The major events and festivals to plan your trip around when visiting Busselton, Augusta, Dunsborough and Margaret River.
Start 2026 right!
New Year’s resolution? Get out and experience some of the exciting and iconic events held each year in the Margaret River Region! There’s a bursting calendar of inspiration for everyone, across the categories of wine, gourmet food, adventure, sport, and culture.
Here are the best festivals and major events to plan your trip around.
Header image: Jess Kerr
The Festival of Busselton is synonymous with summertime. This great family-focused festival has been running for over 60 years providing locals and visitors with a fantastic program of events and activities to add value to a perfect holiday experience.
One of Western Australia’s most unique and iconic sporting events is the 3.6-kilometre Busselton Jetty Swim. With a focus on participation, inclusion, affordability and community, the event welcomes novice, professional and disabled swimmers with swim times from 40 minutes to three hours. Thousands of spectators cheer from the foreshore, with live music and family-friendly activities keeping everyone entertained.
There is plenty of sunshine and salt spray to be had at Western Australia’s premier yachting regatta, Geographe Bay Race Week, which sees the Busselton-based yacht club come alive with competitors, spectators, family and friends. The festival atmosphere extends to the off-water schedule, entertaining racers with all levels of sailing ability.
Presents by the Undalup Association, Bunuru Festival is a family-friendly day celebrating the South West’s rich Aboriginal cultural heritage, country and pristine environment. Bunuru is the Season of Adolescence in the six seasons of Wadandi Boodja, when the trees are bearing fruit and fresh seafood is abundant. A smoke and alcohol free event providing the opportunity to connect with Aboriginal culture for a day of live music, workshops, kids activities, food trucks and stalls.
Western Australia’s world-class surfing event sees the World Surfing League’s male and female heroes descend upon Surfer’s Point for up to 10 days of competition. The Pro is a calendar stop on the official World Champion Tour and a great way to see the legends of the surf battle it out in the flesh.
The South West Craft Beer Fest returns bigger and better than ever in 2025 at Aravina Estate, Yallingup. Get your froth on at this much-loved all-out beer party, with more than 120 craft beers from local breweries and cideries, along with wines, gourmet bites, live acts and DJs.
Returning bigger and better than ever, Here Comes the Sun is bringing an incredible lineup of Australian music to the region to celebrate the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Catch Lime Cordiale, The Jungle Giants, Young Franco, Sycco and more at 3 Oceans Winery.
Marking its 25th year in 2026, the Busselton Festival of Triathlon attracts competitors from seven to seventy-plus. The weekend includes the Busselton 100, Duathlon 100, Aquabike, Busselton 50, Busselton 25 and the Busselton 5, along with food, entertainment and a great atmosphere for spectators.
The Margaret River Region becomes 80 kilometres of the racetrack for this event, with competitors of all levels bringing the ‘Ultra’ by traversing forest trails, cliff tops, beaches and vineyards. The course runs from Hamelin Bay in the south to Howard Park in the north.
There’s nothing like the Cabin Fever Festival to see the Margaret River Region come alive in winter, surprising and delighting with its comfort food, cheese, fire and beverage events. Think secret suppers at clandestine locations, fondue, fireplaces and bonfires, cheese toasties, lush high-end food, wine pairings plus loads more.
Who needs Cannes, Venice or Sundance when the State’s own CinefestOZ Festival hits the South West? Red carpet events, gala nights, In Conversation winery lunches, Cosy Short Films, industry and community events plus general screenings make up the illustrious program of Australian & international cinema with over 40 program activities. Enjoy immersive film experiences at cinemas, wineries, boutique breweries, small bars and galleries. Past luminaries include Hugo Weaving, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Sigrid Thornton, Gillian Armstrong and more.
Galleries, sheds, art rooms and home studios have their doors fling open during this artful period of the year, where for 16 days a trail of discovery and over 100 artists await you. Meet the creators and peruse and purchase artwork from painting to drawings, sculpture, glass, printmaking, furniture, jewellery, ceramics and textiles.
A spectacular mountain biking race, the Cape to Cape MTB is four days of off-road excitement, 210 kilometres with 45 to 65km legs per day. Beginning at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Augusta, the course covers private trails, vineyards, coastline, national parks, forest, farmland and bush.
Pair’d Margaret River Region is a world-class four-day wine and food celebration set in the stunning coastal wine region of Margaret River. Set at numerous locations within the glorious coast and rolling vineyards, Pair’d celebrates incredible local produce against some seriously stunning backdrops. From decadent canape cruises to fine dining on the sand or a long lunch in the middle of a forest, you can expect to head home with a full heart and stomach. Stay tuned for 2026 dates!
The year finishes with a bang at this world-class sporting event – a stalwart of the Asia Pacific triathlon scene since 2004. Encompassing the iconic Busselton Jetty and pristine Geographe Bay beachfront, the Ironman Western Australia competition is renowned worldwide as the place to go for a personal best, with the bike and run legs of race being some of the flattest of the global Ironman circuit.
