Busselton welcomes 2026 ART Convention delegates from 20-23 October, inviting you into the heart of the Margaret River Region where calm bay waters, big skies, and an easygoing foreshore set the pace. On the edge of sparkling Geographe Bay, Busselton is made for unhurried moments, from sunrise walks by the water to long afternoons that drift into golden light.

This year, we invite you to dream deeper into Australia’s South West. Stay a little longer and you will find the richness that lives just beneath the surface, from coastal headlands and tall timber forests to caves, galleries, and a food and wine culture that rewards curiosity.

Getting here

Busselton is an easy 2.5 hour drive south of Perth, with a straightforward route that suits self drive travel. If you are travelling from interstate, you can also fly direct into Busselton Margaret River Airport, with services from Melbourne and Sydney, then enjoy a short transfer into town.

The venue

The convention will take place at Saltwater Busselton Convention Centre, Australia’s newest convention centre and performing arts venue. Positioned at the end of Busselton’s main street, it sits just a stone’s throw from the foreshore, placing delegates within easy reach of the bay, local dining, and the town’s coastal energy. Inside, you will find sophisticated, flexible spaces supported by state of the art event technology, designed to bring the ART program to life.

Discover Busselton

Busselton invites you to settle into coastal life between sessions. Start your day along the foreshore as the bay shifts through shades of blue, then wander into town for coffee and local flavours. The sheltered waters of Geographe Bay make it easy to slip in a swim, take a paddle, or simply find a spot on the sand and let the day slow down. The Busselton Jetty is part of the town’s story as much as its skyline. Built in the 1860s and shaped by generations who have lived and worked by the bay, the jetty once played a vital role in connecting the region with the world beyond. Today, it is a place to walk, reflect, and look a little closer, with its long timber line stretching into the water like a living thread through Busselton’s past and present.

Dream deeper in the Margaret River Region

With Busselton as your base, the Margaret River Region opens up in every direction. Follow the coastline south to Dunsborough for calm bay beaches and coastal paths, then continue to Yallingup where rugged shores and granite headlands meet the Indian Ocean. Spend time on the Cape to Cape track, where short walks deliver big views and the salt air does what it does best. In October you will be rewarded with bright bursts of wildflowers that take over the land during Spring, and you may even spot a whale or two.

Turn inland and the landscape shifts to forest and limestone country. Breathe in the tall Karri and Marri forests around Boranup, step into ancient caves carved beneath the surface, and take the scenic roads that wind between vineyards and farmland. Here, food and wine are not an activity so much as a way of life, with cellar door tastings, long lunches, and produce driven menus that reflect the season and the place. Add in studios, galleries, and makers spaces dotted throughout the region, and you have a destination that rewards both planning and spontaneity.

Delegate touring and famil

The official famil day is on Friday 23 October and a range of delegate packages will be available. The convention program will also feature events in iconic Busselton locations, bringing the destination into your conference experience.

Plan your stay

Make Busselton your base and shape a stay that suits your pace, whether that means an escape close to the action or a quieter retreat a little further out. To explore accommodation options across Busselton and the Margaret River Region, and discover things to do while you are here, visit our host’s website.