When and Where Is the Next EMMA Competition in Australia? (2026 Dates)

I get this question more than almost any other: "when's the next event?" Now that I'm judging in Australia, there's finally a straight answer with real dates on the calendar. Here's what's confirmed for the rest of 2026, and how to get yourself registered.

Sydney — Sunday 25 October 2026

Venue: 18–24 Abbott Rd, Seven Hills NSW 2147.

Melbourne — Sunday 1 November 2026

Venue: Unit 16, 1/7 Canterbury Road, Braeside VIC 3195.

Both dates and addresses are listed on the EMMA Australia site under the Competition menu, with separate "Register Sydney" and "Register Melbourne" links for each event. I'd register through those pages directly rather than guessing at a walk-up policy — car audio competitions everywhere tend to have a hard cap on how many vehicles can be judged in a day, and I'd rather see you locked in early than turned away on the morning.

What judging standard to expect

EMMA Australia is running these events to EMMA Global's guidelines from day one, which in practice means experienced international judges are flying in for scoring while a new generation of Australian judges gets mentored alongside them. That matters for you as a competitor: the scoresheets, class structure and judging process are the same ones used at EMMA events overseas, not a locally-simplified version. If you're weighing up whether a result here means anything on the wider stage, see how EMMA Australia's affiliation with EMMA Asia fits into that picture.

Getting ready between now and event day

Six or so weeks out is exactly the right amount of time to sort your paperwork and equipment list properly — don't leave the value calculation until the car park on the morning.

• Work out what your entry actually costs — see our full entry fee breakdown.
• Run your gear through the value database so you know your class before you rock up — our system value calculator guide walks through it.
• Pack properly. Our competition day kit checklist covers what I see competitors forget most often.

If you've never been to one of these before, it's worth reading how an EMMA competition day is actually run so the schedule doesn't catch you off guard — judging blocks run to a timetable, and arriving late can mean missing your slot entirely.

These two dates are what's confirmed at time of writing, and EMMA Australia's site is the place to check for anything added to the calendar after this. If neither date works for your build timeline, keep an eye on it rather than assuming the next one is a long way off. And if you're not sure whether your car or your class choice is ready for either date, get in touch — happy to talk it through before you commit to registering.

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