2026 Ekka Official Opening

Representing the Premier of Queensland, Minister for Primary Industries, the Honourable Tony Perrett MP; Chief Justice of Queensland, the Honourable Helen Bowskill KC; Assistant Minister to the Premier on Matters of State and New Citizens and Leader of the House, Member for Moggill, the Honourable Dr Christian Rowan MP; 25th Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and 24th Governor of Queensland, the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO; Representing the Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Rural Development and Manufacturing, Member for Bundaberg, Mr Thomas Smith MP; Representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Deputy Mayor Fiona Cunningham; Member for Brisbane, Ms Madonna Jarrett MP; Senator for Queensland, Senator Susan McDonald; Commander 11th Brigade, Brigadier Mark Smith CSC and Mrs Michelle Smith ; Queensland Police Service Assistant Commissioner Glenn Morris; Archbishop the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, His Grace The Most Reverend Jeremy Greaves; Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, His Grace the Most Reverend Archbishop Shane Mackinlay; Archbishop Emeritus the Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall AC and Dr Christa Aspinall; RNA President, the Honourable David Thomas, and Mrs Jane Thomas , RNA Councillors and Chief Executive, Mr Brendan Christou; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here today. And I thank Refiti Tovi and Goma Conlon for their Welcome to Country on behalf of the Turrbul people this evening.

As Governor of Queensland and Patron of the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland, I am honoured to be here today to perform the official opening of the 150th Royal Queensland Show.

This milestone event invites us not only to celebrate the present, but to reflect on the remarkable history of this Queensland icon which has now stood as one of Queensland’s defining institutions for one and a half centuries — a place where Queenslanders come together to recognise achievement, showcase enterprise, and celebrate community.

Since the very first Show in 1876, the Ekka has evolved with Queensland itself. In its earliest years, it helped introduce improved stock, machinery and agricultural practice to a young colony; over time, it grew into a meeting place of city and country, industry and invention, tradition and transformation. That enduring breadth is part of what has made the Ekka so beloved, generation after generation.

The Show has always reflected the character of Queenslanders: practical, resilient, inventive and generous. It has weathered depressions, wars, natural disasters, pandemics and changing times, yet it has remained a constant in the life of the State. That continuity says a lot about the people who have sustained it — the RNA Committee, the exhibitors, judges, volunteers, sponsors, stewards, performers, workers and countless families whose commitment has ensured that the Ekka continues as a living tradition.

This 150th year is also an opportunity to acknowledge the vital role the Ekka has played in education and aspiration. For children, it offers wonder and discovery; for competitors and exhibitors, it offers recognition and encouragement; for producers, it offers a stage on which to display the very best of Queensland. And for all who attend, it offers a rare and valuable chance to connect with the land, the skills, the creativity and the innovation that underpin our daily lives.

The Royal Queensland Show has never been only about nostalgia. It is also about the future. Each year, it reminds us that agriculture remains central to Queensland’s identity and prosperity, and that the success of our rural and regional communities matters to us all.

It reminds us, too, that progress is strengthened when we value skill, experimentation and excellence, whether in the show ring, the pavilions, the competition hall or the many displays that make this event such a rich experience.

It is especially fitting that we mark this 150th anniversary at a time when Queensland continues to grow and diversify, while still drawing strength from the same qualities that made the first Show possible: hard work, ingenuity and community spirit.

As we celebrate the Ekka's remarkable history, we also look to the future with tremendous excitement, hope and pride as Queensland prepares to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This global event will bring once-in-a-lifetime experiences to communities across our State, but nowhere more so than right here at the RNA Showgrounds.

To think that the very ground on which we stand today will be transformed into a temporary home for Olympic athletes, as well as a venue for competition, is quite extraordinary.

But for now, the Ekka remains a place where families make memories, where friendships are renewed, and where Queenslanders can take pride in what their State can produce and achieve.

As Governor, I am privileged to speak for all Queenslanders and on their behalf, I also want to acknowledge and thank the many people who have worked to bring this anniversary Ekka to life — the RNA committee and executive team, the staff, volunteers, exhibitors, competitors, contractors and the many partners who support this event.

Your dedication ensures that the Royal Queensland Show remains both a treasured tradition and a vibrant celebration of modern Queensland.

On this special occasion, it is also fitting to pay tribute to all those who have contributed to the success of the Show over the past 150 years. Their efforts have built something larger than an annual event. They have helped create a Queensland institution that belongs to us all.

With great pleasure, and with admiration for the many hands and hearts behind this extraordinary achievement, I now declare the 150th Royal Queensland Show officially open.