First look at Brisbane Showgrounds upgrade and future Athletes Village

The Queensland Government has released its first images of the planned upgrade to the Brisbane Showgrounds Main Arena. The arena will form part of the new Brisbane Athletes Village. The project is being delivered with the RNA and Lendlease, and the Ekka will keep running at the Showgrounds through 2032 and beyond.

Early works have begun, including restoration of two heritage-listed grandstands. Design of the Main Arena upgrade is in progress, and main works are due to start after the 2026 Ekka. The village is part of the broader Victoria Park Precinct, which links the new stadium, the National Aquatic Centre and the Showgrounds.

• New Machinery Hill grandstand and new Horse Pavilion
• Accessibility upgrades to the 20,000-seat Main Arena
• The village will house more than 10,000 athletes and officials during the Olympics and 5,000 during the Paralympics
• After the Games, about 1,800 new homes will be delivered in the precinct

Why it matters for developers & landowners: The village legacy homes, together with the proposed Bowen Hills planning changes next door, point to a major inner-north residential pipeline. That is likely to support values and set the competitive context for nearby urban renewal sites.

Source: Delivering 2032 (Queensland Government), published 5 August 2026. Summary and commentary by GC Prestige — read the original article for full details.