Families heading to the Perth Royal Show this year could face higher out-of-pocket admission costs if they missed out on discounted tickets, despite the State Government providing $3.95 million in support for the event and agricultural shows across WA.
The Cook Government announced the funding on August 12, describing it as support to keep the Perth Royal Show affordable for families. The 2026 Show runs from September 26 to October 3 at Claremont Showground.
The funding package includes $3 million through the Agricultural Promotion Program and $950,000 from Lotterywest. The Government said 70,000 discounted pre-sale tickets would be available, with a family of four able to attend for less than $80.
Standard admission prices for the 2026 Show remained frozen at 2025 levels, with adult tickets costing $49.95, child tickets $25.60 and concession tickets $28.65.
Standard ticket prices for the 2026 Show remained frozen at 2025 levels, with adult tickets costing $49.95, child tickets $25.60 and concession tickets $28.65.
However, children and concession holders benefited from government-subsidised half-price admission in 2025, with tickets available for $13.99 and $15.51 respectively. While standard prices remained unchanged in 2026, families who missed out on discounted tickets faced higher costs compared with those subsidised 2025 rates.
The 2026 family ticket, covering two adults and two children, is listed at $135.05.
Photo: Breannah Hughes.
The Government discount took the form of two rounds of early-bird ticket releases that offered the 70,000 tickets at discounts of 50 per cent and 40 per cent, but both are now sold out. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development declined to comment further.
WA Parliament’s 2026 Budget Estimates provides another piece of the story. When questioned about what the Royal Show funding actually pays for, the Government said the money goes towards subsidised ticket prices, as well as operational costs.
The funding package also supported attractions and agricultural activities, including nightly fireworks, free Yellow Brick Road experiences and agricultural education programs, as well as accessibility initiatives.
The Royal Agricultural Society of WA, which delivers the Perth Royal Show, said the event combines agriculture, entertainment and family activities, including livestock competitions, animal displays, rides, food and nightly fireworks.
Photo: Breannah Hughes.
For some families, the cost of attending remains a concern. One Perth family said there was not enough marketing around the discounted tickets and they were unaware pre-sales had already occurred and sold out. The family also said the cost of entry, combined with the cost of food and activities inside the show, influenced their decision to not attend this year.
“We’d love to go, we go every year, but, why are we paying to get in when everything within the grounds is still exponentially expensive? If it was free entry we would probably spend so much more inside … We won’t be attending this year. ”
Sutton Family
The Government provided $2.8 million towards the 2025 Perth Royal Show, compared with $3.95 million in support for the event and related initiatives in 2026. While the additional funding supported discounted tickets and other activities, families who missed the limited pre-sale offers faced standard admission costs.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct a comparison between subsidised 2025 ticket prices and standard 2026 admission prices, and to clarify the broader allocation of government funding.
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