Devonport will be chasing a fourth consecutive Tassie’s Top Tourism Town title this year, with nine towns named as finalists in the 2026 awards.
The north-west city has dominated the top town category since dethroning Launceston in 2023, backing up that run with the national crown in 2024.
This year, it faces competition from Beauty Point, Bothwell, Deloraine, Legana, Port Arthur, Queenstown, Stanley and Westbury.
Reigning small town winner Deloraine is also back to defend its title after claiming national silver as a first-time entrant last year.
The stakes for the winning towns are significant.
Category winners across the tiny, small and top town divisions receive a marketing package valued at more than $20,000, headlined by an interstate outdoor advertising campaign from Bishopp.
The campaign reaches travellers across Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand through roadside billboards and 27 airport terminals.
Winners also automatically progress to the Australian Top Tourism Towns awards, to be decided at Parliament House in Canberra later this year.
Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania (TICT) chief executive Amy Hills said last year the finalists reflected the breadth of the state’s tourism offering.
“These incredible towns from right across Tasmania represent everything that is unique and special about Tasmania’s visitor economy,” she said.
The 2026 field spans the state, from Stanley in the far north-west to Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula, and Queenstown on the West Coast.
Each town has submitted a video, editorial and itinerary targeting a specific visitor market, which will be assessed by a judging panel alongside public votes and customer review scores.
Winners will be announced ahead of the national finals in Canberra.
