SEA OTTER AUSTRALIA RETURNS TO THE NSW SOUTH COAST THIS OCTOBER WITH AN EXPANDED FESTIVAL, INDUSTRY SUMMIT, AND OVER 220 GLOBAL BRANDS

BATEMANS BAY, NSW –  AUGUST 2026 – The Southern Hemisphere’s ultimate celebration of cycling culture, Sea Otter Australia (SOA) 2026, is officially set to return to the Eurobodalla region from 21–25 October 2026 with the main Festival & Expo operating from Friday until Sunday. Following a landmark 2025 debut with 9,000 attendees, the second edition of the festival will once again make Mogo Trails its official home, paired with an expanded festival hub at Hanging Rock Sports Precinct in town.

Operating under an exclusive 10-year license held by locally based promoter Rocky Trail Entertainment, Sea Otter Australia stands alongside Sea Otter Europe in Spain as the world’s only official licensed festivals extending the 35-plus-year legacy of the iconic Sea Otter Classic in California.

The 2026 festival is scaling up to welcome over 2,500 athletes, 6,000 daily visitors, and an overall attendance topping 10,000 people across the five days. Backed by an extensive media presence and visiting outlets reporting live from the ground, the festival will shine an international spotlight on the NSW South Coast.

AN EVENT FOR ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE

“Getting more people into nature on bikes is what we live for at Rocky Trail,” says Juliane Wisata, CEO of Sea Otter Australia. “That is exactly what Sea Otter is all about, and we are in this beautiful region for the long haul. We aren’t looking backward – we are already hard at work to make Year Two this October absolutely massive.”

Sea Otter Australia operates on a firm “participation-first” ethos. The festival delivers high-stakes competitive action alongside non-stop, family-friendly entertainment, social rides, and consumer experiences:

• 10 World-Class Events: Featuring headline events including the Fox Superflow®, SMITH Optics Enduro, THULE Marathon, eOtterX – Bosch ePowered, Shimano XC Crit, MAXXIS Effervelo Gravel Fondo, and the beachside Muc-Off Ottercross.
• Junior & Youth Pathways: Kicking off with the pre-Festival Sea Otter Australia Schools Championships (the culmination of the Rocky Trail Academy national series) on Thursday 22 October, followed by a line-up of the Scott Flipper Kids Racing for under-12s at the Expo.
• Social & Shuttled Trails: Curated, shuttled adventure and social rides taking in the 125km Mogo Trails network, including the 29km Burnaaga Adventure Track starting at Mt Wandera, as well as social rides riding at the nearby Narooma Trails.
• High-Octane Spectacles: The Otter Jam Freestyle Comp featuring air bag coaching, big-air stunt shows, and judged tricks right in front of the crowd.
• Inclusive & Adaptive Racing: Dedicated adaptive racing categories and activation zones integrated across gravity, cross-country, criterium, eMTB, and cyclocross events.

220+ AUSSIE & GLOBAL BRANDS: INDUSTRY COMMITMENT SOARS

The heart of the festival site at Hanging Rock Sports Precinct will see its Expo footprint grow by 25–30%, hosting over 220 exhibiting Australian and international brands. A big line-up of Sponsors – Gold including Bosch eBike Systems, Fox Factory, MAXXIS, Muc-Off, Scott Bikes, Shimano, SMITH Optics, and THULE with Silver Sponsors Camelbak and Bronze Sponsors MTB Direct, Rockbros, Velosolutions and Magicshine – lead a massive vote of confidence from the global cycling trade.

“The industry is already buzzing with whispers of exclusive global product launches happening right here on our Batemans Bay shores,” notes Wisata.

Visitors and athletes exploring the venue will experience non-stop expo action:

• Exclusive & Global Product Launches from premier bike and equipment makers.
• Interactive Bike & eBike Demos from major global manufacturers.
• Athlete Meet & Greets with international cycling superstars, pro riders, and ambassadors.
• Air Bag Coaching & Demos for riders refining their jump skills.
• Velosolutions Pump Track with live timing setups in the Action Zone.
• Freestyle Shows, Giveaways & Special Offers running continuously across all three expo days.
• Festival Atmosphere: Complete with local food trucks, craft beer bars, live music, a bike valet, and the Australian Museum Retro Weekend bike showcase.

SEA OTTER AUSTRALIA SUMMIT & COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

Wisata confirmed continued support from the NSW Government through their Regional Development Incubator Events Funding program. She said that the support underscored the festival’s potential to be a major economic and social contributor to the South Coast region, the State and the Australian trail-based outdoor industry. 

Says Sea Otter Australia CEO Juliane Wisata, “The Incubator Event stream is designed to transform small community events into major regional icons that attract visitors from across Australia and the world, which aligns with the vision we have for the Festival.” With recent Awards presented to the Festival from the Eurobodalla Region and the Outdoors NSW/ACT organisation as the Visitor Experience and Adventure Event of the Year, she added that the team was pleased about the government’s commitment. 

Wisata explained that the Sea Otter Australia team was on a mission to create an immersive cycling celebration that ignites a passion for two-wheeled adventures in everyone. “Our commitment extends beyond the bikes,” the Rocky Trail Co-Founder Wisata said. “We are driven by a deep conviction that Sea Otter Australia will be a catalyst for regional economic growth, attracting significant tourism and establishing a lasting legacy for the sport. This is about building a thriving cycling ecosystem that benefits everyone involved.” She added that the Festival aims to play a driving role in offering visitors new experiences, growing local economies and creating jobs in the region and beyond across the cycling industry.

Running concurrently with the opening days of the festival, the invitation-only Sea Otter Australia Summit will bring together senior brand directors, land managers, regional tourism figures, and industry leaders from around the world. The Summit acts as a commercial engine room for the outdoor sector, addressing trail-based tourism, retail data, and economic opportunities.

Crucially, the festival maintains a deep commitment to the local Eurobodalla community. Following local media partnerships with 2EC, PowerFM, and the Bay Post, free 3-day Expo entry codes will be distributed to local residents, alongside a major schools initiative delivering free Expo entry passes to 5,000 K-12 students across the region.

Concludes Wisata, “Whether you are an industry brand scaling up your footprint, a local business welcoming visitors, an athlete chasing a podium, or a family enjoying a day out, Sea Otter Australia is the place to be this October!”