Byron Backs Bold New Byron Fest Vision
The Destination Byron Board at the 2026 Symposium. Credit: Ryan O'Hehir
Destination Byron brings together strong crowd to announce Byron Fest and call for business participation
Destination Byron has hosted its annual Symposium, drawing 155 attendees to this year’s theme, Naturally Byron: Growing a World-Class Visitor Economy.
Hosted on Thursday 25 June, at the Byron Community Centre and Theatre, the event drew the largest attendance in recent history, with local business operators, community members, industry representatives and media joining the Destination Byron board for a full day of presentations, networking and discussions.
Speakers included Rebecca Masci from the Brisbane 2032 Olympics Organising Committee, data commentator Simon Kuestenmacher and STR’s Paul Hammond. Sessions covered visitor economy data, sustainable tourism and how the Byron Shire can capitalise on the lead up to the 2032 Games.
The biggest Symposium turnout of recent years and a first look at Byron Fest, a new mid-winter festival set to drive the off-season.
Jeanie Wylie, Destination Byron’s President, noted the monumental attendance and community spirit of the 2026 event.
"It was great to see 155 people representing the Byron visitor economy, and it was encouraging to see a broad mix of people – from accommodation and experience operators, media, community members, and all keen to collaborate to better manage and promote our Shire,” said Wylie. “Tourism works best when everyone's pulling in the same direction, and the fact that so many people want to be part of that conversation gives me a lot of confidence and optimism about where we're headed."
Panellists discuss luxury travel to the Byron Region at the 2026 Symposium. Credit: Ryan O'Hehir
The Symposium also saw Destination Byron announce more detail about how it plans to use the $200,000 Regional Night-Time Economy Program grant it secured from the NSW Government earlier this year.
As well as funding a dedicated marketing campaign for the Byron Shire in 2026–27, the grant will support the creation of Byron Fest, a new mid-winter festival planned for June 2027.
Designed to bring people into Byron’s town centre during the region’s off-season, Byron Fest will feature a thriving calendar of events and experiences tied to the association’s five guiding pillars – arts and culture, sustainability, wellbeing, food and beverage, and entrepreneurship. It was revealed that Destination Byron already has a number of high-profile businesses signed up to participate and support, with the door open for more.
"Byron has always had incredible talent and energy and Byron Fest will be a dedicated moment to showcase this. We want people to discover what this place is like outside of peak season, and we want local businesses to help shape what that looks like,” said Wylie.
With so much activity forecast for the year ahead, Destination Byron also used the Symposium platform to invite new members to join and also remind all local businesses to check that their contact details are up to date. For more information about Destination Byron, Byron Fest or how to get involved, visit destinationbyron.com.au.
Attendees networking at the 2026 Destination Byron Symposium. Credit: Ryan O'Hehir
About Destination Byron
Destination Byron has 681 members and aims to instigate positive and sustainable change on matters related to the Byron visitor economy.
The Destination Byron Executive Committee. Credit: Ryan O'Hehir