The AWBF has been awarded Bronze in the Major Festivals and Events category at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, announced in Fremantle, Western Australia on Friday 6 March.
The national recognition celebrates the festival’s innovation, cultural impact and contribution to Tasmania’s visitor economy.
The result follows the festival’s double Gold win at the 2025 Tasmanian Tourism Awards, where AWBF received Gold in the Major Festivals and Events category and the People’s Choice Award.
Together, these achievements place the festival among Australia’s leading events, alongside iconic national festivals Floriade and Adelaide Fringe, which took out Gold and Silver respectively.
Floriade in Canberra attracts more than half a million visitors each year, while Adelaide Fringe is Australia’s largest arts festival and the world’s second-largest annual arts festival after Edinburgh — placing AWBF in notable company on the national stage.
Festival Director Paul Stephanus said the recognition reflects the extraordinary community that brings the festival to life.
“While some may think it’s a niche gathering for wooden boat devotees, the festival has grown into the largest celebration of wooden boats and maritime culture in the Southern Hemisphere,” he said.
“With each festival building on the last, this recognition belongs to the passionate community behind the event — our staff, volunteers, boat owners, partners and supporters across Tasmania and beyond.”
