Mandurah’s Festivals and Events Strategy wins national award

The City of Mandurah has received national recognition for its strategic approach to festivals and events, with the Festivals and Events Strategy 2026 - 2030 winning the award in the Economic Development Strategic Thinking category at the recent National Economic Development Awards for Excellence in Hobart.

Presented by Economic Development Australia (EDA), the National Economic Development Awards for Excellence celebrate outstanding projects and professionals making a significant impact in communities across Australia.

The Excellence in Strategic Thinking Award recognises best-practice strategies that place economic development outcomes at the heart of their approach.

The City’s Festivals and Events Strategy 2026 - 2030 sets a clear direction for strengthening Mandurah’s well-known events program and maximising the value events bring to the city.

The four-year strategy focuses on the City’s aspirations, goals, and strategic direction for events, providing a pathway to support and grow a strong program that contributes to Mandurah’s vibrancy while delivering wider benefits for the community and local economy.

Mandurah’s events program already makes a significant economic contribution, generating an estimated $43 million in annual economic impact and supporting more than 2.1 million visitors each year. Events also contribute to Mandurah’s visitor economy, which is worth approximately $620 million annually.

The Festivals and Events Strategy was developed to build on these strengths through an integrated approach that aligns investment in events with the City’s economic and destination development objectives.

By positioning events as an economic development platform, the strategy provides a roadmap to grow visitation, attract investment, support local businesses, create jobs, and further strengthen Mandurah’s reputation as a leading destination.

The national award recognises the strategic thinking behind the City’s approach and the important role festivals and events can continue to play in shaping a vibrant Mandurah and delivering possibility for everyone.

Mandurah also received further national recognition, with the Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest named as a finalist in the Economic Development Excellence – Cities and Larger Regions category.