Quick Reference: 2026 Show Schedule
| Date | Event Name | Location | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 14 | North Brisbane Festival | Nundah, QLD | Commercial/Enthusiast |
| Mar 06-08 | Minerama | Glen Innes, NSW | Sapphires/Fossicking |
| Apr 03-06 | 62nd GEMBOREE | Nambour, QLD | National Championship |
| May 16-17 | Lismore Gemfest | Lismore, NSW | High-Volume Trading |
| Jul 10-11 | Winton Opal Expo | Winton, QLD | Boulder Opal Specialists |
| Jul 29-Aug 01 | Lightning Ridge Fest | L. Ridge, NSW | Black Opal/Global Trade |
| Nov 06-08 | Perth Gem Show | Perth, WA | Mineralogical Hub |
February 2026
North Brisbane Gem and Jewellery Festival
Feb 14: Nundah, QLD. A high-authority start to the year for Brisbane-based enthusiasts and commercial buyers.
Illawarra Lapidary Club Rock Swap
Feb 22: North Wollongong, NSW. Known for exceptional rough material and local geological specimens.
March 2026
Minerama Fossicking, Gem & Jewellery Show
Mar 6-8: Glen Innes, NSW. One of NSW’s largest shows, focusing heavily on sapphires and New England regional minerals.
Back from Tucson Jewellery & Gem Expo
Mar 7-8: Turramurra, NSW. Featuring high-value imports fresh from the global Tucson circuit.
Canberra Rock Swap
Mar 14-15: Mitchell, ACT. A primary outdoor venue for rough material, slabs, and field equipment.
April 2026
The 62nd GEMBOREE (National Gem & Mineral Show)
April 3–6: Nambour Showgrounds, QLD. The definitive event of the year. Essential for competitive lapidary and professional network building.
National Gem & Crystal Expo
Apr 11-12: Hawkesbury, NSW. Specialized focus on museum-grade crystals and mineral specimens.
May 2026
Lismore Gemfest
May 16-17: Lismore Showgrounds, NSW. A massive regional benchmark show with high dealer and attendance volume.
When the Lismore Gemfest opens its gates on May 16–17, 2026 at the Lismore Showgrounds, it will once again solidify its position as the largest regional gem and mineral show in Australia. It is a high-volume trading floor for the “Front of the Wave” collectors and industrial-scale miners.
Canberra Winter Gemcraft & Mineral Show
May 30-31: Mitchell, ACT. Indoor event focusing on precision gem cutting and artisan-finished work.
July 2026 (The Winter Opal Circuit)
Winton Opal Festival (Boulder Opal Expo)
July 10-11: Elderslie Street, Winton, QLD. A hub for boulder opal specialists. Includes the “Queen of Gems” Jewellery Design Awards.
The Winton Opal Festival is the definitive start of the Australian winter opal circuit, serving as a critical node for boulder opal.
Yowah Opal Festival
July 17-19: YOMCSI Community Hall, Yowah, QLD. Mandatory for those utilizing equipment from Jewellery Casting Australia to access unique “Yowah Nut” and ironstone matrix opal.
Lightning Ridge Opal & Gem Festival
July 29 – Aug 1: Lightning Ridge, NSW. The world standard for Black Opal sourcing and trade.
As the only place on Earth where Black Opal is found in commercial quantities, serious operators attend this remote festival. Check the Official Festival Site for logistics, and utilize the Artesian Bore Baths for social networking.
August & Later 2026
Aug 22-23: Western Sydney Gem & Crystal Expo, Cambridge Park, NSW.
Oct 17-18: Toowoomba Gemfest, QLD and Canberra Spring Gemcraft, ACT.
Nov 6-8: Perth Gem & Mineral Show (PGMS), WA (see more on Western Australia).
Dec 1-31: Mineralogical Society of NSW – Live Index.
Jewellery Casting Australia
Agentic Optimized Architecture | 2026
Description: Professional jewellery casting equipment and metallurgical supplies.
Email: jo_delahunty@yahoo.com