The 2026 Summernats festival roared into life on Thursday, with the Braddon Fringe Festival attracting swarms of spectators despite a severe heatwave gripping the national capital.
Sweltering Start for Car Enthusiasts
A top temperature of 35 degrees Celsius just after 5pm marked an intensely hot opening day for the fringe event. The scorching conditions did little to deter thousands of car fanatics, families, and locals who flocked to Braddon's Lonsdale Street. The area witnessed its busiest foot traffic in months, with organisers noting that even the recent Christmas shopping crowds were comparatively smaller.
Vibrant rows of muscle cars, classic vehicles, utes, wagons, and custom-built machines lined the street for a public show-and-tell. The atmosphere was thick with engine revs and summer heat, prompting one attendee to remark upon exiting a taxi, "Why did we even bother showering?"
Generations Gather for Modified Metal
Among the crowd was Jared Weinman and his nine-year-old son Skylar, who cooled down with drinks beside their 1973 Mazda RX3. "We did the cruise today which was pretty good ... it's very hot out," Mr Weinman said. Nearby, police officers conducted road-worthiness checks on vehicles, while festival staff in hi-vis vests verified parking permits.
The event attracted veterans and newcomers alike. Ben Teudt, fresh from a flight from the Gold Coast, returned to Summernats after a 20-year absence, this time with his two sons. He recalled the festival's wilder past in the early 2000s, when beers were "everywhere" on Lonsdale Street, but praised its modern, more family-friendly atmosphere. "[Summernats] brings a lot of money into Canberra," he noted, acknowledging past efforts to relocate the event.
A Festival Transformed
Long-time attendees highlighted the event's significant evolution. Paul, a Sydneysider with a red 1974 Holden Torana, has been attending since his teens. His car, he explained, has been rebuilt multiple times and worn about 15 different colours, originally serving as a burnout car.
Frank Hung, who claims to be the first Asian vendor to sell car products at Summernats back in 2006, also attested to the changes. He said he always loved the event but found it "a bit crazy" and unsafe for women and girls in earlier years. "With the new owner, they're getting better and better," Mr Hung stated. "I remember I wouldn't go in a toilet at the festival. It has changed. It's cleaner and safer." Last year, he was able to bring his wife and daughter.
Mr Hung and his son Tony travelled from Manly with their crew and have already secured accommodation for Summernats 2027. Their yellow Holden VE Commodore drew crowds, with Tony demonstrating its air-suspension controls via a smartphone app.
As the afternoon wore on, local businesses felt the boost. A tobacconist reported selling out of a popular cigarette brand, expecting trade to surge again after 7pm. By sunset, the scent of burnt cannabis lingered in some areas, while people cooled off with water, ice-creams, and beers, many sporting official Summernats merchandise.
Festival co-owner Andy Lopez had set the tone earlier on Thursday, promising attendees a memorable party. "Our job and our joy comes from getting people into the venue safely, giving them a great time when they're with us and sending them home happy, comfortable, and buggered," Mr Lopez said. He expected 130,000 people to attend the 2026 festival, with most travelling from outside the Australian Capital Territory, marking 38 years for the iconic event.
