South Australia a readers’ choice with national tourism wins

South Australia has again been recognised as one of the nation’s leading visitor destinations, securing three wins and numerous shortlist appearances in the Australian Traveller 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Barossa Valley led the state’s success, named Best Wine Region, while Barossa Valley wineries took out Best Foodie Experience. Adelaide Fringe added to the honours, winning Best Cultural or Arts Festival Experience, reinforcing South Australia’s reputation for world-class food, wine and events.
 
The results were decided by travellers themselves, with more than 12,000 Australian Traveller readers voting earlier this year.
 
Of the Barossa as Australia’s best wine region, Australian Traveller wrote: “Big and bold is the name of the game in Barossa, best known for its shiraz… Thread through the valley by bike or view the vineyards from above in a hot-air balloon.”
 
On the region’s wineries being highlighted as a foodie experience, Australian Traveller added: “Artisan producers, multi-course degustations and a warm Mediterranean climate producing full-bodied reds make the Barossa Valley irresistible for a gourmet getaway.”
 
Of the Adelaide Fringe, Australian Traveller said: “The largest arts festival in the southern hemisphere…  will have your hips swaying, heart pumping and senses buzzing.”
 
South Australia’s strong showing extended across the awards, with Adelaide shortlisted for Best City to Visit, Kangaroo Island for Best Island Escape, the Barossa Valley for Best Country Escape, Mount Lofty House for Best Hotel, and the Adelaide Hills for Best Road Trip.
 
The state also featured prominently across food, wine, events and aviation categories. The Adelaide Central Market food tour was shortlisted for Best Foodie Experience, the Adelaide Hills for Best Wine Region, Adelaide Fringe for Best Festival to Travel for, and Adelaide Airport for Best Airport to Spend Time In.
 
Australian Traveller is one of the country’s leading travel publications, with the annual Readers’ Choice Awards providing a strong measure of the destinations and experiences Australian travellers are talking about.
 
The latest accolades add to growing recognition for South Australia, including last month’s reveal of the inaugural MICHELIN Guide South Australia 2027, and the Santos Tour Down Under winning Best Sporting Event in Australia at the recent Australian Event Awards.
 
Tourism Minister Emily Bourke said: “What a fantastic endorsement of South Australia, made even more special by the fact the awards were decided by the travelling public. More than 12,000 readers had their say, and South Australia has come away with three wins and nine shortlist appearances across an outstanding range of categories.”
 
“From sipping world-class wine in the Barossa and experiencing the magic of Adelaide Fringe, to exploring our natural landscapes and everything our state has to offer, these awards showcase just how much there is for visitors to discover across South Australia.”
 
“As we continue to celebrate the inaugural MICHELIN Guide South Australia 2027, it’s fantastic to see South Australia recognised as a foodie destination. It’s no surprise to South Australians, but the rest of the world is discovering why we really are the country’s leading destination for food and wine.”
 
“And of course Adelaide Fringe is just one part of a packed events calendar, which brings visitors in, has them stay and spend time in our restaurants, bars, hotels, and tourism experiences, before heading home to tell their friends about South Australia’s worldclass hospitality.”