Townsville secures the PBR Australia Grand Finals for 2027 and 2028,
with the events expected to generate almost $9 million
The dust may have settled on two capacity nights of spectacular bull riding action at the 2026 PBR Australia Grand Finals, but Townsville has another major win to celebrate, with confirmation the national championship event will remain in the city for a further two years, supported by a funding commitment from Townsville Enterprise Limited and Tourism and Events Queensland.
In a major coup for North Queensland’s sporting and tourism calendar, the partnership secures the PBR Australia Grand Finals in Townsville for 2027 and 2028, cementing the city’s reputation as the Australian home of professional bull riding’s biggest annual event.
The announcement follows a spectacular weekend that saw Mareeba’s Kurt Shephard crowned the 2026 PBR Australia Champion in a stunning back-to-back win and claiming the coveted Australian Gold Buckle and $100,000 championship bonus in front of a capacity crowd.
Over two extraordinary nights, the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre came alive with the thunder of Australia’s toughest bucking bulls, a world-class field of Australian and international riders, live performances from Australian country music star Lane Pittman and the arena antics of award-winning American rodeo entertainer Matt Merritt.
Beyond the arena, the event delivered another important win for Townsville’s visitor economy, generating more than $4.5 million in economic impact, with the 2027 and 2028 events together expected to generate almost $9 million for Queensland’s economy.
The newly confirmed two-year funding partnership provides certainty for the event’s future, supporting its continued growth and strengthening Townsville’s position as a destination for major national and international sporting events.
PBR Australia Managing Director Glen Young said he was thrilled the PBR Australia Grand Finals would remain in Townsville for another two years. “Townsville has proven to be an outstanding home for this event, and we’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of Townsville City Council and Tourism and Events Queensland. Their commitment helps us continue delivering a world-class experience for fans, athletes and the wider community, while showcasing Townsville as a premier destination for major events.”
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto welcomed the announcement, saying the partnership represented an investment in the city’s sporting reputation, local businesses and visitor economy.
“When you’ve got a city that gets behind an event the way Townsville gets behind the PBR, it’s no surprise they want to keep coming back. The Grand Finals have become a real favourite for locals and visitors alike, bringing the best bull riders from across the country and around the world, a great atmosphere and plenty of economic benefit for our community,” he said.
“Locking in the event for 2027 and 2028 is a huge win for Townsville, our local businesses and tourism operators. No one knows how to put on a show quite like Townsville, and that’s why we’re the events capital of Northern Australia.”
The continued support of Tourism and Events Queensland reinforces the important role major sporting events play in driving regional visitation, showcasing Queensland destinations and delivering economic benefits well beyond the competition arena.
Member for Townsville Adam Baillie said securing the PBR Australia Grand Finals for a further two years was a major win for Townsville and North Queensland.
“We are continuing to cement Townsville as the sporting and events capital of the North, and keeping the Grand Finals here is a fantastic result for our city,” Mr Baillie said. “The events are expected to generate almost $9 million for Queensland’s economy, bringing more visitors to Townsville and supporting the local jobs and businesses that makes our region so great.”
“The Crisafulli Government is supporting regional events and making sure communities across North Queensland, including Townsville share in the benefits as we work towards establishing Queensland as the events capital of Australia.”
Chelsea Cavanah, Director of Major Event Acquisition at Townsville Enterprise Limited, said the PBR Grand Finals were a true anchor on Townsville’s events calendar. “With sell-out crowds, the community has well and truly backed this event. We’re thrilled to have the world’s best bulls and cowboys back in Townsville for another two years,” she said.
“The Grand Finals deliver a major boost for Townsville, generating more than $4 million for our economy and supporting businesses across the city. We’re proud to work with PBR Australia and our partners to keep this world-class event in Townsville and build on its success.”
With another spectacular Grand Finals weekend in the history books and two more years secured, the countdown to the next Australian Gold Buckle battle has already begun.
BUCKLE UP, TOWNSVILLE. WE’RE COMING BACK!
2027 PBR AUSTRALIA GRAND FINALS
Friday 12 and Saturday 13 November 2027
Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre
Supported by Townsville City Council and Tourism and Events Queensland.
ABOUT PBR AUSTRALIA
Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is one of the fastest-growing sports properties in the world, with tours across the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. A subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings -which also owns UFC and WWE- has transformed bull riding into a premier international sport since its founding in 1992. The organisation features over 1,000 riders globally and hosts more than 200 events annually worldwide. In Australia, Professional Bull Riders Australia (PBRA) stages more than 20 events each year, attracting over 75,000 fans. PBRA showcases key events and tours such as the Monster Energy Tour, PBR Origin Series, and PBR Grand Finals, while also partnering with regional event organisers through the PBR Touring Pro Division. The organisation supports emerging talent through its Can-Am Junior Academy and serves as an international pathway to the United States circuit for both Junior and Open competition athletes.
