Ipswich is celebrating a huge result in the 2026 Best of Queensland Experiences Program, with 49 local tourism businesses recognised among the state’s top visitor experiences.Best of Queensland Experiences are tourism businesses recognised by Tourism and Events Queensland for delivering exceptional visitor experiences. For travellers, it’s a handy signpost to operators known for quality, service and memorable moments.This year also introduced new recognition tiers — Gold, Silver and Teal — adding even more prestige to the program. Ipswich didn’t just make the list, it stood out on it, with one Gold winner and four Silver tier winners among the region’s 49 recipients.

If you’ve never been to SPARK Ipswich Arts Festival what are you waiting for?  It’s 5 days of art, culture, theatre and performance just waiting to be discovered…  Read on to find out how to spend a weekend at SPARK Ipswich Arts Festival (8-12 July)!Start your weekend on Friday night…When you’ve finished work Friday, jump in the car and head out to Ipswich.First of all you’re staying at a cute apartment with Urban Getaway.  It is set inside a restored heritage home, perfect for couples and has an infrared sauna! If you’ve got the whole family, book one of their entire houses to stay out.

Over 5 days in July the City of Ipswich will be taken over by music, comedy, arts, exhibitions, projection, culture, collaboration and hands-on fun.  SPARK Ipswich Art Festival celebrates the people, places, arts and culture of Ipswich from July 8-12.  While there are some ticketed events, there are also a lot of low or no-cost things you can do – so bring the family and get ready to have some fun!Silent disco toursSilent Disco Walking Tours are a hilarious dancing, walking adventure for all ages. Wearing supplied headsets we groove our way through local streets, engaging passers by with our spontaneous flash-mob style dancing and antics. Upbeat music from your favourite decades are played by our vibrant disco hosts, quickly washing away your inhibitions and leaving you smiling from ear to ear.Date and time: 8-12 July with sessions at 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm and 7pm.

Event organisers, local businesses and Ipswich Festivals are hard at work developing this year's line up of amazing events for you to attend!Save the dates for the following Festivals, because you won't want to miss out...CMC Rocks QLDAustralia's biggest international country music festival is back in 2026 with three days of fantastic music from 20-22 March.  Although the festival is sold out, if you're looking for tickets head to the official resale site ASX.

You don’t have to travel far to find premium experiences in Ipswich. From sunrise camel rides to hot air balloon adventures to retreats steeped in history, luxury and intrigue, there’s plenty to sample from the city’s top shelf. Spicers Hidden ValeSpicers Hidden Vale is a luxury retreat nestled into 12,000 acres of bushland in Grandchester.With only a small number of restored Queenslander style cottages dating back to the 1800s, the location spells privacy and seclusion.

We all know the summer days in Ipswich can get hot, but as the sun goes down it's the perfect time to head out and enjoy a drink with friends and family in the cool night air.See a show at BansheesBanshees Bar and Art Space hosts live gigs on the weekends.  In fact they've single handedly brought over 500 bands to Ipswich since they started operations five years ago.They're also great at whipping up cocktails and a great meeting place to kick off your night.