No Shore Leave in April but iconic seafood festival will return, according to Tourism Geraldton Midwest

At this time of year, Geraldton would usually be gearing up for Shore Leave, the annual seafood festival celebrating Mid West produce.

Typically held at the end of April each year since 2021, there’s been silence from the Shore Leave social media pages, and residents have been left wondering if or when the festival will return.

Tourism Geraldton Midwest deputy chair Mike Reymond confirmed that while there would be no Shore Leave in April due to a variety of factors, the festival would definitely return at some point in the future.

Last year was the first time since the festival started that a local committee took charge of organising the event, rather than a Perth team. They had a short four-month turnaround time getting the festival up and running, with the State Government only giving the green light to the event in January.

Shore Leave’s multi-day festivities offer a mix of free and ticketed events with both local stakeholders and VIP chefs, which showcase the best of Mid West produce, lifestyle, history and culture.

The festival has been supported financially by the State Government over its five-year history, but no funding is confirmed for this year.

A Tourism WA spokesperson told the Geraldton Guardian: “There are currently no funding negotiations under way through Tourism WA for Shore Leave 2026, as the event holder is currently reviewing the event format.”

The State Government has previously praised the economic and social benefits of Shore Leave, saying the 2024 festival attracted 26,000 locals and visitors and generated a $1.3 million boost to the local economy.

In 2025, 26,000 people attended, including 9000 visitors who spent about $1.8 million.

Marquee Shore Leave events include the Abrolhos Islands long table lunch and Paddock to Plate at Yanget Farm.