Major events held across Perth and regional Western Australia in 2025-26 injected close to $223 million into the state economy, according to figures released by the Cook Government. The State Government backed close to 100 events across the year, which together drew more than 2.1 million attendees and close to 132,000 visitors.
“Events are an incredibly valuable investment for the Western Australia tourism sector, bringing a huge $223 million in impact from major events alone, plus the huge social, community, and media value,” said Premier and Tourism, Trade and Investment Minister Roger Cook.
“We know that hosting blockbusters raises the profile and reputation of our State, showcasing Western Australia on a global stage and helping bring even more visitors here, injecting valuable dollars into local tourism, hospitality, and accommodation businesses.”
The WWE Takeover Weekend in October 2025 brought over 40,000 fans into RAC Arena across three nights of Friday Night SmackDown, Crown Jewel: Perth, and Monday Night RAW, with more than 12,500 of them travelling from interstate.
Things to do in Perth
The opening Test of the Ashes at Optus Stadium in November attracted around 8,500 visitors from the United Kingdom and 11,000 from interstate. More than 100,000 people came through the gates across the first two days of play, making it the highest-attended Test match ever held at the ground.
February brought the first Perth SailGP, which sold out with a crowd of over 15,000. AFL Origin returned to Optus Stadium after a 27-year absence and also sold out, and in May, UFC Fight Night drew close to 14,000 to RAC Arena for a card headlined by Perth’s Jack Della Maddalena. North Melbourne’s regional home game at Hands Oval in Bunbury returned for a second year, bringing thousands of out-of-region visitors south.
What the events cost
What the State Government paid to secure any of it isn’t public. Individual event fees are held as commercial-in-confidence, and leaked documents reported in July by 9News Perth and Business News put the total spend at around $33 million, including $4 million for the AC Milan and Perth Glory friendly. Roger Cook disputed those figures at the time, saying they didn’t match the government’s own record keeping, and the Opposition has been pushing since for event costs to be published.
