THE 2026 QUEENSLAND ROYAL SHOW:

BRISBANE: Organisers of the 2026 Royal Brisbane Show, better known as the Ekka, say they are once again offering several money-saving options for families to enjoy the annual event.

Spokesperson for the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA), Sam Pellbag, said families who could not make it to the Ekka’s Bowen Hills showgrounds (below) could still enjoy the full show experience at home.

“This year we are once again offering families our Ekka-at-Home package which consists of a special furnace that is delivered to the family home,” Mr Pellbag told a news conference this morning.

“Once its fired up (main picture) family members can throw into it whatever denomination of banknotes they have on hand, or they can even throw in their credit or debit cards and just sit back and watch them burn.

“Those who have used the kit in previous years say it perfectly mimics the Ekka experience.

“It definitely saves families heaps because they don’t have to shell out a full 50 cents for each family member to take public transport to the Ekka and another 50 cents to get home.”

Mr Pellbag defended the admission prices for the 2026 Ekka, saying they compared favourably with similar big events.

“Sure, adults pay $42.95 and kids pay $27.95 just to get through the turnstiles,” he said. “But there’s a big cost to operating those turnstiles and storing them for a full 12 moths – they just don’t turn or store themselves, you know – so we need to recoup that money somehow,” he said.

“Plus if you want to get into a similar big event like the Chelsea Flower Show in London you’d pay $153 plus the thousands of dollars in return air fares. So by comparison the Ekka is great value.”

Mr Pellbag said for the 2026 show the RNA was again offering money-saving family tickets for its “Behind the Scenes Ekka Experience”.

“We started this special experience at last year’s Ekka and this year family tickets that otherwise cost $92.95 can be bought for a heavily discounted $92.75 if families want to go behind the scenes,” he said.

“But this allows families entry to the RNA Showgrounds for a full seven days from Monday 17 August when they can take part in a full range of fun behind-the-scenes activities. They’ll even receive give-aways such as fluoro vests, brooms, and dustpans.”

Mr Pellbag shut down the news conference when reporters pointed out that the show ended on 16 August, and asked if the Behind the Scenes Ekka Experience was simply a way for the RNA to exploit people to help clean up the Bowen Hills site on the cheap.

“Sorry, I’ve got to go now,” Mr Pellbag said as he moved away from reporters at high speed.

“I’ve got to deliver these very valuable gems to the Japanese Pearl Show tent in sideshow alley,” he said pointing to a bag he was carrying containing what appeared to be crudely undercoated ball bearings of various sizes.

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