More than 700 people will descend on Hobart for the biggest Master Builders Tasmania Awards for Excellence in the association’s history, with organisers expecting the economic boost to flow well beyond the building industry.
A record 196 entries have been received for the 2026 awards, which will be held at PW1 on Saturday night.
Master Builders Tasmania chief executive Jenna Cairney said the scale of the event was a sign of the strength of the state’s building and construction industry, while also providing a boost for businesses across Hobart.
“This is small business backing small business,” Cairney said.
“Our members have bought their suits at Routleys, they are having pre-dinner drinks at the Customs House, they have booked out hotel rooms across the city and on Saturday night they will be filling restaurants, bars and taxis from the waterfront to North Hobart.”
Guests are travelling to Hobart from across Tasmania as well as interstate.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Amy Hills said business events were an important part of keeping the visitor economy moving throughout the year, particularly during winter.
“These types of events are all part of the overall puzzle that makes our industry tick,” Hills said.
“Tasmanians who are coming from the north, the north-west, the east, coming to Hobart and in doing so they’re going to our hotels, they’re going to our accommodation facilities, they’re having coffees, they’re going to our hospitality venues.”
Businesses along the waterfront are already preparing for the influx.
Customs House Hotel general manager Brock Murfett said the event would provide a welcome boost for hospitality businesses.
“We’re lucky actually to be hosting the winners’ after-party from this event over in our function space and have specially opened late for them as well,” he said.
Deputy Premier and Small Business Minister Guy Barnett said the event showed how industries could support each other.
“Small business is the backbone of the Tasmanian economy,” he said.
Cairney said the building and construction industry supported more than 26,000 Tasmanian jobs and had the largest number of registered businesses of any industry in Tasmania, with most being small businesses.
The awards recognise projects ranging from residential homes to major commercial developments, as well as the state’s best builders and building companies.
Cairney said the Top Apprentice of the Year and Young Builder of the Year awards were particularly important in recognising the industry’s next generation.
Winners will go on to represent Tasmania at the national Master Builders awards.
