Adelaide Motorsport Festival 2026 | Review

If you’re a car lover – or simply curious to see some of the world’s most impressive machines up close – the Adelaide Motorsport Festival is one to add to your calendar.  Set around Victoria Park, the event blends rare exotics, historic race cars and modern performance vehicles with the energy of a live street circuit.

There are, quite literally, cars everywhere. From hypercars like Pagani (positioned safely behind glass for obvious reasons) to pristine McLarens, open-wheel race cars and beautifully restored classics, the racecourse alone is worth a slow wander. Many of these vehicles are privately owned and brought along by passionate collectors so visitors can see them up close – something that makes the atmosphere feel surprisingly personal despite the scale.

On track, the program runs in rolling sessions throughout the day. This year’s wet and muggy conditions meant some of the more valuable machinery was understandably cautious – expensive cars and slippery tarmac are not an ideal mix. Even so, there was still plenty of action. A highlight was watching Mad Mike Whiddett take to the circuit in his unmistakable rotary-powered machines, delivering controlled, high-angle drifting that drew crowds to the barriers. The commentary throughout the day added context, particularly around pathways into motorsport, including programs encouraging greater female participation.

The layout makes it easy to move between paddock displays and track viewing points. If you need a break from the elements – rain this year, but often intense heat in Adelaide – the grandstand offers a comfortable vantage point. There were also sheltered areas with seating dotted around the venue.

For families, there’s a dedicated Kids Zone, with activities that vary year to year but typically include interactive motorsport-themed fun. There’s ample space along the safety barricades for children to watch the cars, though prams may struggle if conditions are muddy.

Food options are what you’d expect from a large outdoor event – a lineup of food trucks covering most bases. You’re also permitted to bring your own food and drinks, and entry was straightforward via Fullarton Road when we attended. On-site parking was available for a daily fee, with additional street parking in surrounding suburbs.

What we like about the Adelaide Motorsport Festival

The Adelaide Motorsport Festival strikes a balance between accessibility and exclusivity. It’s rare to see this calibre of vehicle collection in one place, and rarer still to see many of them on track. Even with weather limitations this year, it delivered an engaging, well-paced day out for anyone with an appreciation for performance, engineering and automotive history.

Things to consider

• Weather: It can be very hot in typical years; bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. This year’s rain kept temperatures down but created some muddy patches.
• Timing: We arrived mid-morning and experienced no queues, though earlier sessions – particularly those featuring exotics, may have been busier.
• Walking: It’s an all-day event if you want it to be, so wear comfortable shoes and clothing.

The Adelaide Motorsport Festival & Gouger Street Party

For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide Motorsport Festival website.

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (unless specified).

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