News

Australia’s leading distillers and global producers recognised across more than 20 categories, as the awards celebrate excellence, innovation and craftsmanship in spirits.

Celebrating excellence, innovation and craftsmanship across the Australian wine industry, the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards - Australia's premier wine competition and home to the coveted Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine - is now welcoming entries for 2026, inviting winemakers from across the country to benchmark their wines alongside the nation's best.

Planning for the 2026 Melbourne Royal Show continues to gather momentum, with our focus now turning to the launch of tickets and welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors to Melbourne Showgrounds this September.

Further to recently announcing that I will be stepping down as Chief Executive, I am incredibly grateful for all the lovely messages acknowledging my tenure at Melbourne Royal. The messages I have received reflect the wonderful people that I have had the great joy and privilege meeting and working with during my career.

The past month has once again showcased the incredible diversity of events that make Melbourne Showgrounds one of Victoria's busiest and most dynamic event destinations. From major trade exhibitions and live entertainment to internationally recognised food and beverage awards, our precinct continues to bring together industry, innovation and community.