Ipswich’s Planes, Trains and Autos festival adds a bit of muscle

Published on 09 March 2026

There will be a bit of extra flexing going on when the mightiest machines take centre stage across Ipswich for the sixth Planes, Trains and Autos festival.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the annual festival will be held across the long weekend of 2 to 4 May, headlined by the Fully Charged event at Queensland Museum Rail Workshops in North Ipswich, with new events adding oomph to the program.

“Now in its sixth year, Planes, Trains and Autos is one of Ipswich’s best-loved festivals as a celebration of the past, present and future of the things that move us,” Mayor Harding said.

“Residents and visitors can experience their favourite vehicles firsthand, whether it’s the power of a race car, the charm of a restored Mustang or the sleek design of a helicopter.

“Fully Charged returns at Queensland Museum Rail Workshops with an array of displays, demonstrations and activities set to dazzle, including the largest formation aerobatic display team in the Southern Hemisphere, Freedom Formation.

“This low-cost event is a delight for anyone enthusiastic about the science of grunt as we pop the bonnet on marvels of engineering such as a Bell 206 JetRanger chopper, radio controlled model aircraft, emergency service vehicles, race cars and much more.

“Fully Charged sits against the museum’s beautiful heritage backdrop, a site that shares stories of creativity, grit and collaboration, including a recently-installed, restored 130-year-old Signal Cabin which provides a fascinating insight into our city’s industrial foundations.

“This year’s Planes, Trains and Autos festival includes the addition of the 2 Days of Thunder and Diesel Assault race events, both unmissable demonstrations of vehicular muscle, while the Monster Machine Day will be a chance to see modern-day workhorses up close.”

Economic and Cultural Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Pye Augustine said Planes, Trains and Autos was a highlight of the Ipswich event calendar.

“With an attendance of almost 15,000 last year, including more than 6,500 at Fully Charged, Planes, Trains and Autos has delighted residents and been a drawcard for visitors to our city across its first five years,” Cr Augustine said.

“I’m delighted festival favourites helping to drive this attendance such as the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway Swanbank Collier train rides, the Retro Picnic and Grandchester Model Live Steam Train Association Running Day will return in 2026.

“This is one of many festivals put on by council every year for everyone to enjoy, bringing more opportunities for the Ipswich economy to grow.”

For the full Planes, Trains and Autos program, visit IpswichFestivals.com.au