One of Western Australia’s most iconic charity motoring events is preparing to retrace its own history, with the 2026 Variety WA Bash set to travel from Kalgoorlie to Fremantle from Monday 14 September to Saturday 19 September 2026.
This year’s Bash, themed ‘Back Trackin,’ marks a powerful full-circle moment for the event, reversing the route of the original 1989 Variety WA Bash and honouring the spirit of an event that has carried generations of Western Australians across the state in support of children living with disability, illness and disadvantage.
First held in WA in 1989, the Bash was created as a charity motoring event with a very simple premise. Old cars, big hearts, remote roads and a shared commitment to helping children who need support.
Thirty-seven years later, the cars may be older, and the roads may have changed, but the heart of the Bash remains the same.
The 2026 route will begin in Kalgoorlie, where the original WA Bash finished, before making its way back towards Fremantle. This will be a retracing of where the story began, and will recognise the Bashers, volunteers, partners and supporters who have kept the event alive for nearly four decades.
Adding to the historical significance of the upcoming event, a tractor that took part in the original Bash will return to the road this year, with original Bash participant Ron Bywaters once again joining the convoy in it.
The 2026 Bash will include 31 participant cars, one tractor and 44 vehicles in total, including support crew and the event’s baggage truck. Across the week, 115 people will take part, including 88 registered participants, travelling approximately 2318 kilometres across Western Australia in a truly epic journey.
Variety WA Chief Executive Officer Chris Chatterton said the Bash continued to hold a special place in the history of Variety WA and in the hearts of those who return year after year.
“The Bash you’re about to experience is the Bash the founders imagined, and it only exists because each generation of Bashers has carried it forward,” Mr Chatterton said.
“This year’s ‘Back Trackin’ Bash is a chance to honour where it began, while continuing the work that matters most, raising funds to support children and families across Western Australia.”
The Bash has never functioned as a race or a rally. It is an endurance-style event built on humour, camaraderie, resilience and generosity, taking participants into parts of Western Australia many people would never otherwise experience.
This year’s convoy includes 21 first-time participants, 15 participants who have been involved for 15 years or more, and 13 milestone participants, including seven celebrating five years, two celebrating 10 years, three celebrating 15 years and one celebrating 20 years of Bashing.
Teams will travel from across Western Australia, including Kalgoorlie, the Pilbara and Albany, all the while carrying a theme. Among those expected are Scooby Doo, Hot Wheels, Surf’s Up, Top Gear, Frozen, Nemo, Shrek and a new Hogwarts-inspired car, along with several surprises still to be unveiled.
One very notable, veteran participant in the Bash is Hopeland resident Glenn Cornish, who will be partaking alongside his mates Brad, Chris and Mal.
Mr Cornish has participated in 15 Bashes over 16 years, with this one being his 16th. He explained an interesting approach to the event.
“Whilst entering the Bash as a participant, I am also involved in helping to plan and explore a route that will hopefully showcase some off the beaten track parts of Western Australia to the event entrants,” he said.
“Over the years, I have really enjoyed seeing parts of our state that I may not have otherwise had the opportunity to explore, and this is what I try and bring in when looking for future event route options, to try and keep it interesting for other participants.
“I have also previously been on the Board of Variety WA and am currently involved with the Motoring Events Committee, which aims to foster synergies and efficiencies across all Variety WA motoring events.
“Just seeing the difference our efforts can make to families facing challenges most of us never experience, whilst having an amazing time, is very rewarding. Over the years, our team has raised more than $300,000 for Variety WA. We have enjoyed terrific support from our friends and families, customers, local community, and our business networks along our journey, and to them all we are eternally grateful for their support.”
Mr Cornish will be travelling with his crew in a 1973 Ford Fairmont themed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Funds raised through the Bash help Variety WA provide practical support for children and families across the state, including mobility equipment, communication devices, inclusive programs, scholarships and grants.
The organisation receives no government funding, with every dollar raised helping to support children through programs and experiences that can change daily life for a child and their family.
As part of the 2026 event, Bashers will visit regional communities and see firsthand the impact of Variety WA’s work, including planned support for North Kalgoorlie Primary School, Leinster Community School and Morawa High School.
The convoy will also visit Full Circle Therapies in Kalgoorlie to see the sensory playground built with support from a previous Variety WA grant, highlighting the long-term impact Bash fundraising has for children and families in regional WA.
For many participants, the Bash is more than a fundraiser. It is a community, a tradition and a living piece of Variety WA history, one carried forward by people who continue to show up, year after year, for WA kids.
The 2026 Variety WA Bash will officially begin in Kalgoorlie on Monday, 14 September and conclude in Fremantle on Saturday, 19 September.
