Ekka – Royal Queensland Show (2025)

The biggest annual event on the Brisbane calendar, the Ekka, is ready for a massive exhibition in 2025 with some exciting new additions just for Brisbane Kids! 

The show, with a proud tradition in farming and bringing people together, will run over 9 days from the 9th – 17th August 2025 and includes People’s Day on Wednesday 13th August 2025, which is the Ekka public holiday.

What’s on at the Ekka in 2025?

Celebrating its 148th year in 2025, The Ekka will again take place at the Brisbane Showgrounds in Bowen Hills. This year’s program is impressive; jam packed full of fun events and entertainment to ensure that everyone has a great day out!

More than 70 per cent of the Ekka is dedicated to free family entertainment and activities including the EkkaNITES night show, 10,000 animals, Ekka Children’s Day, and live performances by a number of family favourites. This year, there are over 300 free things to see and do at the Ekka!

From traditional displays like farm animals, wood chopping and horse jumping, to the more modern fashion shows, laser shows and live performances by some of the top Australian recording artists, families will be entertained and thrilled every day of the Ekka.

On top of the full calendar of events and entertainment, the Ekka also includes all of the traditional show favourites, including the Kids’s Carnival area with rides for younger children, Side Show alley with the bigger rides and showbags, dagwood dogs, lots of roving performers, amazing food, the famous strawberry sundaes, and a fireworks spectacular!

Ekka Showbags 2025

One of the most popular parts of the Ekka has to be the Courier Mail Showbag Pavilion in Sideshow Alley, which is jam packed full of goodies. Showbags range from the cheap ($2), mid-range ($15), to the outright expensive ($165!).

There is no doubt part of the fun is actually trawling the guides and choosing which bag you want, but to help you out we have listed some of our top picks.

Foodie Showbags

• All American ($25)
• Lindt ($38.50 – $165)
• Morish ($28 – $50)
• New Zealand Favourites ($25)

Kids Faves

• Barbie ($32)
• Bluey/Bingo ($32)
• Dinosaur Rules ($30)
• Fidget Bag ($30)
• Paw Patrol ($32)

Lolly Showbags

• Allen’s ($16)
• Bertie Beetle ($5 – $25)
• Cadbury ($5 – $25)
• Darrell Lea ($25)
• Nestle ($20 – $25)

Sporting Showbags

• Aussie soccer ($30)
• AFL teams ($30)
• CommBank Matildas ($30)
• NBA teams ($36)
• NRL State of Origin ($30)
• Subway Socceroos ($30)

TV Show/Movie Showbags

• Avengers ($30)
• Batman ($30)
• Encanto ($15)
• Friends ($32)
• Star Wars ($30)

Weird Showbags

• Rude Dudes Possum Poop ($10)

Don’t forget Book Week will occur a few weeks after the Ekka, so perhaps you could buy a showbag which can double as a book week costume. Showbags with costume elements include Frozen 2, Emma Memma, Knights and Gladiators, Minecraft or Minnie Mouse.

Explore the large range of Ekka Showbags here.

Animals at the Ekka 2025

Without a doubt, the animals are a big drawcard at the Ekka each year. From the prize winning roosters, cows and horses to the baby animals, a visit to the Animal Pavilion is a must see at the Ekka every year.

This year the whole family will be able to get up close to all the animals, which could include the chance to milk a cow, see a chicken hatch and feed the baby animals. The family favourite is always the Ekka Animal Nursery, where you can purchase food to feed the animals including goats, lambs, ducks, chickens, piglets, calves, and many more.

Don’t forget to visit the dogs, cats, fish and horses, plus can check out the best animals Queensland has on show at the daily competitions.

The Ekka Daily Live Entertainment Program 2025

Every year the Ekka daily program has impressed everyone with its line up of high quality family focused entertainment and this year is no different as the 2025 line up is looking to include some pretty impressive entries.

The best bit is that all the shows and entertainment are included in the entry ticket price at the gate.

Ekka events include:

• Grand Parade
• Fashions on the Field
• Natural Fibres Fashion Parade
• Showgirl
• Dagwood Dog Eating Competition
• Horsing Around Show
• Country Music Showdown
• Ekka Line Dancing Hoedown
• Australian Strongman Competition
• Armwrestling
• Whip Cracking
• Ekka’s Beaut Ute Display and Parade

For specific details, times and dates visit the Ekka website. 

The Ekka Night Program: EkkaNITES

Every year, the EKKA night time program, EkkaNITES, gets better and better. In previous years, the EkkaNites program has included death-defying stunts, extreme sports, high-speed action, equestrian skill, dazzling visual effects, and, of course, the breathtaking fireworks finale.

The 2025 EkkaNITES program is set to dazzle, entertain and amaze with the following highlights:

• SKITZ Monster Truck
• Trackskill ‘Precision’ V8 Utes
• Aussie FMX – ‘Riders of the Night’
• Cobb and Co – ‘A Vision Muster’
• A sparkling fireworks finale

Map of the Ekka 2025

To help you get around and find what you are looking for at this years Ekka, check out the Ekka Map. 

The Ekka Dates and Times 2025

The 2025 Ekka will run from Saturday 9th August to Sunday 17th August 2025, with gates opening at 9am each day and closing at 8:30pm.

EkkaNites starts at 6:30pm each night.

The Ekka Public Holiday ‘People’s Day’ will be held on Wednesday 13th August 2025. 

The Ekka Ticket Prices 2025

In 2025, tickets will only be available online, there will be no tickets available at the gate.

The 2025 ticket prices are still TBC. 

Please note: These are online ticket prices and the Ekka offers value packs and add-ons each year at the Ekka. To find a full range of ticket prices please click here.

Discounted Ekka Tickets and Super Savings

As the EKKA gets underway, from time to time the Ekka will run limited time discounts so keep an eye out and join their mailing list so you are emailed the discounts straight into your inbox.

Another good source of up-to-date information is the Ekka Facebook page. You can also be ekka-nomical and visit on a Super Saver Day (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) to get discounted entry prices.

Getting to the Ekka in 2025

The great news is that the new Exhibition Station will be open in time for the Ekka in 2025! Temporarily opening only for large events such as the Ekka, the Exhibition station will drop visitors off right in the heart of the Ekka precinct at Brisbane Showgrounds – you can’t find an easier way to get to the Ekka than that!

If trains don’t work for your starting location, there are plenty of buses so you can avoid parking. We recommend using the Translink Journey Planner to plan your route on the day.

If driving to the Ekka is more your thing, the closest car park to the Ekka is the King Street Car Park, with entry via Machinery or Alexandria Streets in Bowen Hills. 

We’ve put together a full guide to getting to the Ekka in 2025, which you can view here.

The Ekka is always a fun family outing, but it pays to be prepared, so check out our Tips for Attending the Ekka as a Family. For additional information on the Ekka click here.