The Geelong Revival, a major motoring event in Geelong, Victoria, has been cancelled for 2026. Organisers advised in mid-September that this year’s edition of the combined motorsport and motor show event would not go ahead, with no guarantee at this stage of a return in 2027 or beyond.
First held in 2012, the Geelong Revival was a new take on the ‘Geelong Speed Trials’ that was held on Geelong’s waterfront for almost five decades. The Revival, with timed quarter-mile sprints along Ritchie Boulevard as its main attraction, was a two-day event. Open to all eras of road and competition cars, as well as motorcycles, the curved public road that comprised the sprint course presented a unique challenge.
The sprints were combined with a ‘classic motor show’ static display across several waterfront areas that regularly attracted more than 1,000 cars, including motorcycles, military and emergency service vehicles. Other elements of the Geelong Revival included stunt riding/driving displays, market stalls, food vendors and vintage fashion awards.
This January, the first ‘Sandown Revival’ was held Sandown Motor Raceway in suburban Melbourne, running broadly to the same format as Geelong. While not confirmed, the return of this event in 2027 is now considered unlikely.
Speaking to the Geelong Advertiser, event director Nicholas Heath said increasing costs, including hiring of barriers to protect sprint course participants and spectators, weren’t being matched by a similar increase in funding.
Competing with other major events in Geelong, only $200,000 was available from the City of Greater Geelong council for the Revival, despite data showing it delivered an economic benefit of $8.3 million to the region. Heath’s claims were countered by Geelong Major Events Committee chair, Andrew Katos, who said a funding application submitted by Revival organisers was withdrawn before it could be assessed.
Speaking of options that could see the Geelong Revival make a return, Heath posited a date change from late November to early December, so it didn’t clash with the Supercars Grand Final, as well as moving from annually to being held every two years. With entry to all elements of the event except the pits free to the public, expanding the ticketed areas was also cited as an option to bring in more revenue.
Further details on the future of the event will be announced in due course.
