Birdsville Races Are Back
The 2026 Birdsville Races, the Melbourne Cup of the Outback, are locked in for their 144th running on September 4-5.
Set on a red dirt track carved out of the desert, the iconic Birdsville Races see the township swell from around 100 people to more than 6,000 punters, revellers and outback diehards chasing two days of racing and revelry. Billed as one of the world’s most remote race meets, the 2026 Birdsville Races will be the biggest event staged in Outback Queensland this year.
"Following widespread flooding earlier in the year, the usually harsh landscape is shaping up to be a once-in-a-generation spectacle over the coming months, with wildflowers and an explosion in wildlife expected across the Simpson Desert region.
And once in Birdsville, there is a large amount of free, pet-friendly camping that can be accessed – before, during and after the races,” said club president David Brook.
“What people will see on the way to and in Birdsville this year will be something special. The Outback is already coming alive, particularly the veins of the unique Channel Country landscape that the water has flowed through. We’ll have an abundant Bilby season by the time Spring hits in September, as well as emus and hundreds of different birds, in addition to beautiful desert wildflowers. The trip to and from Birdsville will be spectacular.” Brooks added
Curated travel routes across Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia, with stop-offs in towns like Roma, Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Windorah and Mt Isa - complete with other discount deals, fuel stop mapping, road updates and details on local events like yabby racing and street parties are also available as part of the free Roadies membership.
To reassure travellers planning a trip to Outback Queensland, a new SWQ Fuel Tracker has been launched at https://fueltracker.com.au to provide up-to-date information on fuel availability right across South West Queensland. Updates direct from the Birdsville Roadhouse will assure travellers that there is a good fuel supply in Birdsville, as well as some of the towns they will travel through.
WHEN:
Friday 4 – Saturday 5 September 2026
WHERE:
Birdsville, Queensland
TICKETS & INFO:
If you're planning the journey to the Birdsville Races, having the right maps on hand can make all the difference. Whether you're travelling via the Channel Country, tackling the iconic Birdsville or Strzelecki Tracks, or extending your adventure into the Simpson Desert, Hema's range of detailed maps has you covered. Explore with confidence using the Queensland State Map for broader route planning, the Outback Queensland Map for regional detail, the Simpson Desert Map for offroad exploration, and the Birdsville & Strzelecki Tracks Map for up-to-date navigation along two of Australia's most legendary outback touring routes. These trusted maps are packed with road information, distances, points of interest and essential travel details to help you get the most out of your outback adventure.
