Key Takeaways

• Research from YouGov shows 70 percent of Aussies say they would travel domestically this year to spectate or to participate in a sporting event
• Millennials are leading the pack with 78 percent having travelled for sport in the past six months while Gen Z are particularly keen on following the Lions rugby tour
• Group bookings are particularly popular with people opting to stay together for events such as the men’s Ashes in Brisbane

Australians love to travel for sport and it’s a great opportunity for Airbnb hosts to earn additional income during major sporting events. For example, a typical host earned $1,390 over the weekend of the cricket test in Sydney in January earlier this year1.

Airbnb also plays a vital role helping cities meet demand for sport fans while delivering substantial benefits to the community including:

• More spending at local businesses like cafes, pubs and restaurants
• Driving economic growth and tourism in cities and regions across Australia
• And supporting local hosts helping many make ends meet

Research from YouGov shows 70 percent of Aussies say they would travel domestically this year to spectate or to participate in a sporting event2 with Sydney topping the sporting destination list followed closely by rival Melbourne3.

Millennials are leading the pack with 78 percent having travelled for sport in the past six months4 while Gen Z are particularly keen on following the Lions rugby tour5. Fans flock to Airbnb because they want to be close to the action with research revealing over 55 percent prioritise location when booking sport-related travel. Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand

This year, two-thirds (66 percent) of New South Wales residents plan to travel for sport followed by 61 percent of Queenslanders and 58 percent of Victorians. Across Australia, YouGov data shows sport fans are willing to spend on average $108 per person per night on accommodation generating a ripple effect that boosts local economies. It also shows Aussies still want to get in on the action of live sport despite the cost of living.

Wheeldon added, Group bookings are particularly popular with people opting to stay together for events such as the men’s Ashes in Brisbane6. Groups then spend money at local cafes, pubs and restaurants and so it’s the community who reaps the benefits while fans save money by splitting the cost of a large property – something that is a key benefit of Airbnb.

Both domestic and global events are proving popular such as the NRL’s State of Origin and the AFL Grand Final, while events that attract global visitors such as the upcoming men’s Ashes series and Sydney Marathon have also seen a significant increase in searches on the Airbnb platform7.

CEO and Race Director of the TCS Sydney Marathon, Wayne Larden said, With 35,000 participants and many travelling from interstate or overseas, there are a huge number of runners looking for accommodation. And often they are travelling with family or friends so an Airbnb is a much more convenient and cost effective way for them to travel for the event. As we continue to grow, the demand on hotel space will be exacerbated significantly so the attraction of Airbnb will be greatly enhanced.

59 percent of Aussies have travelled or are planning to travel for sport before the year is out so there’s never been a better time to offset the cost of living and become an Airbnb host.

Elia Palambino is a Melbourne Airbnb host who said, Living just across the road from the iconic Melbourne Grand Prix circuit has made hosting during sporting events not just fun, but unforgettable. I’ve welcomed countless guests who come for the excitement, from passionate F1 fans to people visiting for the Australian Open or other local events. There’s a special buzz during those weekends, and it always feels like my home becomes part of the action. Hosting during these sporting weekends really helps me manage the cost of living – especially with my mortgage. It’s also allowed me to put money aside for trips back home to Italy to see my family, which means a lot to me.

For more information on becoming a host, visit here.

The full report can be found here.

1 Typical host earnings represents the median amount earned from 3-6 January 2025, for the cricket test in Sydney

2 Based on an online YouGov survey between 1 May and 5 May 2025 from a sample size of 1,031 Australians aged 18 and above

3 Based on an online YouGov survey between 1 May and 5 May 2025 from a sample size of 1,031 Australians aged 18 and above

4 Based on an online YouGov survey between 1 May and 5 May 2025 from a sample size of 1,031 Australians aged 18 and above Millennials defined as ages 30-39

5 Gen Zs defined as ages 18–24 based on internal Airbnb data from Q1 2025, of nights booked week before and week of event in cities hosting British and Irish Lions Tour (Brisbane 19 July, Melbourne 26 July and Sydney 2 August 2025)

6 Demographic of guests travelling in groups of 3+, based on internal Airbnb data from Q1 2025, with nights booked week before and week of The Ashes in Brisbane on Dec 4-8 2025

7 For State of Origin: Based on Airbnb internal data for searches completed in Q1 2025 by domestic travellers for stays in Brisbane with check-in dates of 28 May 2025, compared to searches completed in the same time period in Q1 2024. For the Ashes and Sydney Marathon: Based on Airbnb internal data for searches completed in Q1 2025 by international travellers for stays in Perth and Sydney with check-in dates of 21 – 25 November, 31 August 2025 respectively, compared to searches in the same time period in Q1 2024

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

About Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.’s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org’s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.

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