2026 Marree Camel Cup Races – Put It On Your List!

Planning a trip to the Marree Camel Cup in 2026? We went to the 2025 Marree Camel Cup camel races. Read our tips to one of the best outback events on the calendar. The event takes place at the Marree Sports Ground annually. You can camp there on race weekend if you like which makes it even better.

What is the Marree Camel Cup?
The Marree Camel Cup is an annual outback festival featuring camel racing, live music, food, and community celebration held in the historic town of Marree, South Australia, honouring the area’s rich Afghan heritage and the legendary Afghan cameleers who helped open Australia’s inland.

Amanda and I have just returned from the most incredible weekend at the 2025 Marree Camel Cup and I’m already counting down the days until the 2026 event. This outback spectacle is pure Aussie fun. If you haven’t experienced it yet you need to put it on your bucket list. We first saw the camel races on an episode of ABC’s “Backroads” quite a few years ago. We’ve been to Marree many times since watching that episode and have always wanted to go but our travel plans have always had us in Marree too early or too late. So late last year (2024) we decided we’d make a special trip just for the Marree Camel Cup! It was a 3,000km round trip for us spread across 6 days including the races but i was more than worth the effort.

Camel Racing

What Makes The Marree Camel Cup So Awesome?

The Marree Camel Cup celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. And it was one hell of a celebration. The Marree Camel Cup isn’t your usual country race meet – it’s a party in the outback that celebrates and remembers the incredible history of the Afghan cameleers who helped build this country. The event takes place at the Marree Sports Ground. You can camp here on race weekend if you like which makes it even better.

Marree Camel Races Are Loads Of Fun

The racing itself is absolutely hilarious and exciting at the same time. Watching 12 camel races throughout a full day is one of the funniest and most interesting things you’ll ever see. These magnificent animals have their own ideas about racing, and sometimes they decide to take a different route to the finish line or just sit down in the middle of the track. Luckily they were pretty well behaved when we there except for one I had backed that was disqualified for starting about ten seconds early. That camels name was “Billy” and he was pretty useless, so of course I kept on backing him and losing my money!

Betting On My Best Mate ‘Billy The Camel’

Where Did We Stay? Marree Camel Cup Camping At Farina

We camped at Farina about 50 kilometres from Marree. We’ve camped there loads of times before. It’s a great place to stay if heading to the camel races however next year if we go I think we’ll stay at the racetrack so we can have a few drinks. The Farina camping ground was awesomely great as always with clean facilities, hot showers (courtesy of the donkey boiler). All in a peaceful setting At $20 per vehicle per night it’s good value. The best part? You get to explore the fascinating ruins of this historic railway town and enjoy fresh bread from the famous Farina Bakery.

We’ve been to Farina god knows how many times before but have never been when the bakery was open. This time it was and we absolutely pigged out, it was really good. We had a few pasties and some pies. We also got some bread and a vanilla slice plus a custard tart.

This time there were way more people at Farina than we’ve ever seen before. I mean maybe 20 times more busy. It was great to see Farina so busy and full of life.

Farina Camping Area

Entertainment And Food Beyond The Races

The entertainment doesn’t stop when the races finish. Live music keeps things going well into the evening. Local bands and performers create the perfect outback soundtrack for this incredible event. The kids are well catered for with face painting and plenty of activities to keep them occupied.

Food stalls offer everything from traditional pub grub to local specialties and of course, you can’t miss trying the famous Afghan food that pays tribute to the area’s heritage. We missed out on the curry as we head to head back to Farina before dark but it smelled really good. The variety is fantastic and there’s something to suit every taste and budget.

The Rich History Behind The Marree Camel Cup

The Marree Camel Cups connection to Australian history goes way back and it goes deep. Marree was once home to Australia’s first mosque. It was built by Afghan cameleers in 1861. These skilled blokes and their camels were important to opening up Australia’s inland areas. Their camels helped move goods and people across the vast distances where horses couldn’t survive.

The town like so many areas of Australia way back when was divided between Europeans on one side and the Afghans and Aboriginal people on the other in the early 1900s. The Marree Camel Cup helps to celebrate this multicultural heritage and the incredible contribution these cameleers made to Australian development.

Getting Your Marree Camel Cup Tickets

You buy your tickets at the gate on your way into the racetrack area on the day of the event. The event welcomes anyone and everyone. If you can get there on the day then you’re more than welcome. It doesn’t matter if you’re a family with young children ora grey nomad on an outback adventure. You can even bring your dog so long as you keep it on a leash. Entry fees are reasonable and the value for money is outstanding when you consider the full day of entertainment you get for your money. It cost us $25 each for two adults and parking was free.

At The Camel Races In Marree

Planning Your Trip To The Marree Camel Cup

The 2026 Marree Camel Cup will likely be held in late June. Generally it’s on in early June but the last few have been later in the month due to availability of camels to race. This follows closely the traditional timing of this outback event. Keep an eye on the Camel Cup Facebook page for news and information on the 2026 Marree Camel Cup date.

Marree is located at the junction of the Oodnadatta Track and Birdsville Track. It’s easily accessible by sealed road from the south. The town offers various accommodation options from the historic Marree Hotel to a caravan park and nearby camping areas.

Distance And Driving Times To Marree

What To Expect At The Marree Camel Cup

The event typically runs from 10am until dark giving you a full day of racing. Besides the camel races you’ll enjoy novelty events and food stalls. The community spirit is great. You’ll find yourself chatting with locals and fellow travellers throughout the day. We were talking to quite a few locals and they all said that this years 2025 Marree Camel Cup was the busiest one with the most victors they’ve ever had.

Betting is available for those who want to try their luck on the races. They just had the one bookie there and he was busier than a one legged man in an arse kicking contest. Amanda and I backed a few winners and we also backed more than a few losers. I unfortunately stuck with the camel called “Billy” in about three races as I was convinced he’d come good and get me a win. He never did.

Why The Marree Camel Cup Should Be On Your List

This event perfectly captures the spirit of outback Australia. It’s authentic, entertaining, and educational all at once. You’ll learn about the incredible Afghan cameleers who helped build this country while enjoying a day of pure fun and entertainment. The combination of history, culture and good old outback hospitality makes this event a winner in ways my old mate “Billy the world’s slowest camel” never will.

Amanda and I went with a big group of friends, and we all agreed it was one of the best weekends we’ve had in years. The memories we made watching those camels race, enjoying the outback sunset, and meeting wonderful people will last a lifetime.

Betting At The Marree Camel Races

Don’t Miss The 2026 Marree Camel Cup

If this year was anything to go by next years 2026 Marree Camel Cup promises to be even bigger and better.

Start planning your trip now. Book your accommodation early and get ready for a ripper of an outback experience. Whether you’re a grey nomad, a family with kids or just someone looking for a unique Australian experience the Marree Camel Cup is something you should give a go.

Trust us (even though you should never trust anyone who says trust us!) once you’ve experienced watching camels race across the red dirt racetrack while surrounded by the outback landscape you’ll get why this event has been drawing crowds for three decades. The 2026 Marree Camel Cup is going to be absolutely fantastic and we hope we can work things out so that we can see you there!

2025 Marree Camel Cup

Marree Camel Cup Photo Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions About The Marree Camel Cup

Thinking about heading to the Marree Camel Cup in 2026? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions from travellers, campers and race fans planning their outback adventure. Whether you’re new to the event or a returning visitor, these FAQs will help you make the most of your trip.