In the ‘Hall of Fame’ at Summernats 37. Photo: Summernats.
The three days of engine noise and tyre smoke have well and truly paid off for the ACT, with this year’s Summernats breaking records for attendance and economic impact.
According to independent research by major events analysis firm IER, the 37th iteration of Summernats injected over $46 million into the ACT economy – making it one of the most successful festivals in its history.
Many new attendees also named “security and safety” as one of the top reasons they found it better than expected.
Held annually since 1987, Summernats has long held its place as a cornerstone of Canberra’s tourism calendar during the typically quieter post-New Year period.
This year’s festival welcomed more than 130,000 patrons and 2800 entrants, the highest figures since the event was acquired by its new owners in 2009.
“Summernats 37 was, without doubt, the best since we acquired the festival in 2009,” Summernats co-owner Andy Lopez said.
“We’re always making improvements to the show with a massive focus on delivering an excellent customer experience, and the high satisfaction levels in the research show the event continues to deliver on the expectations of the Summernats community.”
IER’s research also found that 81 per cent of attendees are likely to return in 2026 – a notable increase from last year’s 77 per cent – which bodes well for Summernats 38, scheduled for 8 to 11 January, 2026.
The long-term financial contribution of Summernats is also significant, with over $900 million injected into the ACT economy since the event’s inception; of that, $175 million has come from the last five festivals alone.
This year, 47,500 visitors came from interstate and overseas, delivering vital spending to local hospitality, tourism and retail businesses.
Organisers have been trying to make the event more family-friendly for years. Photo: Summernats.
“We’re happy with the numbers, but even happier when we think about what that economic impact means in real-life,” Mr Lopez added.
“For the hospitality, tourism and retail sector, Summernats means thousands of people come to Canberra and into their businesses, making January a great month for many. And for all the casual workers in those sectors, Summernats means more shifts and more income for people who wouldn’t have work if we weren’t here.”
Beyond Exhibition Park, the event expanded into Canberra’s city centre through several free public events, including the popular City Cruise and the Summernats Fringe Festival in Braddon.
Summernats 37 Braddon Fringe Festival. Photo: Summernats.
The Fringe Festival, launched in 2022 with support from the City Renewal Authority, attracted 30,000 people over three nights this year.
CRA CEO Craig Gillman said the free and family-friendly event “transforms Braddon into a buzzing and welcoming precinct” and the Authority was “proud” to support it.
“With an estimated $1 million-plus spent at local businesses during last year’s festival, the economic impact is clear,” Mr Gillman said.
Local hospitality businesses welcomed the boom, too.
BentSpoke Brewing’s Richard Watkins noted an “uplift in trade directly as a result of Summernats”, while Mohammad Saad of Fricken said, “The Summernats Fringe Festival is easily our biggest week of the year, breaking records every time … It’s a summer tradition we look forward to every year”.
Summernats continues to have the full backing of ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, too, who said it continues to be a “high-impact event for Canberra”.
“Its record-breaking attendance and economic contribution this year highlight the value that the festival delivers for our city’s hospitality and local businesses in January.”
In a statement following the event on 6 January, ACT Policing said they were “generally happy” with crowd behaviour both at Exhibition Park at the Braddon Fringe Festival, with a “small number” of arrests made for matters including assault, breach of bail, failing to comply with a police direction and assault of police.
Officers issued almost 30 ‘move on’ directions, along with more than 95 traffic infringement notices and 32 vehicle defect notices. Three vehicles were also seized, and five drivers tested positive for illicit drugs while driving.
Summernats 37. Photo: Summernats
Mr Lopez said, on the whole, it was a safe and successful event.
“We’ve worked hard to ensure that as Summernats grows, we improve the vibe, the entertainment and create a safe and happy environment for all patrons,” he said.
“The overall experience reported was at the highest level we have seen, but a standout was that satisfaction with security and safety topped the research when patrons were asked reasons why their experience was better than expected.”
Summernats 38 will be held from 8 to 11 January 2026 at Exhibition Park, Canberra.
