A big focus for the 2026 Summernats event will be on improving the spectator and entrant experience, says the event’s co-owner Andy Lopez.
The iconic summer car event and key tourist attraction for the ACT will run at Exhibition Park in Canberra from 8-11 January 2026.
Summernats includes cars and live music at EPIC, as well as an array of free events across Canberra: the City Cruise, the festival’s official opening ceremony, where hundreds of cars roll down Northbourne Avenue, and the Summernats Fringe Festival, which runs in Braddon.
“There are a lot of things that happen at Summernats, elite cars, unveils, cruising, but we always add new things into the experience to keep it fresh and keep it compelling for people to come to it,” Mr Lopez said.
“We try to make Summernats give people what they want and expect from it and surprise and delight with new things they weren’t expecting.
“That’s our way of keeping it fresh and evolving.”
The music line-up has been announced, and it’s stacked with a range of popular Aussie acts, including Canberra’s own ARIA award-winning duo Peking Duk (Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles).
Mr Lopez said this year’s entertainment lineup would take the festival to another level.
“Summernats has always been the ultimate Aussie horsepower party, and this year we’ve gone all out with a line-up that offers something for everyone,” he said.
“The Living End, The Screaming Jets and Killing Heidi will deliver an unforgettable rock bill on Friday night, while Peking Duk will turn Saturday night into the biggest celebration Canberra has ever seen.
“Summernats is not just about the cars. It’s about the people who love them, the community, the music, the party and celebrating one of the country’s most iconic events.”
In other Summernats news, Mr Lopez said the first round of entrants to take part in the 2026 event sold out in 24 hours in February, with thousands of people already locked in.
“Which was the fastest we’ve ever done it,” he told CD.
Mr Lopez said campground bookings for entrants at EPIC were also already full, with other forms of accommodation also already being booked months out from the event.
He said the spectator tickets for the 2026 event were also tracking well.
The event will debut several major upgrades, including:
• Double Skid Row: Dual lanes for more tyre-frying chaos
• Pedestrian overpasses: Faster and easier access to all the best spots
• Non-stop entertainment: Hot Wheels stunts, FMX High Air, carnival rides and air shows
• Expanded park-up zones: More space for entrants to showcase their cars
• Improved spectator areas: Additional grandstands, shade and chill zones
It comes after the 2025 Summernats event injected a record-breaking $46 million into the region’s economy, while also bringing in more punters than ever.
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