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Margaret River’s events calendar is built around wine, surf, and the seasons. The two anchors are the World Surf League Margaret River Pro in autumn and the Pair’d Margaret River food and wine festival in November, with whale watching and wildflowers filling the winter and spring. This guide lists the dates, venues, and what to expect at each one, as part of the full Margaret River travel guide.
Margaret River Events and Festivals: Food and Wine
Pair’d Margaret River Region
The region’s flagship wine, food, and music festival, returning for its third year from 19 to 22 November 2026. It runs more than 20 events across the region, including the Grand Tasting at Howard Park Wines (from AUD 169), the Pair’d Beach Club at Meelup Beach (from AUD 169), and a series of Michelin-starred wine dinners at estates like Leeuwin and Vasse Felix. General tickets go on sale 1 July, and the premium dinners sell out within days.
Cabin Fever Festival
A winter food and wine festival held each July (17 to 26 July in 2026) across more than 40 venues from Busselton to Augusta. Expect fireside wine dinners, workshops, and long lunches built around red wine and comfort food. Most events are individually ticketed, and the festival is a good reason to visit in the cheapest season. For what to pack and how to get around in winter, see the Margaret River travel tips guide. For the full best time to visit Margaret River breakdown, see that guide.
Margaret River Region Open Studios
A free event held each September, when more than 140 artists open their studios to the public across the region. Painters, sculptors, ceramicists, and jewellers work from sheds and galleries, and the event doubles as a self-drive tour of the area’s back roads. No tickets are needed; download the trail map and follow the signs.
Margaret River Events and Festivals: Surf and Sport
Margaret River Pro
The World Surf League Championship Tour event held at Main Break and Surfers Point each April (19 to 29 April in 2026). It is free to watch from the clifftops above Prevelly, where the world’s top surfers take on one of the heaviest waves on tour. Parking is tight, so use the event shuttle from Margaret River town and bring binoculars for the 300-metre rides.
Cape to Cape MTB
A four-day mountain bike stage race held each October, with around 1,500 riders tackling the trails between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. Even if you are not racing, the event closes some trails for the week, so check dates before planning a ride. The things to do in Margaret River guide covers the trail network itself.
Margaret River Events and Festivals: Nature and Music
Whale Watching Season
From June to November, humpback and southern right whales migrate along the coast. The best land-based viewing is from Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Point Picquet, and the clifftops near Dunsborough, with the peak for southern right whales in August and September. The Margaret River neighborhoods guide shows which towns make the best whale-watching bases. Boat tours depart from Augusta and Busselton from around AUD 90 per adult. Check the Margaret River weather by month guide for the calmest months to get on the water.
Leeuwin Concert Series
A single large outdoor concert held each February on the lawn at Leeuwin Estate, with past acts including Sting, Diana Ross, and Michael Buble. Tickets start around AUD 180 and the show is staged in a natural amphitheatre against the karri forest. Book accommodation early; every where to stay in Margaret River option within an hour’s drive fills up on concert weekend.
