Grampians Grape Escape attracted more than 7500 people to Halls Gap at the weekend. 

Attendance was on par with previous years, with the tourism impact felt across the region as operators reported a noticeable uplift in trade during the weekend. 

Across the festival grounds, more than 100 wineries, food producers and artisan businesses poured, plated and showcased the best of the Grampians region. 

Accommodation bookings increased 10 per cent year-on-year, with local spending also rising by 12 per cent compared to the same period last year. 

Festival director Kate Kirkpatrick said one of the biggest shifts was the rise in multi-day visitation, with three-day ticket sales up almost 20 per cent year-on-year as visitors chose to experience the festival across the entire three days.

Ms Kirkpatrick said there was a noticeable shift toward all-inclusive premium packages, with more visitors opting for the full experience over single-day passes. 

She said accommodation across Halls Gap and the wider region sat at or was near capacity across the weekend, delivering an economic boost and reinforcing strong demand for regional events. 

Eighty-five cent of attendees travelled from outside the Grampians region to attend the festival, which continues to cement its place as a must-visit event on Australia’s culinary calendar. 

“What a fantastic weekend. To see so many people travelling to our region and embracing everything the Grampians has to offer is incredibly special,” Ms Kirkpatrick said.

“The support for our winemakers, producers and local businesses has been phenomenal, and it’s a powerful reminder of the role events like this play in driving regional tourism. We’re already looking ahead to 2027.” 

Grampians Grape Escape will return from April 30 to May 2, 2027 with early access to tickets available via the festival website later this year.

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