Royal Qld Show cancelled in 2032 due to Brisbane Olympics

The Ekka will be cancelled for only the fifth time in its 148-year history due to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Royal National Agriculture and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) boss has confirmed that there will be no Royal Queensland Show in 2032 due to the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Speaking on 4BC Weekends with Peter Fegan, RNA chief executive Brendan Christou stated that the Royal Queensland Show won’t be held in 2032 on the final day of this year’s Ekka.

“Not in its normal form, no it just wouldn’t be possible,” Mr Christou said.

L to R, Jayden Hehir 8yrs with sister Mia Hehir 6yrs, at the EKKA , RNA Brisbane Exhibition, Bowen Hills, on Thursday 15th August – Photo Steve Pohlner

However, he stated that the question of no Ekka being held that year was raised when the bid was happening four years ago.

“This came out probably four years ago when the bid was first going on, that was a question asked of us,” he said.

“How would you, let alone the fact that we’re nominated to be equestrian, but even if we weren’t, how would you run a major event in the city when there’s also the Olympics and Paralympics?”

RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said organisers considered the idea of changing when the Ekka was held due to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games. Photo: Steve Pohlner

When asked about the cancellation of the Ekka in 2032, Premier Steven Miles said “that has always been in the planning’’.

He said there would be “plenty’’ of other things for people to do during the Olympics period instead of attending the Show.

The Ekka has been held every year since 1876 barr for four occasions.

In 1919 the Royal Queensland Show was cancelled due to the Spanish Flu pandemic, while in 1942 the Brisbane Showgrounds were used as a staging depot during World War II.

More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellations of the show in 2020 and 2021.

Mr Christou added that while organisers considered changing when the event was held, he conceded it would have had an impact on the show circuit.

“We did consider moving it, but we’re part of a national show circuit and also even within the state, there’s a circuit that happens, they start up north and they come down and the grand final is the Ekka.

“So if you move that around, it throws all of that out.”

Kids rides at RNA Showgrounds for Ekka. Picture: Richard Walker

While the show won’t be taking place due to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mr Christou said competitions will still be held.

“Now that doesn’t mean we won’t do anything in that year in terms of our competitions,” he said.

“I think in the years leading in the couple of years leading in when we get really serious about what are we doing that year in terms of the Ekka and our ag competitions, there’ll be something that happens.

“So our food and wine competitions and some of our beef competitions, we think we could run them, maybe not in these grounds, but elsewhere, and maybe at a different time of year, but we’ve got a few years yet to plan that out.”

Federal Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton eats a Dagwood Dog as he visits the Ekka show at the RNA Showgrounds. Picture: Dan Peled

Mr Christou said some of the “quintessential Queensland” aspects of the Ekka could make an appearance during the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

“If we are the home of equestrian, we can have some of those quintessential Queensland things being served here,” he said.

“So strawberry sundaes, your award-winning beef as part of these grounds, which will be running food and beverage for the Olympics and Paralympics.

“So I think there’s lots of opportunities that will come out in the years.”