The RAA Bay to Birdwood, proudly presented by the History Trust of South Australia, returns on Sunday 18 October 2026 with a completely reimagined Finish Festival at the National Motor Museum in the Adelaide Hills.
The largest continually held motoring event for veteran, vintage, and classic vehicles anywhere in the world, the RAA Bay to Birdwood has been a fixture on the South Australian events calendar since 1980. This year’s event will see more than 1,500 historic vehicles travel the 67-kilometre route from Barratt Reserve, West Beach, to the National Motor Museum in the heart of the Adelaide Hills. Vehicles spanning the early 1900s through to 31 December 1996 are eligible to participate.
A stage worth driving onto
The headline addition to this year’s Finish Festival is a spectacular 30-metre-long drive-on stage, allowing award winners and their vehicles to share the spotlight for the first time. Category winners of the prestigious Concours d’Elegance Award, Preservation Award and EV Conversion Award will roll straight onto the stage to be celebrated in front of thousands of spectators.
RAA Bay to Birdwood Event Manager at the History Trust of South Australia, Dane Wilden, said the new stage would give this year’s award-winning vehicles and their owners a moment to remember.
“Very rarely do owners get the chance to present their vehicle on stage in front of thousands of other enthusiasts from across Australia, and our drive-on stage is going to be a real highlight of this year’s event,” Mr Wilden said.
The Ultimate Picnic
Also new for 2026 is The Ultimate Picnic, a premium lunch experience hosted in a striking glass marquee in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, overlooking the new stage. The package includes entry to the Finish Festival and National Motor Museum, a glass of Taittinger champagne on arrival, a three-hour beverage package from Oliver’s Taranga and Prancing Pony Brewery, and a three-course lunch showcasing South Australian produce.
“Whether you are arriving to the Finish Festival with your vehicle, meeting a group of family or friends, or simply want a fun day out spending an afternoon indulging in food, wine, fashion, and historic motoring culture, this year people can experience the RAA Bay to Birdwood in a new and rather luxurious way,” Mr Wilden said.
RAA Chief Marketing Officer, Michael Healy, added: “The Finish Festival is always an amazing opportunity to see all the cars on full display. We’re excited to see the winners take pride of place on stage, and take their moment in the (hopefully) sun.”
A full day out
Beyond the awards and The Ultimate Picnic, the Finish Festival promises food trucks, Adelaide Hills craft beer, wine and spirits, live music, and the ever-popular Fashions on the Field competition, rewarding the best-dressed in period-correct attire.
Very few places remain for vehicles to participate in the 2026 RAA Bay to Birdwood, and Ultimate Picnic tickets are limited.
Details
- Date: Sunday 18 October 2026
- Route: Barratt Reserve, West Beach to National Motor Museum, Birdwood
- Vehicle entry: $110 (10 per cent discount for RAA members)
- Award entry: $200 ($180 for RAA members)
- General Finish Festival tickets: $38.50 (20 per cent discount for RAA members)
- The Ultimate Picnic: $179 per person (12noon to 3pm, includes Finish Festival and Museum entry)
- Bookings: baytobirdwood.history.sa.gov.au
Follow Fifty+SA on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
