The Pulse of Regional Events: Insights from Recent Industry Survey

We recently conducted an industry survey to better understand the landscape of regional events across Australia, and the results are in! With respondents representing local councils (30.19%), not-for-profits (30.19%), and private organisers (15.09%), the feedback provides a clear picture of the opportunities and challenges currently facing our industry.  

The key standout for us was the overall positivity in the industry; with a shift in sentiment from one of struggling to survive, to one of optimism and renewed confidence in what regional events can achieve.

Insights from the survey are categorised below. 

A Resilient but Complex Outlook  

The regional events sector remains remarkably optimistic despite the hurdles of recent years. Over 71% of respondents reported feeling positive, very positive, or somewhat positive about the future of their events. This is driven by a strong sense of growth in the attendee experience, with 70% of organisers reporting that the overall event experience is getting better each year. 

However, the survey also revealed a more nuanced reality regarding the "engine room" of these events: 

• Community Backing: While 41% of respondents see community support improving, a significant 35.9% feel it is staying the same, suggesting a need for fresh engagement strategies. 

• Personal Motivation: Organisers remain committed, with 65% reporting their motivation to run events is either increasing or holding steady. Yet, this dedication is tested by declining team and volunteer support, which 41% of respondents noted is getting worse. 

• Financial Pressures: Financial viability is a growing concern, as nearly 29% of organisers reported that their event's financial health is declining 

The Hurdles: Volunteers, Funding, and Compliance 

While the outlook is bright, organisers are navigating significant "pain points". The survey identified that the greatest needs for additional support lie in: 

• Volunteer recruitment and management (56.25%). 

• Sponsorship and grants (54.17%). 

• Compliance, permits, and regulations (45.83%). 

Many of you noted that volunteer fatigue and the "cost of living crisis" remain as major challenges heading into 2026, as families have less disposable income to spend at events. Additionally, the rising cost of insurance and infrastructure continues to put pressure on event budgets. 

We also heard about the ‘Everything Officer’ Syndrome: In regional areas, a single person is often the event planner, marketing officer, volunteer coordinator and everything in-between. This lack of shared resources leads to people being spread too thinly and high rates of burnout and mental health pressures. 

Looking Ahead: Collaboration and Education  

The survey revealed a clear hunger for growth through regional collaboration and resource pooling. Many see a significant opportunity in drawing more visitors to travel to regional events and strengthening events as central social hubs for communities. 

To support this growth, the Australian Centre for Regional Events is looking at future masterclass topics. Your feedback highlighted a high interest in training for volunteer management, strategic planning, and securing sponsorship. 

What’s Next?  

57.89% of you said you are likely to participate in an annual trends and challenges roundtable. We are excited to facilitate these conversations in 2026 to ensure regional events continue to thrive as the "backbone" of our communities. We will be holding our first roundtable on Thursday, the 12th February 2026. Reach out to admin@australianregionalevents.com.au if you would like to be part of this session.

We are also working on adding more tools and resources to help you – stand by as they will soon be part of our regular training programs. 

And the good news is, for those who wanted training in volunteer management, strategic planning, and securing sponsorship – it already exists!  Our Signature Program covers all these things, with the next intake set for March. Find out more here.  For those who are just after help with sponsorship, we will be holding a special masterclass on the 5th March – enrol today here.