When you think of the RNA Showgrounds, you immediately think of the fun, entertainment and excitement associated with the EkkA! (Royal Queensland Show), which has been held right here for over 130 years.

It stands to reason that the Showgrounds have also played host to many amazing events and festivals throughout its lifetime. The uniqueness and character associated with the space has attracted so many wonderful events from the Fluffy Dance Party to Livid Music Festival to a Guinness Book of Records attempt at the world’s biggest raindance. Creative imaginations have free reign at the RNA Showgrounds, where there is little we cannot accommodate.

The Main Arena and Number 2 Oval are our two most popular festival venues, due to their size and adaptability. You can create many large and intimate venues in the one space, simply by using marquees and demountable structures. Our Industrial Pavilion and Exhibition Building are also popular indoor venues for events which can accommodate large scale themeing and staging. The Avenues and Expo Place have also been used for dance parties and concerts.

Centrally located in the inner city of Brisbane, the RNA Showground is ideally positioned to welcome patrons to your event. Just 3km from Brisbane’s CBD, 1km from Fortitude Valley and en-route to the Brisbane Airport and Gold and Sunshine Coasts, access is easy.

It can accommodate up to 3,000 vehicles on site and public transport options are abundant, with two railway stations within walking distance and buses servicing the surrounding streets regularly.

So, if you want to stage a festival or large scale event with loads of character, appeal and versatility, look no further than the RNA Showgrounds.

MAIN ARENA
The magnificent open space of the Main Arena invokes a sense of the spectacular.

With seating capacity for 20,000, the recently restored oval lends versatility to events of all kinds. From parades, performances and sports days to intimate marquee dinners and expos – this venue is one of the RNA Showgrounds’ most well-known and historically significant.

Sitting high in the heritage grandstands like the John MacDonald Stand, you can almost see Don Bradman walking out to make his Test debut, as he did here in 1928. What a talking point for your event. These days the Arena has a professional grassed playing surface to rival the most high-tech of sporting grounds.

Perfect for large scale music events, in recent times the Main Arena was the location of choice for the legendary Livid Festival.

The sheer size of the Arena; the onsite facilities available; and the inner-city location make this an unsurpassable venue in terms of convenience and the elusive wow-factor.

NUMBER 2 OVAL
Magnificent 100-year-old fig trees line the perimeter of this picturesque venue, lending a classic feeling to your event. The open space allows your guests to enjoy the seasons and is perfect for marquees, expos, music and corporate events.

Due to the size of the oval, multiple marquees may be set up to create a variety of different spaces within the one event. Not many Brisbane venues can boast that level of versatility within the inner-city.

Located next to the EkkA!’s famous amusement precinct, this venue is bound to invoke happy memories of show-time adventures and fun. It also has the added advantage of being easily accessed via O’Connell Terrace.

THE AVENUES
The Avenues is a veritable boulevard of landscaped gardens and paved walkways that extends along Alexandria Street.

Consisting of a series of interconnecting buildings, The Avenues may be utilized individually or together to provide more than 6,000 square metres of undercover function space. This makes it the ideal venue for large themed events, tradeshows and public exhibitions.

By making use of both the streetscape and the buildings on The Avenues, you can create a seamless transition from outside to indoors. Previous events held at this venue are diverse, ranging from fashion parades and product launches to sales and team building days; all of which highlight the sheer versatility of The Avenues.

EXPO PLACE
Outdoor but covered to guard against the elements, Expo Place is an ideal setting for special events.

In recent years, the 5,600 square metres area has been home to a range of events, including live performances, outdoor product demonstrations, exhibitions and competition activities. This space has also been utilised by film companies, and for corporate Christmas parties.