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What to Eat, See and Do at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2026
New thrills, SA food finds, and 100 years of showbags are all on the agenda, alongside the nostalgic favourites that make a day at the Show a rite of spring.
The Royal Adelaide Show, presented by Drakes Supermarkets, returns to Adelaide Showground from 5 to 13 September 2026, bringing nine days of carnival rides, showbags, animals and live entertainment to Wayville. Alongside the nostalgic favourites, this year brings new rides and attractions, South Australian food and drink, a new Western Stage and 100 years of showbags, with nightly fireworks rounding things out. Here’s what to eat, see and do once you’re through the gates.
In This Guide
Need to Know
When: Saturday 5 September to Sunday 13 September 2026
Where: Adelaide Showground, Goodwood Road, Wayville
Opening hours: Gates open at 9am daily. Carnival attractions generally run until 10.30pm Sunday to Thursday and 11pm Friday and Saturday, weather and crowd numbers permitting.
Tickets: Adult tickets start from $29, children from $17 and family passes from $69 on weekdays. After-6pm online tickets start from $26 for adults and $15 for children.
Getting there: Adelaide Showground has its own train station, with Seaford, Flinders and Belair services stopping directly outside. Trams on Goodwood Road are around 500 metres from the Leader Street entrance, with dedicated Show shuttle buses also running from the city.
Parking: On-site parking is limited, so public transport is generally the easiest way to arrive.
What’s New at the Royal Adelaide Show 2026
- Hot Wheels Burnout Inferno: Australian stunt legend Matt Mingay brings roaring engines, tyre-shredding burnouts and spectacular flames to the Main Arena during Night Shift.
- Lunarix: The new thrill ride flips 16 riders 360 degrees more than 25 metres above the ground.
- The Warrior: A 55-metre ride making its South Australian debut, with riders sent high above the Showground.
- Zero Gravity: A brand-new Techno Jump Maxx attraction and new arrival to South Australia for 2026.
- Western Stage: A brand-new entertainment hub dedicated to country culture, live music, line dancing, comedy, speed dating, strength competitions and more.
- 100 years of showbags: 2026 marks a century of Showbags, with plenty of new and refreshed picks joining the nostalgic favourites.
What to Eat and Drink at the Royal Adelaide Show 2026
Braising Boy
New to the Show in 2026, Braising Boy brings LA-style Mexican street food with a South Australian edge. Expect hand-crafted tacos, slow-cooked meats, house-made salsas and plenty of Mexican chilli, with the beef birria tacos looking particularly tempting.
Staazi & Co
Plant-based Greek street food is the name of the game at Staazi & Co. Head to the Goyder Pavilion for vegan yiros, loaded fries and ABs that prove Show food doesn’t have to be all fried chicken and fairy floss.
One Sneaky Cheetah
Wood-fired pizza feels like a sensible move somewhere between the rides and the showbags. One Sneaky Cheetah keeps things classic with margherita and ham and pineapple, plus its signature garlic cheetah tail.
Paella Bar
For something a little more substantial, follow the giant sizzling pans to Paella Bar. The Spanish-style paella comes in options including gluten-, dairy-, soy- and nut-free varieties.
Smoking Grillers
Low-and-slow American barbecue arrives at Arena Rendezvous, with Smoking Grillers serving smoked brisket, pulled pork and loaded burgers. Come hungry.
Gang Gang
Adelaide burger favourite Gang Gang brings its familiar combination of beef patties, house-made sauces and loaded fries to the Show. The Gods Plan cheeseburger is the obvious place to start.
The Banana Bar
New for 2026 and found in the Wayville Showbag Hall, The Banana Bar takes frozen bananas, dips them in Belgian chocolate and adds the toppings. It’s part fruit, part dessert and entirely at home at the Show.
Dippin’ Dots
The tiny beads of frozen ice cream are back, with flavours including cotton candy, cookies and cream and rainbow ice. This year also brings a loaded Dippin’ Dots option.
Wafflepopz Churros Donuts
Save room for something sweet. Wafflepopz Churros Donuts brings the fairground classics, combining churros and doughnuts for the sort of sugar hit that feels perfectly appropriate at the Show.
What to See and Do at the Royal Adelaide Show 2026
Yellow Brick Road
The Yellow Brick Road has been a family favourite for more than 30 years, combining a reusable showbag with a map that sends you around the Showground collecting South Australian food and produce along the way.
Stops feature names including Fleurieu Milk Company, Gelista, Vili’s Family Bakery, Citrus SA and Continental Taralli Biscuits, making this a particularly nice way to see a different side of the Show. Think of it as a little edible tour of South Australia, tucked into your day.
Pick up a Yellow Brick Road showbag from one of five kiosks for $14, or grab two for $24. Just keep an eye on the ‘collect before’ times, and treat your map like cash, as lost or stolen maps won’t be reissued.
Rides and Sideshows
The carnival is where the Show really turns up the volume. Alongside the bumper cars and classic sideshow games, 2026 brings several new rides, including Lunarix, The Warrior and Zero Gravity.
Lunarix flips 16 riders 360 degrees more than 25 metres above the ground, while The Warrior reaches 55 metres and makes its South Australian debut. Zero Gravity is another new arrival for South Australia, while VOID returns in an upgraded form with new ride patterns.
If you’re planning a serious ride session, a Discount Carnival Pass gives you $100 worth of ride value for $80, or $40 worth for $35.
Showbag Pavilion
There’s something particularly satisfying about a Showbag haul, and 2026 makes it a milestone year. The Royal Adelaide Show is celebrating 100 years of showbags, with the latest crop spanning pop culture, collectibles, novelty picks and plenty of nostalgic favourites.
Highland Cow, Capybara, Squeezos and Fuggler lead the collectable charge, while music fans can pick up bags celebrating AC/DC, Blondie, Elvis and The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. There are also officially licensed NFL bags for the Chiefs, 49ers, Eagles and Cowboys.
South Australian favourites Melba’s Chocolates and Menz are among the new additions, with Menz bringing FruChocs and new vegan options to the Hall.
Our advice? Use the Show’s online Showbag Wish List before you go. Browse by price, contents and value, then map out where to find your picks once you arrive. The Showbag Hall is open from 9.30am, with closing times varying across the week.
Taste SA
When you need a breather from the rides, make your way to Taste SA, presented by Drakes Supermarkets, for a little edible tour of South Australia.
More than 35 producers from across the state are bringing everything from olives and olive oil to smallgoods, baked goods, confectionery, honey, whisky, spirits and wine, with the chance to taste, chat to makers and stock up on favourites.
Keep an eye out for A New Taste of SA, too. Supported by Brand South Australia, the showcase gives young South Australian food and drink businesses a chance to introduce their products to Showgoers through a rotating program of small-batch producers.
It’s one of the more grown-up ways to spend an hour at the Show, and a good excuse to discover a few local names you might not have come across yet.
Free Things to See and Do at the Royal Adelaide Show 2026
The Animals
The animals are still very much at the heart of the Show. Wander through the Farmyard Nursery to meet the baby animals, watch livestock judging or head to the Dairy Cattle Pavilion to meet the cows and the people behind South Australia’s dairy industry.
For something more hands-on, the Milking Barn lets visitors try their hand at milking a cow, while Aggie’s Farm invites younger Showgoers to pick fruit, harvest vegetables and trade their produce for an Aggie’s Farm sticker.
There’s also the Bugs ’n’ Slugs experience in the Pet & Technology Centre for a closer look at some of the Showground’s smaller residents.
Fireworks Spectacular
Make a night of it. The nightly Fireworks Spectacular, presented by Drakes Supermarkets, lights up the Main Arena at 8pm Sunday to Thursday and 9pm Friday and Saturday.
Before the fireworks, Night Shift brings the big-ticket entertainment, including Hot Wheels Burnout Inferno, the Human Cannonball, Airtime FMX and the Hot Wheels Super Truck Challenge. The evening program builds towards the fireworks, so arrive early, find a good spot and settle in.
Kids’ Entertainment
The Goyder Stage has a full program of free entertainment for younger Showgoers. New for 2026 are PJ Masks: Meet the Heroes, Justice League vs Catwoman and Octonauts Present Captain Barnacles and the Octopod Rescue.
And yes, Bluey is back for another season on the Goyder Stage.
Boulevard Stage
Presented by Gluttony, the Boulevard Stage brings comedy, music, dance and circus to the Show, all included with admission.
Boombox Bootscoot brings ’80s hits with a country twist, while new additions include Farmy Farm, Highwire: Legendary, Mudra Dance and That 90’s Show. It’s a good spot to pause when you’ve had enough of the rides but aren’t quite ready to call it a day.
Royal Adelaide Show 2026 Frequently Asked Questions
The Royal Adelaide Show runs from Saturday 5 September to Sunday 13 September 2026 at Adelaide Showground in Wayville. Gates open at 9am daily.
General admission starts from $29 for adults and $17 for children on weekdays, with weekend prices starting from $35 and $21 respectively. Family passes start from $69 on weekdays, while after-6pm online tickets start from $26 for adults and $15 for children.
The biggest new additions for 2026 include Hot Wheels Burnout Inferno, the Western Stage, Lunarix, The Warrior and Zero Gravity, alongside a century of showbags.
The Show opens at 9am every day. Carnival attractions generally operate until 10.30pm Sunday to Thursday and 11pm Friday and Saturday, although closing times can vary depending on weather and crowd numbers.
Now that you know what’s on the Showground agenda, it’s time to keep the Adelaide adventures going. Start with our guide to the best things to do in Adelaide before exploring the best Adelaide markets for more local finds, good food and weekend wandering.
