The 139th Wentworth Show is on this Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, with two days of horses, dogs, shearing, woodchopping, whip cracking, animals, machinery, pavilion entries, food and plenty for the kids.
The Wentworth Show is an authentic country show that retains its rustic, rural flavour, with Agriculture and the traditional show competitions still right at the centre of the weekend.
Saturday
Saturday gets going with the Mallee Sunset Ute Competition, with registrations opening at 9am.
At 10am the Quick Shear Competition gets underway on the Sheep Shearing Stage, while the Conargo Whipcrackers begin their first appearance of the weekend.
There is plenty happening through the day, including Frank Finger from Muster Dogs, who will talk about his dog-training methods and show footage from his Queensland property. Finger was the winner of the first series of Muster Dogs.
The South Australian Axemen’s Association is another feature this year, with woodchopping demonstrations at 10.45am, 12.45pm and 4pm on Saturday. The demonstrations are set to include woodchopping, crosscut sawing and chainsaw work.
The John Conrick Whip Cracking Competition is at noon, followed by the Mildura District Brass Band at 12.45pm.
At 2pm the Wentworth Public School Band will perform the National Anthem before singer-songwriter Josh Arnold officially opens the 2026 Show.
The Mallee Sunset Ute Competition winners are presented at 2.45pm, with Junior Show Girl judging at 3pm.
Horse events run throughout Saturday as well, including show jumping, Show Horse and Show Hunter, Standardbreds, the Miniature Spectacular, HRCAV and the Encouragement Ring.
Plenty happening all day
Away from the main timetable there is plenty to wander around and have a look at.
The Animal Nursery opens from 9am, while the Wentworth Show Society and Wentworth Ladies Kennel Club Championship Shows are also on.
The Community Bank Wentworth & District Food & Wine Marquee runs from 10am until 4pm, with coffee, snacks, gourmet tastings, meals and wine.
For the kids there is an all-day treasure hunt, Sandstorm sand sculptures and hands-on “Sandsation” activities, along with The Furals workshops.
The Furals workshops use timber craft projects, with activities including Australian animal figures and miniature tractors, paddle steamers and rocking horses.
There is also Celebrating the Light Horse, trade and marquee exhibits, a local photographic display, school work and children’s activities, wool displays, utility dog trials and vintage machinery.
And, of course, the Community Pavilion will again be full of the things that belong at a country show — cookery, needlework, flowers, photography and other entries.
One of the new additions this year is the Nanny Barn in the Sheep and Wool Shed.
It’s being promoted as “Witness the Wonder of New Life”, with organisers hoping visitors may get the chance to see livestock giving birth during the Show weekend if the timing is right.
Sunday
Sunday has another full program.
The Conargo Whipcrackers start at 9.30am, followed by a line dancing demonstration at 10.15am and another Frank Finger Muster Dogs appearance.
The Sunraysia Community Choir performs at 11am, followed by the Mildura District Pipe Band at 11.30am.
Woodchopping returns at 12.15pm, Stray Notes perform at 12.30pm and the Sunraysia Irish Dance Association at 1pm.
Then it gets back to some proper country-show competition.
The Farmers Challenge starts at 1.15pm before the Elders Insurance Dog Jump Competition at 2pm.
Sunday’s horse program includes show jumping, breeds and coloured horses, novelties, Show Horse and Show Hunter, harness and Quarter Horse/All Breeds Western Performance, with the Supreme Horse Championships at 3pm.
The Animal Nursery, kennel club championship shows, Food and Wine Marquee, treasure hunt, Sandstorm activities, Furals workshops, Light Horse display, Nanny Barn, utility dog trials, vintage machinery and Community Pavilion continue on Sunday as well.
A proper country weekend
That’s what makes Wentworth Show worth the trip.
You can watch the horses, head over to the woodchopping, see the dogs working, check out the sheep and wool, wander through the pavilion, look over the vintage machinery, grab something to eat and keep the kids occupied along the way.
It hasn’t lost the agricultural side of the event while still giving families plenty to see and do.
The 139th Wentworth Show is on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August at the Wentworth Showgrounds, Pavilion Road, Wentworth.
Current daily admission prices published by the Wentworth Show are $60 for a family of up to two adults and four children under 16, $25 for adults, $10 for disability/aged pensioners and students with ID, $10 for children under 16, and free for children under five.