Two WA festivals win national awards

Pair’d Margaret River Region has won best achievement in event marketing or communication at the 2026 Australian Event Awards, held in Coffs Harbour, NSW.

Perth Multicultural Festival was named best new event.

Pair’d also received WA honours for Australia’s best tourism event and best regional event, with Coogee Live named WA’s best community event.

PAIR’D MARGARET RIVER REGION

This festival shows off the natural beauty of the Margaret River region, and its food, produce and wine.

It is essentially owned by the people of WA, through the WA Government.

Last year Pair’d brought together more than 160 regional collaborators, with 97 per cent of tickets sold. More than 80 per cent of the ticketholders were from outside the Margaret River region, so it brought revenue into the area.

It was the second year of the festival. Pair’d marketing manager Lindsay Martin says: “We’re excited to keep building on that momentum and sharing the Margaret River region with even more people around the world.”

Pair’d Margaret River Region returns from November 19-22, 2026. Tickets are available at pairdmargaretriver.com

PERTH MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

Perth Multicultural Festival also celebrated national success, winning best new event for its first celebration at Elizabeth Quay in November 2025.

More than 27,000 people attended the free two-day festival.

There were cultural performances, music, dance, storytelling and international cuisine, celebrating WA’s diverse communities.

There were performances from 10 nations at the City of Perth festival.