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The 2026 National 4×4 Outdoors Show is rolling back into the Sydney Showground from 12–14 June, offering NSW tourers the cheapest entry in years with $22 first-release tickets. This massive weekend brings together the latest rigs, expert recovery demonstrations, and exclusive gear deals to help you prep for the winter touring season.
Look, I’ll put my hand up here – I’ve got absolutely zero self-control at these shows. I walk in needing one thing and somehow leave with recovery gear, camp lighting and a gadget some bloke in a branded polo convinced me would “change my setup forever”.
If you know that feeling, Sydney in June is going to be a very good weekend for your rig and a very character-building one for your bank account. And with $22 first-release tickets saving you a tenner per head, at least the entry won’t sting.
Event essentials
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | 9:00 am – 5:00pm (Fri/Sat), 9:00am – 4:00pm (Sun) |
| Venue | Sydney Showground, Olympic Park |
| Times | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Fri/Sat), 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Sun) |
| Tickets | First Release: $22 (Save $10) | Kids under 16 FREE |
Ricko, Jamie Hazelden and proper NSW track intel
Now, if there’s one thing I’d earmark time for before you do anything else at the show, it’s the “Tracks N Trips” sessions. We’re not talking about blurry PowerPoints and stock photos here – you’re getting track intel direct from blokes who’ve actually driven the stuff. Jamie Hazelden and Ricko know the NSW tracks like the back of their hands, and Dingo Dave from Australian Offroad Academy will be there to share the kind of hard-won knowledge that keeps you out of strife when things start getting technical out bush.
For anyone planning a winter run – Snowy Mountains, high country, coastal tracks – this is genuinely worth treating like a briefing session, not just entertainment. I’d be taking notes. Probably on my phone while pretending to look casual.
Live rollover recoveries are coming to Sydney
Here’s the thing. Most of us have seen things go pear-shaped out bush. The bit a lot of people don’t think about until they’re staring down the situation is what you actually do when a rig goes over. New for 2026, the MadMates team – MadMatt and Lucas Bree – will be running live rollover recovery demos showing exactly how to right a rig safely without turning one bad moment into a much worse one.
Even if you reckon you’ve got your recovery kit sorted, watching a proper demo has a way of flagging the gaps you didn’t know you had. Worth every minute of your Saturday.
Also making its debut at the Sydney show is the “Gear up & Go” stage, hosted by the Girls Day Out 4WD Edition crew. They’re bringing in industry experts to cover vehicle setup, communications, and touring gear in a way that actually makes sense. This isn’t a sales pitch, it’s proper hands-on education, and it’s the perfect place to ask the questions you’d normally feel awkward about asking in a shop.
No judgement. We’ve all stood in front of a UHF radio display pretending we understood what we were looking at.
The wildest builds at the show
For the blokes and blokettes who appreciate a bit of craftsmanship, the Show N Shine is back and this year, it’s got a shiny new “Show Pony” category. This one’s for the builds where no expense has been spared and the attention to detail is frankly next level. Whether you’re hunting inspiration for your own project rig or just want to gawk at what happens when someone with serious skill (and presumably a very patient spouse) goes all in on a build, the finalists will be on full display. I’d budget a solid chunk of time here. Maybe more than one lap.
Family-friendly 4WDing: Kids Zone and wildlife
The show isn’t just bar work and recovery gear, either – it’s a genuinely good family day out. Kids under 16 get in free, and there’s a dedicated Kids Zone and Wildlife Shows to keep the younger members of the crew entertained. Which means more uninterrupted browsing time for you. Everybody wins, really.
That’s a wrap: Secure your $22 tickets
Brisbane was a cracker this year – check out the highlights here if you missed them – and Sydney is shaping up to be even bigger. Don’t wait until the gates open to sort your entry. First-release tickets are strictly limited, and at $22 a head, you’re already saving $10 per person before you’ve even walked through the door.
And for our Victorian mates – keep 21–23 August 2026 clear for the Melbourne show. Details and tickets coming soon, so keep an eye out.
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