The 2026 Agri & Aqua Tourism Summit is returning to The Tweed with a refreshed format designed to help farmers, producers, tourism operators and regional businesses identify new income opportunities and leave with a practical plan for action.

Central to this year's summit is the concept of moving from the $100 visitor to the $500 visitor. Rather than focusing solely on attracting more people, the Summit will seek to challenge conventional thinking around tourism growth and explore how businesses can create more value from the visitors they already have.

Through real-world examples, practical workshops and conversations with successful operators, the event will explore ways to unlock greater value from existing assets and experiences.

Summit founder Gary Fitz-Roy said: "The biggest challenge facing many regional businesses isn't a lack of opportunity. It's knowing where to start.

"Many operators already have the ingredients for a successful visitor experience, accommodation offering, food experience, farm tour, event or water-based attraction. What they need is a clearer pathway.

"This summit is designed to help people recognise those opportunities, understand what visitors will pay for and leave with a practical plan they can start implementing immediately."

The summit will bring together leaders from agriculture, tourism, business, branding and visitor experience, providing delegates with practical insights from people who understand what it takes to build profitable and sustainable regional enterprises.

The Summit will also introduce its inaugural aqua agritourism focus, exploring the growing opportunities where agriculture, water, tourism and regional experiences intersect.

Featured speakers include:

  • Michael Guerin, CEO, National Farmers' Federation
  • Pam Brook, Co-Founder, Brookfarm
  • Richard Sauerman, leading brand strategist and customer experience expert
  • Scott Millar, Gen Z and future consumer specialist
  • Andy Carbone, Burradoo Farm
  • Linda Tillman, Managing Director, Tilma Group
  • Adriana Buik, Visitor Experiences Manager – Culinary & Agritourism, Destination NSW

The program will also feature successful operators, tourism leaders and regional business experts who have transformed existing assets into thriving visitor experiences and diversified revenue streams.

In addition to keynote speeches, panel sessions and networking opportunities, attendees will visit a curated selection of farms, food businesses, accommodation operators, waterways and emerging agri-aqua tourism ventures to see firsthand how successful operators have identified opportunities, created memorable visitor experiences and built additional income streams.

The 2026 Agri & Aqua Tourism Summit will be held from 20-21 October 2026. Registrations are now open. Learn more here.