Judges Prepare To Hit The Road To Decide South Australia’s 2026 Ag Town Of The Year
The race to be crowned South Australia’s 2026 Ag Town of the Year is down to three.
Burra, Cummins and Waikerie have been announced as the finalists in the 2026 Ag Town of the Year Awards, with each community now in the running to be crowned South Australia’s top agricultural town.
The annual award celebrates regional communities that continue to back agriculture while building strong, forward-thinking towns through leadership, innovation and community spirit.
Now in its eighth year, the program is run by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) in partnership with Solstice Media.
The final three were selected by an independent judging panel after reviewing applications from the Top 10 towns, which were chosen through public voting.
This isn’t their first crack at the title either, with all three towns having featured in the competition before.
Burra reached the final three in 2024, Cummins has featured in the Top 10 for the past two years, while Waikerie returns after making the Top 10 in 2023 and the Top 5 in 2022.
Judges Hit The Road
The judges, Kris Lloyd AM, Professor Simon Maddocks and Joyce Ceravolo, will now visit each town to see firsthand how they support agriculture, strengthen their communities and continue to grow.
The winner will be announced at the 2026 South Australian Regional Showcase Awards later this year.
Along with the Ag Town of the Year title, the winning community will receive a trophy, town entrance signage, a community celebration, media coverage and networking opportunities through the program.
South Australia’s Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven, congratulated the finalists on reaching the final stage.
“It’s wonderful to see Burra, Cummins and Waikerie have each made it to the final three in this year’s Ag Town of the Year program, and I congratulate each on making it this far,” she said.
“The Ag Town of the Year Award is all about celebrating the country towns that demonstrate strength, innovation and leadership.
“These three towns are outstanding examples of rural communities that are vibrant, hard-working, and fantastic places to live.”
The honour roll of winners includes Cleve, Pinnaroo, Kimba, Mypolonga, Wudinna, Penola and reigning champion Lameroo, which claimed the title in 2025.
You can keep up with the 2026 Ag Town of the Year competition at AgTown.com.au
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