Brisbane 2032: what the Olympics mean for short-stay owners

1. The venue plan (as it stands)

Under the Queensland Government's March 2025 Games delivery plan, the Gabba redevelopment was dropped in favour of a new 63,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park. That stadium will host the ceremonies and athletics, and Victoria Park will also be home to a new National Aquatic Centre. The proposed Roma Street arena was removed from the Games plan, with the Brisbane Arena site moved to Woolloongabba for private development. The Gabba is due to be demolished after the Games.

Precinct	What's planned	Nearby short-stay suburbs
Victoria Park	New 63,000-seat main stadium (ceremonies and athletics) and the National Aquatic Centre	Spring Hill, Herston, Kelvin Grove, Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, CBD
Northshore Hamilton	Main athlete village (around 10,800 beds), becoming housing after the Games	Hamilton, Newstead, Teneriffe, Ascot
Woolloongabba	The Gabba stays until the new stadium opens. A privately funded Brisbane Arena is planned nearby.	Woolloongabba, Kangaroo Point, East Brisbane, South Brisbane
Bowen Hills	RNA Showgrounds upgrade	Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Newstead
Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast	Competition venues and athlete villages	Coastal holiday markets

Venue plans have changed several times since Brisbane won the Games in 2021, so treat any single precinct as a reason to look closer, not a guarantee.

2. Why short stays matter for 2032

The Property Council's 2026 Queensland Hotel Market Outlook found just one new hotel opened across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast in the previous 12 months. CBRE estimates the current pipeline will deliver about 24% of the 14,700 extra rooms needed by 2032.

Airbnb says the IOC explicitly recognised it as part of Brisbane's accommodation mix when it assessed the bid. The Australian Olympic Committee says it regularly uses Airbnb at Games time to house athletes and officials near their venues. Short stays will be part of how Brisbane hosts the Games. Apartments and homes will be in demand from visitors, officials, media, sponsors and staff.

3. The bigger opportunity is before 2032

The Games themselves run for a few weeks across July to September 2032. The years of build-up matter more for most owners:

• Construction and project workers on the stadium, aquatic centre, village, transport and other projects, many needing furnished mid-term stays.
• Event and business travel as Brisbane hosts more major events and test events.
• Higher international profile and tourism marketing in the lead-up.

A property that builds five years of strong reviews before 2032 will be far better placed for Games-time pricing than one listed for the first time in 2032.

4. Which suburbs are best placed

• Inner north near Victoria Park: Spring Hill, Herston, Kelvin Grove, Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley.
• The CBD and South Brisbane, central to transport, venues and the river.
• Woolloongabba, Kangaroo Point and East Brisbane, around the Gabba and the planned arena.
• Newstead, Teneriffe and Hamilton, near the athlete village and the river.

Apartments in these areas usually have the fewest zoning hurdles for short stays. Whole houses in low-density suburbs may need council approval. See our Brisbane short-stay rules and suburb guides for Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley & Newstead, New Farm, Kangaroo Point, Woolloongabba and South Brisbane & West End.

5. The risks to weigh

• Rules can change. Brisbane City Council dropped its proposed short-stay permit law in May 2026, but rules can be revisited, and tourism bodies have discussed time-limited event measures. Higher council rates for short stays already apply.
• More competition. Many owners will list for Games time, so the best-reviewed, best-located listings will win the strongest rates.
• Post-Games supply. The athlete villages are planned to become thousands of permanent homes, adding supply in some areas after 2032.
• Don't buy for two weeks. A property should stack up on year-round demand. Treat the Games as upside, not the whole investment case.

6. What to do now

1. Get compliant: zoning, the right council rates category, body corporate by-laws, insurance, and interconnected smoke alarms by 1 January 2027.
2. Build a track record: reviews and Superhost or Guest Favourite status take years to build and let you charge more.
3. Plan your 2032 calendar: avoid long leases or mid-term stays that run across late July to early September 2032 unless the rate makes it worthwhile. Remember Queensland's six-week tenancy presumption.
4. Use mid-term demand now: project workers and relocations can fill quieter months in the years before the Games.
5. Work with a licensed local manager who can price for major events and switch between short, mid and long-term letting.

Common questions

Will Airbnb be in demand for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics?

Very likely. CBRE estimates the current hotel pipeline will deliver only about 24% of the 14,700 extra rooms needed by 2032. Airbnb is an official partner of the Australian Olympic Committee, and the AOC says it regularly uses Airbnb at Games time to house athletes and officials.

Where is the main stadium for Brisbane 2032?

Under the Queensland Government's March 2025 plan, a new 63,000-seat stadium will be built at Victoria Park in Brisbane's inner north. It will host the ceremonies and athletics, and Victoria Park will also have the National Aquatic Centre. The Gabba is due to be demolished after the Games.

Where is the Brisbane 2032 athlete village?

The main athlete village will be at Northshore Hamilton, with around 10,800 beds for athletes and team officials. After the Games it is planned to become around 1,750 to 2,000 permanent homes.

Which Brisbane suburbs will benefit most from the Olympics?

Inner-city areas close to the main precincts are best placed: Spring Hill, Herston, Kelvin Grove, Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley near Victoria Park, plus the CBD, South Brisbane, Woolloongabba, Kangaroo Point, Newstead, Teneriffe and Hamilton.

Should I buy a property just for the 2032 Olympics?

Not on the Games alone. They last a few weeks. A property should make sense on year-round short, mid or long-term demand, with the Games as extra upside.

Related: Brisbane short-stay rules · Mid-term rentals · Airbnb vs long-term rent. Venue details are based on the Queensland Government's Games delivery plan (March 2025) and may change.

Last checked: 9 November 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm the details for your own property with the council, your body corporate or strata manager, and your accountant.