best?

The Ekka says Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are traditionally the quieter days, although Monday is a holiday in some regions around Brisbane. Weekends and People’s Day are the busiest. The Ekka also usually discounts Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday tickets as “Super Saver Days” (about 20% off in the last published offer), so the quiet days tend to be the cheap days too.

Opening hours

Gates open at 9 am every day. Only competitors and exhibitors can get in early. Most pavilions close around 6 pm, the Animal Nursery closes about 5:30 pm, and the Woodchop Arena runs from 9 am to 5 pm. Sideshow Alley, Kids Carnival, the Showbag Pavilion, the Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion and the Gourmet Plaza stay open later. The gates themselves close at 9 pm. Times are confirmed each year on the Ekka opening hours page, so check it before you go.

Ekka tickets: types, prices and how to buy

Tickets are sold online only through the Ekka website, and they are not sold at train stations. You can scan them from your phone, so there is nothing to print. Buying ahead also saves you the queue at the gate.

Prices change every year, so use these as a guide and check the Ekka ticket page for the current figures. These are rounded from the last published prices.

Ticket	Roughly	Who it suits
Adult	$43	Ages 15 and over
Child	$28	Ages 5 to 14
Concession	$32	Holders of accepted concession cards
Little Ekka	Free	Ages 4 and under
Family	$93	2 adults and 2 children (5 to 14), entering together
Adult and child	$57	1 adult and 1 child (5 to 14), entering together
Twilight	$28	Entry after 4 pm, ages 5 and over
Back For More pass	$23	One more visit on a later day of the same show

Ticket rules worth knowing

• Day changes: you can change your day once, using the link in your confirmation email, until a cut-off just before the show starts.
• Pass outs: a free pass out lets you leave and come back on the same day. They are available at the gates from 9 am to 8 pm, one per ticket holder, and you need suitable ID.
• Back For More: a Family ticket can come with up to four of these passes and an Adult and child ticket with up to two. Each is valid for one entry on a later day of the show.
• Concession cards: the card must be valid and shown with your ticket at entry. The accepted list (Centrelink pension cards with certain codes, Seniors Card, DVA cards and student cards) changes, so check the Ekka concession card page. A Companion Card gives a carer free entry.
• Groups: groups of 20 or more can book at a discount through the Ekka’s group booking page.
• No refunds for the weather: the conditions of entry say the RNA does not refund or exchange tickets for cancellation, and that some attractions may be affected by wet weather.

Getting to the Ekka

The Brisbane Showgrounds are at 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, about 10 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD without traffic. On show days it takes longer, and parking is the hard part, so most families go by train.

By train

Exhibition station sits inside the Showgrounds and is open during the Ekka, so you arrive and leave from inside the grounds. The station has lifts, step-free access, wayfinding signs and hearing aid loops, and there is pedestrian access from Bowen Bridge Road. Check Translink or the Translink app for the timetable and any busway or line changes during the show.

Translink fares across South East Queensland are 50 cents, which makes the Ekka one of the cheapest ways in. Tickets to the show itself are not included, and the network is cashless, so bring a go card or a contactless card or phone.

By bus

Regular buses run to Herston busway station, a short walk from the Ekka. Brisbane CBD busway stations can have weekend closures during the show, so check Translink before you leave.

Parking

Spaces near the Showgrounds are limited and they fill up on weekends and public holidays, which is why the Ekka encourages public transport. The Ekka lists these car parks within walking distance:

• King Street Car Park
• Cornerstone Parking (Butterfield Street, Royal Brisbane Hospital)
• First Parking, Valley Metro car park
• Secure Parking, McWhirters car park
• Wilson Parking, Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital (Northern car park and P2)

Prices are set by the car park operators and are not on the Ekka’s pages, so check them before you go.

Rideshare, taxis and bikes

The rideshare and taxi zone is at Gate 1, on the corner of Gregory Terrace and Costin Street. A separate drop-off and pick-up zone with disability access is on Costin Street. You cannot ride a bike inside the grounds, but there are secure bike racks on Carriage Street.

Showbags

Showbags are a big part of the Ekka. There are hundreds of them (more than 300), with prices starting from a few dollars, and they are all sold in the Courier-Mail Showbag Pavilion, next to Sideshow Alley. The Ekka publishes the full list on its website and app before the show, so you can shortlist before you arrive.

A few ways to keep it under control:

• Agree a budget first. The Ekka itself suggests setting a spending limit, especially for families.
• Make a shortlist. Look at the range online the week before and pick two or three each.
• Go early or late. The pavilion is quieter in the morning, and the Ekka suggests visiting earlier in the day or later in the evening to avoid the biggest crowds.
• Buy showbags last. If you can, collect them on the way out so you are not carrying them all day.
• Use a locker. Lockers cost about $2 a use at the self-service bank next to the Showbag Pavilion, or you can hire an all-day locker under the John MacDonald Stand (about $15 for a standard one, including a refundable key deposit).

Food: the classics and how to eat well

The Ekka has more than 100 food vendors. The old favourites are dagwood dogs (about 180,000 are eaten each Ekka), fairy floss, potato on a stick and the strawberry sundae, an Ekka tradition since 1950. You can also buy sundae vouchers online with your ticket (about $7 each).

Other places to eat include the Gourmet Plaza, food trucks, the Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion (with some free samples), food halls and the XXXX Stockman’s Bar and Grill.

You are allowed to bring your own picnic lunch, and the Ekka encourages it as a cost-effective option. You must put your rubbish in the bins. Alcohol is not allowed in, but there are licensed venues on site. There are free water stations around the grounds, including one near Stockmen’s Rest, so bring a refillable bottle.

Rides and Sideshow Alley

There are nearly 40 rides across the show, split between B105 Sideshow Alley, which has the thrill rides and Ferris wheel, and Kids Carnival, which has the family and younger-kids rides plus a few for older children. There is a Ferris wheel in Sideshow Alley and another in Kids Carnival.

Paying for rides: the Ekka Fun Pass

Rides and games run on the Ekka Fun Pass, which uses credits. You can load credits in the Ekka app (it shows a QR code, so no card is needed) or on a physical card from an Information Booth or self-serve kiosk. The packages are about $45 for 50 credits, $85 for 100 and $120 for 150, plus a small card fee. Games do not take cash. They take Fun Pass credits, a credit card or EFTPOS.

Unused credits do not carry over to the next year. A refund is possible through the app in a set window after the show ends, with a small fee.

Each ride has its own height and age rules, set by the operator, so check the signs before you queue with little kids. Some ride operation can also be affected by wet weather.

Animals, competitions and the woodchop

The agricultural side of the Ekka is a big part of the day and almost all of it is included in your ticket.

The Animal Nursery

The Animal Nursery is the favourite with younger kids. You can pat, cuddle and feed farm animals including lambs, piglets, chickens and puppies, and there are hundreds of animals. It is open from about 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. It is included in your ticket, and it can get busy, so go early.

Large animal and dog pavilions

The Large Animal Pavilion has prize-winning livestock. The Sushi Hub Canine Pavilion has the dog competitions. Both are open during the day.

The Woodchop Arena

Axemen and sawyers compete in the Woodchop Arena, which usually runs from 9 am to 5 pm. It is a classic Ekka sight and a good one for kids who like noise and action.

Pavilions and competitions

Pavilions such as the Arts and Cookery, John Reid, Channel Seven, Agricultural Education Hall and Ekka Emporium host competitions and displays. Many of the day-time stages and displays are free with entry.

Real working farm animals mean the Ekka also has its own rules for visitors: only certified assistance dogs are allowed in, and pet dogs are not. If you want more animals on the same trip, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the other big animal day out in Brisbane.

The Main Arena, EkkaNITES and the fireworks

The Main Arena is where the biggest shows happen. In the daytime it hosts entertainment and, on People’s Day, the Grand Parade of prize-winning animals.

At night it turns into EkkaNITES, which starts at 6:30 pm every night of the show. The program combines live music, horse action, motorbike riders and stunts, and it ends with fireworks, which usually start at about 7:45 pm. The Ekka held its first fireworks display in 1894.

The best view is from the grandstands around the Main Arena, such as the John MacDonald Stand. Machinery Hill and the XXXX Stockman’s Bar and Grill are other good spots, and Heritage Hill offers a patch of grass if you cannot get a seat. The Ekka says to arrive before 6:30 pm to settle in. Extreme rides in Sideshow Alley are also running at sunset.

A Twilight ticket (entry from 4 pm) is the cheapest way to see the night show, and the fireworks can be seen from much of the grounds.

For another big night out in Brisbane, see Riverfire.

The Ekka with kids

Prams and strollers

You can hire prams under the John MacDonald Stand, open 9 am to 5 pm. A single costs about $30 and a double about $50, plus a refundable bond. Many families bring their own, and non-mobility scooters, bikes and skateboards are not allowed.

Parents’ rooms and baby care

There are four parents’ rooms around the grounds. The Parents’ Room and Prayer Room are also good quiet spaces for a short break.

If a child gets lost

Collect a free wristband from the Ekka Police Station marquee on Gregory Terrace before you go in. Police record your contact details on it, and found children are cared for at the Police Station until you are reunited. The Lost Persons station runs from about 9 am to 8:30 pm. It is also worth writing your mobile number on your child’s wrist and agreeing on a meeting point.

First aid

St John provides first aid from 8 am to 11 pm at three spots: under the John MacDonald Stand, at the far end of Alexandria Street in Kids Carnival and near the Large Animal Pavilion.

Quieter places

If someone needs a break, the Ekka lists a Rest and Recovery Zone, Stockmen’s Rest (quieter mornings and evenings), the John Reid Pavilion (mornings and afternoons) and the Showbag Pavilion in the morning. Stockmen’s Rest is also shady.

Accessibility

• Wheelchairs and scooters: standard (about $50) and bariatric wheelchairs and mobility scooters (about $110 for the full day) can be hired under the John MacDonald Stand from 9 am to 5 pm, with a refundable bond.
• Toilets: toilets are in most buildings. Accessible toilets are on the upper and lower levels of the convention centre, and every bathroom location has an ambulant toilet.
• Transport: Exhibition station has lifts and step-free access, and the drop-off zone with disability access is on Costin Street.
• Assistance animals: certified guide, hearing and assistance dogs are allowed. Owners must carry their identification card and the dog must wear its badge.
• Carers: a carer with a valid Companion Card gets free entry with the person they support.

The full list is on the Ekka facilities and accessibility page.

How to save money at the Ekka

• Go on a Super Saver Day. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday tickets are usually discounted, and those days are quieter.
• Look at the family ticket. Two adults and two children cost less than buying four separate tickets.
• Try Twilight. Entry after 4 pm costs much less than a full-day adult ticket.
• Take the train. It is 50 cents, and you skip the parking.
• Pack lunch and a water bottle. Picnics are allowed and the water stations are free.
• Set a showbag and ride budget before you arrive. Fun Pass credits make it easy to see what is left.
• Use the free stuff. The Animal Nursery, animal displays, competitions, entertainment stages and the night show are all included in entry.
• Use two-for-one ride times when you get there.

Wet, hot and cool weather

Ekka tickets are not refundable for the weather, and the show goes on in the rain. The Ekka’s history page notes that in 2024 about three days of wet weather meant the Grand Parade had to be postponed, and that a wet August can lower attendance.

• If it rains: go to the pavilions first (the Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion, Showbag Pavilion and the other indoor exhibits), save the rides for a break in the weather, and bring a poncho. Some rides do not run in wet conditions.
• If it is warm: use the free water stations, find the shade at Stockmen’s Rest and wear a hat and sunscreen. You will be on your feet outdoors for hours.
• After dark: if you are staying for the fireworks, bring a jumper, because it can feel cooler once the sun goes down. Check the forecast before you go.

What to bring

• Tickets on your phone, and a charged phone or power bank (a phone charging station near the lockers under the John MacDonald Stand costs about $2 a use)
• Go card or contactless card for the train
• Comfortable closed shoes
• Refillable water bottle and picnic lunch
• Hat, sunscreen and a rain poncho
• A bag for your showbags, or plan to hire a locker
• A card or phone to pay with (games do not take cash), and some cash if you want it, as ATMs are around the grounds

The RNA may inspect all bags at the gate. Anything the RNA considers a weapon can get you refused entry, and bikes, scooters (other than mobility scooters), skateboards, roller blades, hoverboards and Segways are not allowed. Alcohol and drugs cannot be brought in.

More days out in Brisbane

If you are in Bowen Hills for the Ekka, there is plenty more nearby. See the other shows and big days out in Gold Coast Show, the weekly markets in Brisbane, a free day at South Bank Parklands, or the full what’s on list.

Details can change, so check the Ekka website before you go.

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