Airlie Beach Wins Gold as Australia's Top Small Tourism Town for 2026

Airlie Beach Wins Gold as Australia's Top Small Tourism Town for 2026

MEDIA RELEASE - 15 SEPTEMBER 2026

For the first time, Airlie Beach has been crowned Australia's Top Small Tourism Town in the 2026 Top Tourism Town awards, announced at a ceremony this morning, Tuesday 15th September at Parliament House, Canberra. The award recognises Airlie Beach as one of Australia's premier regional tourism destinations, and celebrates the town's vibrant community and innovative tourism offerings on a national scale.

Airlie Beach has been consistently celebrated as one of Queensland's best regional tourism hubs, with the town winning Gold earlier this year at the Queensland Top Tourism Town Awards. However, this national title places the town amongst some of the best in Australia.

“It's an honour for Airlie Beach to be recognised at a national level, against fierce competition from around the country,” said Tim Booth, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Whitsundays. “This title is a celebration of Airlie Beach’s passionate tourism industry, and the operators who go above and beyond to create exceptional experiences for our visitors.”

“After winning awards at a state level for several years, this title demonstrates the continued growth and innovation of Airlie Beach at a national standard, and the town’s significant contribution to tourism across the entire Whitsundays region.” Mr Booth added.

The Small Tourism Town awards recognise Australian towns with a population under 5,000 but more than 1,500 people that offer amazing visitor experiences and are committed to working collectively to increase visitation to its region.