Port Stephens events & festivals 2026
Port Stephens' calendar leans into what it does best — the water, food and the outdoors. From a huge game-fishing tournament and one of Australia's biggest regattas to a waterfront food festival and a spring running festival, here are the 2026 highlights so you can time your visit. Dates can change, so always confirm on the official event sites before you book.
Game fishing, food & the regatta
The year kicks off big. In February the NSW Interclub Game Fishing Tournament (19–22 Feb) fills Nelson Bay with 500-plus anglers — one of the Southern Hemisphere's largest. March brings the free Shoal Bay Food and Wine Festival (14 Mar) on the waterfront. Then from April into May, Sail Port Stephens (13 Apr–3 May) turns the bay into a sea of sails for one of Australia's biggest regattas.
MultiSport, the Car Show & The Run
The active calendar continues. The Port Stephens MultiSport Festival (2–3 May) brings trail running and triathlon to the bay and dunes; the Port Stephens Car Show (11 July) is a popular winter gathering; and in spring, The Run Port Stephens (29 November) offers marathon, half, 10 km and family distances around Nelson Bay. Winter is also prime whale-watching season, so there's always a reason to visit.
Markets & local produce
Whenever you come, there's usually a market on. Nelson Bay hosts foreshore Marina Markets, plus the Legacy Markets (1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays) and Tomaree Markets (2nd and 4th Sundays) at Neil Carroll Park, with more around the region. They're a relaxed way to browse local craft and produce — and the perfect place to pick up fresh Port Stephens oysters and seafood.
Port Stephens events 2026: your questions
The headline 2026 events are the NSW Interclub Game Fishing Tournament (19–22 February), the Shoal Bay Food and Wine Festival (14 March), Sail Port Stephens — one of Australia's largest regattas (April–May), the Port Stephens MultiSport Festival (2–3 May) and The Run Port Stephens running festival (29 November). Weekend markets run year-round. Always confirm dates on official sites before booking.
Sail Port Stephens runs from 13 April to 3 May 2026 — a three-week sailing festival based at the Nelson Bay marina and one of the largest regattas in Australia, drawing hundreds of boats. Even ashore it's a great time to visit, with the bay full of sails and a lively atmosphere around the waterfront.
The NSW Interclub Game Fishing Tournament is held at Nelson Bay, with the 2026 event on 19–22 February. It's one of the largest game-fishing tournaments in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing 500-plus anglers and a fleet of boats to the bay in pursuit of marlin and tuna. The marina buzzes throughout.
Yes — the main one is the Shoal Bay Food and Wine Festival (14 March 2026), a free waterfront event showcasing local food, wine and produce. (The older "Tastes @ The Bay" festival is no longer running, so don't look for it.) You'll also find fresh local oysters and seafood year-round, and the Hunter Valley wine region is close by.
Regular ones. Nelson Bay hosts foreshore Marina Markets, plus the Legacy Markets (1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays) and Tomaree Markets (2nd and 4th Sundays) at Neil Carroll Park, with more markets at Medowie, Tanilba Bay and Karuah. They run year-round and are a lovely, low-key way to spend a morning whenever you visit.