competitions A Judging Highlights Date
Time Location 10am Royal
Future Directions Feature Class – Rocky Road with a Twist
Saturday 8 August
Apiculture Competition presented by Marsh WHERE: Agricultural Education Hall Are you buzzing to see Queensland’s best? This year’s Apiculture Competition presented by Marsh received more than 100 entries, including extracted honey, native honey, pollen, comb honey, beeswax and mead. Each entry is judged on its aroma, colour, flavour, density, clearness, brightness and finish. Young beekeepers have also taken part, with the Junior Beekeeper Liquid Honey class for those under 18 years of age. Judging of the Apiculture Competition will take place ahead of the Show on Saturday 1 August at 9am in the Royal International Convention Centre. Jamie Grant (RNA Councillor in Charge) T 0409 207 105 Arts and Cookery WHERE: 7NEWS Community Pavilion (level one) The Arts and Cookery competitions continue to be a crowd favourite, attracting a record 5,138 entries in 2026 across eight sections: Cake Decorating, Cookery, Creative Art & Craft, Natural Fibres Make & Model, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, and Wearable Art. All entries are displayed on level one of the 7NEWS Community Pavilion during Ekka. This year, the Cookery Competition will bring together a record number of talented home cooks, bakers and food enthusiasts for another delicious showcase of skill and creativity. Queensland in a Jar presented in partnership with ABC Radio Brisbane, invites entrants to create a preserve – relish, chutney or jam – made from a key ingredient grown in Queensland. Cake Decorating welcomes a fresh challenge this year with a new “Sewing” theme. Entrants are invited to carve and decorate cakes to reflect a sewing machine or sewing basket. In Creative Art and Craft, several classes will commemorate the Ekka’s anniversary including the 150th Tapestry, Doll, Decorative Handcraft, Headpiece, Papercraft, and Ceramic/Porcelain. Natural Fibres Make & Model introduces exciting new themes in 2026 including Denim through the Ages, “1940s” for senior school student entrants, and “1800s to 1930s” for Open Adults. These creative themes give designers the opportunity to explore historical influences through sustainable fashion design. In Painting and Drawing, there is a new and exciting class – Urban/Abstract (any medium) inviting entrants to explore abstract concepts using shapes, colours and lines, or urban depictions of graffiti, street art and murals.
Queensland Cooking Stage,
Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion
Natural Fibres Make & Model and Wearable Art Parade Queensland in a Jar – preserve celebrating Qld produce
Saturday 8 August
3pm
Channel Seven Pavilion, Main Stage
Tuesday 11 August
1.30pm ABC Broadcast Tent, Ground
Floor, Royal International Convention Centre
Queensland’s Best Dark Rich Fruit Cake (Queensland Ag Shows)
Tuesday 11 August
3pm Royal
Queensland Cooking Stage,
Woolworths Fresh Food Pavilion
Wally Boydell (RNA Councillor in Charge) T 0407 728 522 Anna Marsden (RNA Councillor in Charge) T 0414 407 162 State Australian Young Farmer Challenge presented by Dairy Farmers WHERE: Main Arena Watch the next generation of agricultural talent take centre stage in this high-energy, hands-on rural showdown led by the RNA Future Directions Committee. The State Australian Young Farmer Challenge presented by Dairy Farmers returns with four teams of four (aged 18 to 35) tackling a series of practical farm- inspired tasks in a fast-paced relay format. From building cattle enclosures and treating mock snake bites to rolling out swags and wrangling hay bales, the action unfolds in the Main Arena on Sunday 9 August from 12.30pm. National Australian Young Farmer Challenge powered by OzTix WHERE: Main Arena Following the State event, the National Australian Young Farmer Challenge powered by OzTix will be held from 4.30pm in the Main Arena. The nation’s top teams will go head-to-head to claim the title of Australian Young Farmer Challenge champions.
ekka media kit | Page 30
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