This is the first weekend of Ekka and if you’re not thinking of swinging by the Brisbane Showgrounds, first: what are you doing?! And second, don’t worry, we know the program can be overwhelming, so we’ve put together some highlights you can catch these first few days.
Displays, shows and competitions
Animal Nusery
For any animal lovers out there, the traditional Animal Nursery is open every day from 9:30am to 5:30pm — although be aware that the queue closes at 5pm — and has a variety of furry, feathery and woolly friends for you to snuggle with! From piglets, lambs and goats to chickens and ducklings, this wonderful farmyard houses over 300 animals. And if you’re looking to see something you wouldn’t see in just any pettting zoo, there are also majestic Highland Cows!
📍Animal Nursery
🕓9:30am – 5:30pm
Cake Decorating Displays
New this year, you’ll be able to see the stunningly delicious entries to this competition, all under the theme of ‘Sewing’, and judge for yourself which one is the most impressive of them all.
📍7NEWS Community Pavilion
🕓9am – 6pm
Ekka Dance Eisteddfod
Also new this year, the inaugural Ekka Dance Eisteddfod will feature top performers and standout routines from 24 Queensland dance schools and studios. This competition celebrates entertainment, showmanship, and performance impact, across a variety of styles including jazz, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical and musical theatre!
📍Main Stage
🕓10am, 10:30am, 4:30pm
Ekka’s Farmyard Friends Talent Show
In this delightful adventure, everyone’s favourite farmyard friends take to the stage in a talent quest full of laughs! Led by Farmer Rhonda McDonald, the energetic cast of characters including Barbara-Ann Streisand the Sheep, Daisy the Cow and Milo the Sheep Dog will bring the spirit of the land to life through dance, comedy, and catchy routines.
📍Main Stage
🕓2:30pm, 3:30pm
Hollywood Hounds with Heidi Mackay
If you prefer your shows furrier, join professional animal trainer Heidi Mackay for a stunning demonstration of canine stunts, with her four-legged stars captivating audiences with their dazzling displays of skill and bravado. Her animals have appeared in productions as varied as Love and Monsters, Steve Irwin’s only film Collision Course, X-Files, commercials and more!
📍Show Ring
🕓12pm, 1pm
One-time events
Opening Parade
Baby animals, hot Wheels, marching bands, and more: you can’t miss this spectacular opening to 10 days of fun on on Saturday, August 8. Proudly showcasing everything that makes Ekka special, you’ll get to celebrate the beginning of this year’s competitions and displays!
📍Gregory Terrace
🕓8:30am
Queensland Armwrestling Championships
On Saturday, August 8, witness raw strength as more than 80 men and women compete in the Australian Armwrestling Federation Queensland Championships. The battle of the biceps will take place across lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight classes in a thrilling double elimination competition!
📍XXXX Stockmen’s Bar & Grill
🕓Every hour from 10am to 5pm
Sunday Funday (18+)
With the Bo’Ness Brothers Band bringing high-energy country-rock live and Cowgirls Australia professional dancers, Tori and Dusty, teaching iconic line dances between sets, this brand-new event takes Ekka to the next level with good vibes through the roof, all on Sunday, August 9.
📍XXXX Stockmen’s Bar & Grill
🕓8pm
Food
There’s plenty of Insta-and-drool-worthy food awaiting you at Ekka — beyond the tried and true strawberry sundaes, Dagwood Dogs and cheese toasties.
Boss Bobs
Ekka fare gets an unexpected makeover with Boss Bobs’ fried pickles. Savoury, doughy, tangy and refreshing all at once, this is a must-try!
Verry Berry Delicious
We have some berry exciting news! You get to try strawberries in a variety of photogenic forms, from the chocolate dipped to those skewered with marshmallows at Verry Berry Delicious.
Tanghulu
The latest online craze for those with a sweet tooth, Tanghulu, the glazed, fruity skewers bursting with crunchy flavour will satisfy any craving, and will bring more colour to your Instagram grid!
Rides
There are two-for-one rides sessions every morning from 9:30am to 10:30am in the B105 Sideshow Alley and the Kids Carnival area, so it may be a good idea to sacrifice some sleep this weekend!
Those looking for thrills cannot miss The Joker, the largest and fastest looping ride in Australia, or The Warrior, which towers at an impressive 55 meters and offers panoramic views of the whole festival from the top — if you dare reach it. You can find both at B105 Sideshow Alley.
If you’re looking for something a bit tamer, there are plenty of carnival games, roller-coasters, spinning rides and even a haunted house with your name on them!
🕓9:30am until late
Showbags
Did you even go to Ekka if you didn’t get a showbag? This colourful and whimsical family tradition is offering over 93 new showbags this year with all the latest toys, gadgets, beauty products, treats, sports memorabilia and more!
Prices for showbags in 2025 start at just $4, with more than 80 showbags priced at $10 or less, and 150 showbags available for $20 or under.
EkkaNITES
With monster trucks, motocross, a stirring country music performance, and more, you’d think nothing could top these, but the true crown jewel of EkkaNITES is the jaw-dropping fireworks display.
Bigger, brighter, and bolder than ever before, the 2026 all-new EkkaNITES Fireworks Spectacular ignites the night sky every evening with live pyrotechnics, transforming the Main Arena into a fully immersive, 360-degree multi-dimensional experience with each nightly show.
The EkkaNITES Spectacular is not just a fireworks display, but a 150th anniversary celebration, synchronised to an all-Australian soundtrack with Queensland and National music icons, which you’ll want to watch from the Main Arena or on Heritage Hill.
📍Main Arena
🕓7:50pm
