The 2026 Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards were announced on 12 August at the Morwell Convention and Reception Centre, recognising the outstanding towns and communities that continue to showcase the best of regional Victoria.
The awards celebrate destinations that deliver exceptional visitor experiences while highlighting the important role tourism plays in supporting regional economies and communities. Many of these award-winning destinations also offer inspiring settings for business events, conferences and corporate retreats, combining memorable delegate experiences with authentic regional hospitality.
Congratulations to all winners and finalists, with a special acknowledgement to our regional Victoria destinations:
Top Tourism Town (population over 5,000)
Gold: Echuca
Silver: Bendigo
Bronze: Ballarat
Finalist: Mildura
Congratulations also to Portarlington, which received Gold in the Small Tourism Town category, and Portsea, which was named Gold in the Tiny Tourism Town category.
The Gold winners will now represent Victoria at the Australian Top Tourism Town Awards, with the national winners to be announced on 15 September at Parliament House in Canberra.
Business Events Victoria congratulates all winners and finalists on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates the continued success of regional Victoria as a destination for both leisure and business events.
Read more about the winners and finalists on the VTIC website.
