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The showbags everyone will be lining up for at the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show

Credit: Destination NSW

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
The Sydney Royal Easter Show showbag line-up is here, and the best ones have been listed.

Showbags hold a certain nostalgia and intrigue. I don’t care how old you get, eating chocolate from a showbag feels far more magical than eating that same chocolate from your local convenience store. Heck, most of us have never eaten a Bertie Beatle in the real world, but that Bertie Beatle showbag can take our money every time. And while we may have precisely zero interest in a big inflatable hammer for 364 days of the year, for that one day of rummaging through a showbag, there is nothing more entertaining. And for those in the know, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is the number one place to indulge in such showbag nostalgia. And the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show showbag line-up has just been announced.

Sydney Royal Easter Show showbag pavilion
The 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show showbag drop is here. (Credit: DNSW)

With a record 418 showbags available this year, the new range combines old favourites with new releases. And for all of us who dropped off the showbag wagon because suddenly we were adults and our parents weren’t paying anymore (and they all seemed a bit overpriced), a full 88 showbags available for $10 and under. With all showbags ranging from $5 to $38.

“Showbags are part of the tradition so many Australians grow up with – from the classics people return for every year to new releases that reflect what’s trending right now," said Sydney Royal Easter Show’s Head of Operations and Product Development, Shane McGrath.

“This year’s range offers great variety and value, and seeing families experience that first reveal is always a highlight".

Which showbags should you choose?

kid's who tested 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show showbag
Meet the official showbag testers of 2026.

When there are hundreds of showbag options, how does one choose a favourite? This year, 50 children and their families from The Children’s Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital and those supported by Kids With Cancer Foundation were the first in Australia to receive the 2026 showbags as ‘official showbag testers’ – putting in the hard yards so we could all streamline our showbag tent experience at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Their results? According to these kids in the know, the top 10 showbags in 2026 (in no particular order) are:

  • Darrell Lea Liquorice Showbag
  • Cadbury Family Deal Showbag
  • The Pooch showbag – for the dog lovers!
  • The Australian Women’s Weekly Showbag
  • Creative Junior – Arts & Stationery
  • Bluey Showbag
  • Capybara Showbag
  • Hello Kitty Pink Showbag
  • Stitch Backpack Bag
  • The Conscious Store Showbag
fruit display at Sydney Royal Easter Show
Showbags + fruit displays = Easter heaven. (Credit: DNSW)

And for those looking for a bargain, the top five showbags for $10 and under are:

  • Trolli Jumbo Showbag
  • Love To Squish Disney Bag
  • Chupa Chups Showbag
  • Fantasy Art Bag
  • G-Squad Showbag

Then, of course, you can spend $30 on the annual fundraising Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) Foundation’s Give & Gather showbag. Beyond the goodies, it has discount vouchers for rides, food and shopping, saving over $350. Plus funds go to the RAS Foundation’s Community Futures Grants, which provide financial assistance for vital community projects across rural and regional NSW.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Sydney Royal Easter Show tickets

family at Sydney Royal Easter Show
Earlybird and After 4pm tickets can save money. (Credit: DNSW)

Tickets aren’t exactly cheap, with full price adult tickets hitting at $62,  and $44 for kids aged between 4 and 15. But Earlybird tickets are currently on sale at up to 15 per cent off.

“This year, we’re also introducing a new After 4pm Family Ticket, giving families the chance to arrive later in the day and experience the Show After Dark – from the illuminated street parade to a lit up Jamison Station and extended evening entertainment – all at great value," said Royal Agricultural Society of NSW General Manager, Agriculture and Sydney Royal Easter Show, Murray Wilton.

After 4pm, tickets are available online, with prices around $39 for adults, $18 for children and $95 for a family.

Sydney Royal Easter Show details

Dates: 2-13 April
Location: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
Website: Sydney Royal Easter Show

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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    From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

    Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

    Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
    Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

    The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

    The Riverina

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
    Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

    The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

    North Coast

    Forest Sky Pier
    Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

    Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

    Golden West

    winery experience in new south wales
    Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

    Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

    Special event journeys

    meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
    Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

    For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

    Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.