Event: Sydney Royal Easter Show 2026 Dates: 2 – 13 April 2026 Location: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park Total Space: ~500sqm across six stands Services: Custom Stand Design, Build, Project Management, AV, Signage, Logistics, Sustainable Materials, Onsite Support
Overview
The Sydney Royal Easter Show is one of Australia’s most iconic annual events and at 203 years old, one of its oldest. Held across 12 days at Sydney Showground, the 2026 edition welcomed over 800,000 visitors. For brands looking to reach a genuine cross-section of the community, there’s no platform like it.
In 2026, Grand Stand Events delivered six separate exhibition stands for clients simultaneously. The project spanned four months of planning, three semi-trailers of stock, a five-day bump-in, and approximately 500 square metres of fully custom-built space.
It’s one of the most logistically complex projects we deliver each year, and one we are proud to have supported for five consecutive years.
Transport for NSW
Five TfNSW departments were united under a single 28.5-metre long stand. Each department had its own zone, activations, and staff, while the overall space maintained a cohesive TfNSW identity. Key features included a custom designed e-bike game, four 43″ touch-screen kiosks, a bus seat photo opportunity, the Sydney Metro lollipop display, a maritime safety zone with life jacket mannequins, a Photo Booth opportunity and a 189sqm custom-printed raised floor.
Client: Transport for NSW
Event: Sydney Royal Easter Show 2026
Dates: 2 – 13 April 2026
Stand Size: ~189sqm · 28.5m long
Location: Home & Lifestyle Pavilion, Sydney Showground
Services: Custom Stand Design, Build, Project Management, AV, Signage, Custom Print, Logistics, Onsite Technical Support
Overview
Transport for NSW has been one of Grand Stand Events’ most valued long-term partners at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. In 2026, five separate TfNSW departments came together under a single 28.5-metre stand in the Home & Lifestyle Pavilion.
Each department required its own distinct zone, engagement activations, and staff presence. At the same time, the overall stand needed to feel unified and unmistakably TfNSW. Achieving that balance — five individual identities within one coherent exhibition — is the kind of challenge that a multi-year partnership is built for.
Design Features
The stand was structured as a series of connected zones, each housing a different department’s content and activations while sharing a consistent visual framework across the 28.5-metre footprint. Key elements included:
• A 189sqm fully custom-printed raised floor, creating a seamless branded ground plane across the entire stand
• An overarching banner system visible from across the pavilion
• An e-bike game activation with a 22″ tablet, crowd control barriers, and e-bike cutouts to scale
• Four 43″ touchscreen kiosks for the Road Safety zone, supported by a wall-mounted 85″ screen
• A bus seat photo opportunity with a custom bus driver cutout and branded wrap
• A TfNSW merchandise area with display plinths, a clothing rack, mannequins, and a 55″ screen
• Full rigging and truss lighting system with flood lights across the entire stand width
• Onsite internet distribution with two 50Mb/s connections supporting all digital activations
Execution
Planning for the TfNSW stand began four months ahead of the show, coordinating across five separate internal departments. Our team managed the full scope: design, custom print production, AV specification and programming, asset storage and retrieval from our warehouse, logistics, and a multi-day bump-in.
The stand was built over four days of bump-in, with a test technician present during the build phase to commission all digital and interactive elements ahead of the show opening.
Result
The 2026 TfNSW stand delivered a consistent and professional presence across five departments, with each zone providing meaningful engagement opportunities for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who moved through the Home & Lifestyle Pavilion over 12 days. The stand balanced the scale required to represent a major government portfolio with the warmth and accessibility needed to connect with everyday families.
Exchange for Change / Return and Earn
Designed around two age groups (5 to 8 and 9 to 12), the Return and Earn stand featured a Return-a-Thon touchscreen game, an Earnie-themed iPad quiz, a life-size Earnie mascot character, a walk-through bridge, and a fully illustrated back wall. A printed floor journey guided visitors between activities. Every element was designed to make the message — return containers, earn rewards, help the environment — feel tangible and fun for children.
Client: Exchange for Change (NSW)
Event: Sydney Royal Easter Show 2026
Dates: 2 – 13 April 2026
Stand Size: 6x6m
Location: Home & Lifestyle Pavilion, Sydney Showground
Services: Custom Stand Design, Build, Signage, AV, Custom Print, Logistics
Overview
2026 marked the third consecutive year Grand Stand Events has delivered the Return and Earn stand for Exchange for Change at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Each year the stand has grown in ambition and this year was no exception. The brief called for a fully interactive experience that would educate and engage children across two distinct age groups, while bringing the Return and Earn brand to life in a way that felt genuinely playful and memorable.
With a 6×6 metre footprint, every centimetre had to work hard. The result was a stand built around movement, discovery, and fun — one that rewarded curiosity and kept kids coming back.
Design Features
The stand was designed around a user journey, a deliberate path through the space that moved visitors from one activity to the next, with Earnie (the Return and Earn wombat mascot) present throughout as a guide and character. Key elements included:
• A 6x3m custom illustrated back wall and two 1x3m storage room side walls, featuring Earnie across four illustrated steps of the container recycling journey
• A Return-a-Thon touchscreen game: a 43″ touch screen built into the wall designed for children aged 9 to 12 to test their knowledge of eligible and ineligible containers
• An Earnie iPad quiz on three iPads, with separate user journeys for ages 5 to 8 and ages 9 to 12, featuring clues hidden across the stand
• A life-size Earnie character positioned on the stand floor, with hidden clue flaps under his shirt for younger visitors completing the quiz
• An inflatable can display as a visual anchor and photo opportunity
• A signpost and walk-through bridge, used to guide visitors through the stand and create a sense of journey
• A custom floor decal in non-slip vinyl, extending the illustrated world beneath visitors’ feet
• A reception counter with branded PVC front panel
• Five LED arm lights ensuring the stand was well-lit and vibrant throughout the event
Execution
The 2026 brief required close collaboration with the Exchange for Change team from the earliest planning stages, with design developed through two rounds of review and approval. All custom elements were produced by our print and production team and delivered ready for installation.
Result
The Return and Earn stand achieved exactly what the brief set out to deliver: a fun, educational, and highly interactive environment that engaged children of two age groups simultaneously and brought the Return and Earn message to life in a setting where families were primed to learn and explore.
NSW Rural Fire Service
The centrepiece of the RFS stand was a custom-built timber house split into two sides to show the contrast between a fire-risk property and a fire-ready one. This also doubled as internal storage for the RFS team during the event. A CAT 9 fire vehicle was displayed atop printed grass artwork at the front for photo opportunities, while kids’ tables offered a spot-the-difference activity. Two 65″ wall-mounted screens ran educational content, and a full rigging and truss lighting system ran across the 20-metre width of the stand.
Client: NSW Rural Fire Service
Event: Sydney Royal Easter Show 2026
Dates: 2 – 13 April 2026
Stand Size: 20x6m
Location: Home & Lifestyle Pavilion, Sydney Showground
Services: Custom Stand Design, Build, Custom Construction, Signage, AV, Rigging, Logistics
Overview
The NSW Rural Fire Service came to the Easter Show with a clear mission: help NSW communities understand what it really means to prepare a home for bush fire season. The brief called for an immersive, informative stand that could communicate practical fire-ready advice to a general public audience, with particular appeal to families and children.
The centrepiece of the 2026 RFS stand was a fully custom-built timber house that brought the bush fire ready message to life in a way that no amount of printed panels could replicate.
Design Features
The stand was conceived as a complete scene: part educational display, part immersive environment, set against a 19.84-metre printed back wall running the full length of the space. Key elements included:
• A custom-built 3.6×1.8×2.7m timber house with external cladding, fake windows, a working access door, and three internal shelves. One side of the house was dressed to show fire-risk conditions — overgrown grass, timber debris, clogged gutters. The other side demonstrated best practice — metal mesh screens, cleared surrounds, maintained lawn
• A CAT 9 fire vehicle and farm fire unit positioned on printed grass artwork at the front of the stand, available for photos
• Eleven metres of white picket fencing to define the house perimeter
• A kids’ spot-the-difference activity table positioned near the house, engaging younger visitors with the fire-ready message
• A 65″ wall-mounted LCD screen running educational content and RFS video
• Two 65″ wall-mounted screens for members and general content, plus a storage counter
• A seating area with high bar tables, stools, and a welcome counter with lockable storage and a bar fridge
• Full rigging and truss lighting across the 20-metre stand width, with 8 x 150W honeycomb flood lights and additional LED flood lighting
• A curved welcome counter branded with NSW RFS and NSW Government logos
Execution
Our team managed the full build from design through to installation. The house was designed to be weather resistant and fully enclosed, with reuse in mind — this is now an asset the RFS can deploy at future outdoor activations.
Two bump-in days were required for the full stand installation, with a third day for final dressing and sign-off. RFS staff were briefed on the space ahead of the show opening and operated the stand throughout the event with Grand Stand Events available for any onsite support requirements.
Result
The fire-ready house attracted consistent attention throughout the 12-day show, giving RFS staff a powerful physical prop to anchor conversations about bush fire preparation. The CAT 9 vehicle provided a natural draw from the aisle, pulling visitors in to engage with the broader display. The combination of immersive construction, interactive kids’ content, and accessible staff engagement made this one of the most talked-about stands in the pavilion.
High Speed Rail Authority
The HSRA space was focused on community engagement, with an open, welcoming space for visitors to learn about the high speed rail project and speak with the team. A model train and map table were integrated into a custom-built environment with printed wall panels, a 75″ screen, and iPad information stations.
Client: High Speed Rail Authority (via Comms Store)
Event: Sydney Royal Easter Show 2026
Dates: 2 – 13 April 2026
Stand Size: 6x6m
Location: Home & Lifestyle Pavilion, Sydney Showground
Services: Custom Stand Design, Build, Signage, AV, Logistics
Overview
The High Speed Rail Authority’s presence at the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show was focused on one core objective: creating a welcoming, informative space where members of the public could learn about the high speed rail project, explore its route and implications, and speak directly with the HSRA team.
Design Features
The stand was designed to feel open and accessible. Key elements included:
• A client-supplied train model (1200x600x1300mm) positioned as the hero display piece
• A client-supplied interactive map table (2300x1150x950mm) with replacement self-adhesive vinyl, allowing visitors to engage with the rail route in a tactile way
• Nine custom-printed 1978x986mm PVC wall panels and three 986x986mm panels, creating a clean, branded environment around the perimeter
• A 75″ wall-mounted LCD screen running HSRA content throughout the show
• Two iPads on white tall stands for additional information and engagement
• A custom-printed counter with waterfall sides and interchangeable fronts
• Custom-printed door and above-door PVC panels
• Polished concrete vinyl tile flooring across the full 36sqm footprint
Result
The HSRA stand provided a calm, professional, and engaging space for community members to learn about one of NSW’s most significant infrastructure projects. The interactive map table in particular proved an effective conversation starter, drawing visitors in and giving the HSRA team a natural anchor for discussions.
NSW Ministry of Health
The NSW Ministry of Health stand served two audiences simultaneously: career-minded young people and families interested in healthy living. A custom photo opportunity with props was a standout feature, alongside a 65″ wall-mounted screen, branded counter, and kids’ furniture zone. The layout was designed to create natural flow between the careers messaging and the healthy lifestyle content without the space feeling divided.
Client: NSW Ministry of Health
Event: Sydney Royal Easter Show 2026
Dates: 2 – 13 April 2026
Stand Size: ~27sqm
Location: Home & Lifestyle Pavilion, Sydney Showground
Services: Custom Stand Design, Build, Signage, AV, Logistics
Overview
The NSW Ministry of Health returned to the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2026 with two distinct but complementary objectives: promote careers in NSW Health to younger and emerging professional audiences, and encourage healthy and active lifestyles for families with children.
Designing a stand that could speak genuinely to both — without feeling unfocused — required clear spatial thinking and a considered approach to the visitor journey.
Design Features
The stand was designed with two clear zones: one oriented toward careers and aspirational engagement, the other toward families and healthy living. These were united by a consistent NSW Health visual identity. Key elements included:
• A custom photo opportunity frame with props
• A 65″ wall-mounted LCD screen running careers and healthy lifestyle content throughout the show
• A custom-printed counter with waterfall sides and interchangeable fronts
• Kids’ furniture to create a welcoming area for families
• Timber vinyl tile flooring across the full footprint
• Perimeter non-slip floor decals
Execution
The stand build formed part of our wider five-day bump-in across the Home & Lifestyle Pavilion, with the Ministry of Health stand installed and handed over ahead of the show opening. All print was produced and delivered by our team, with the photo opportunity frame built and dressed on-site.
Result
The Health stand successfully engaged two audience segments within a compact but well-considered footprint. The photo opportunity proved consistently popular throughout the 12 days, drawing visitors in and giving staff a natural starting point for conversations about careers and healthy living programs.
NSW Department of Education
Four towers anchored the DET stand, each representing a stage of the public education journey from kindergarten to Year 12. A classroom-style back wall provided the setting for live workshops run throughout the show. The stand included an 85″ screen, four 55″ wall-mounted screens, a PA system with microphones, a kids’ reading nook, custom apple and rocket-shaped postcards, and a custom reboard tree as a centrepiece. It was a stand designed to reward repeat visits — and to feel genuinely alive across 12 days.
Client: NSW Department of Education
Event: Sydney Royal Easter Show 2026
Dates: 2 – 13 April 2026
Stand Size: ~90sqm
Location: Home & Lifestyle Pavilion, Sydney Showground
Services: Custom Stand Design, Build, Signage, AV, Custom Print, Logistics
Overview
The NSW Department of Education used the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show to tell the story of public schooling in NSW, from a child’s very first day of kindergarten through to the end of Year 12. It’s a journey that touches virtually every family in the show audience, and the brief was to bring it to life in a way that felt warm, dynamic, and worth exploring.
The result was one of the most visually layered stands in the pavilion — four education-stage towers, a classroom-style back wall, live workshops, and a space that genuinely rewarded multiple visits over the 12 days of the show.
Design Features
The stand was structured around four custom towers, each representing a stage of the NSW public education journey, with a cohesive back wall and floor treatment unifying the space. Key elements included:
• Four branded education-stage towers at varying heights representing a stage of the schooling journey
• A classroom-style back wall environment providing the setting for hands-on workshops run by DET staff throughout the show
• An 85″ wall-mounted LCD screen for large-format content
• Four 55″ wall-mounted LCD screens — one per educational tower — running stage-specific content
• A PA system with handheld and lapel microphones for classroom workshop presentations
• A kids’ reading nook with a bookshelf, floor rugs, armchair, two-seater lounge, and kids’ table and chairs
• A custom tall reboard tree as a centrepiece feature element
• Timber vinyl tile flooring and a custom 15sqm non-slip floor decal
• Three-phase power and full distribution
Result
The DET stand delivered a genuinely engaging presence across the full 12 days, with the classroom workshop program providing a reason to stop, participate, and return. The four-tower structure gave the stand strong visual architecture from the aisle, drawing families in across the pavilion. The combination of scale, warmth, and interactivity made this one of the standout government stands at the 2026 show.
Build & Logistics
Delivering six stands simultaneously requires a level of co-ordination that goes well beyond a standard exhibition build. Planning began four months out from the show, with individual briefs, individual stakeholders, individual design and sign-off processes — while the logistics of stock, transport, crew, and scheduling were managed as a single operation.
Three semi-trailers of equipment were loaded, transported to Sydney Showground, and unpacked across a five-day bump-in. Multiple crews worked across the pavilion simultaneously and stands were handed over to clients ahead of the show opening on 2 April.
Onsite support continued throughout the 12-day event.
Materials & Sustainability
More than 90% of the materials used across all six stands were either reusable or recyclable. This is a design principle we prioritise — it shapes how we specify, source, and build from the very first conversation with each client.
Across projects, we utilised:
• Aluminium wall frames
• Eco-raised flooring
• Printed PVC panels that are reused across multiple show seasons before recycling
• Existing client assets such as props, counters and custom builds that are stored and reintegrated into future builds rather than disposed of or rebuilt each year
For Transport for NSW alone, a significant proportion of the 2026 build incorporated existing assets from previous years, increasing the lifetime use of each item and sustainability score.
A Five-Year Partnership
Grand Stand Events has delivered stands for clients at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for five consecutive years. As a trusted partner who already understands the brands, brief and builds, we are grateful for the ongoing opportunity to support their presence at this event, and we look forward to continuing to grow what we build together.
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