Visitors to Western Australia can experience the State's natural beauty, state-of-the-art venues and diverse culture in unique and unforgettable ways through an incredible range of world-class cultural, sporting and culinary events.

Here is a snapshot of events that will be held across the State between February and June 2018 (please find a more detailed event calendar attached).

• Sculpture by the Sea - March 2 - 19 | Perth | Experience Perth One of Perth's largest free public events, Sculpture by the Sea, sees Cottesloe Beach transform into a sculpture park with more than 70 sculptures on display from artists across Australia and the world. Enjoy exhibits from some of the world's top sculptors against a backdrop of one of the city's most popular beaches. sculpturebythesea.com 
• IGA Taste Great Southern - March 8 - 25 | Great Southern | Australia's South West IGA Taste Great Southern runs for 18 days, stretching over three weekends and two weeks with events in Albany, Denmark, Mount Barker, Porongorup, Frankland River, Kojonup and Katanning. It includes a line-up of more than 40 events with festivals, markets, degustation's, dinners and lunches, wine tasting, beer, coffee and spirit sessions, food and wine pairing, masterclasses, seminars and community events. The event will feature internationally renowned chef, author, restauranteur and TV star Marco Pierre White, along with other local and international chefs including TV cooking presenter Justine Scholfield, top Indonesian chef Chandra Yudasswara, Vincent Lim, Anna Gare, Paul Iskov and Russell Blaikie. tastegreatsouthern.com.au
• NRL Double Header - March 10 | Perth | Experience Perth The NRL will make history when the opening round of 2018 premiership season kicks-off at Perth's Optus Stadium. The 60,000 seat stadium is Perth's newest major sporting and entertainment venue, and rated as one of the top international sporting venues in Australia. In a double header clash, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will take on Melbourne Storm, while the Sydney Rabbitohs will clash with the New Zealand Warriors. nrl.com 
• Margaret River Pro - April 11 – 22 | Margaret River | Australia's South West The top 34 ranked male and top 17 ranked female surfers in the world descend upon the Margaret River region to surf its world-class waves each April. The event sees thousands of spectators flock to Surfers Point in Prevelly to watch the world's best surfers take on the famous Margaret River Mainbreak and the Box. The Margaret River Pro has been awarded World Championship Tour status in part thanks to the fact that it offers some of the best surfing conditions in the world. margaretriver.com/event/the-margaret-river-pro/ 
• Karijini Experience - April 17 - 24 | Karijini National Park | Australia's North West The Karijini Experience is a celebration of culture and connection in the magnificent Karijini National Park, located in WA's Pilbara region - the perfect setting for a unique celebration of art and culture. The five day program offers a selection of intimate, authentic, once in a lifetime experiences presented by a mix of traditional owners, nationally renowned artists and talented locals. Experience Opera Under the Stars by internationally renowned Aboriginal opera soprano Deborah Cheetham, adult didgeridoo workshops, bush tucker high teas with celebrity chef Mark Olive, plus culinary experiences by pop-up restaurant sensation Fervour. karijiniexperience.com
• Ord Valley Muster - May 11 - 20 | Kununurra | Australia's North West The Ord Valley Muster is a celebration of all that is unique about the east Kimberley region, including its cultural diversity, incredible landscapes and local charm. The event continues to attract international acclaim, bringing together a star-studded line-up of musical, culinary and creative talent in one of the world's last true wilderness areas. Some of Australia's biggest musical performers have been confirmed for the Muster's pinnacle event – the Aviair Helispirit Kimberley Moon Experience on May 19 - including country music legend Lee Kernaghan, along with The Cat Empire, who are renowned for their live performances. The annual festival will take over Kununurra and surrounds, offering a variety of unique experiences, including black tie dining under starry skies, Indigenous food, culture and dance, intimate dinners in secret locations, a challenging bike ride, art exhibitions, local talent quests, a country rodeo and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow. ordvalleymuster.com.au
• Ningaloo Whale Shark Festival - May 25 - 27 | Exmouth | Australia's Coral Coast The Ningaloo Whale Shark Festival marks the beginning of the whale shark season, welcoming the gentle giants to the pristine Ningaloo Reef in the State's Coral Coast region. The festival aims to enhance the education and celebration of the Whale Shark and its annual migration. Celebrations over the weekend have previously included a Gala Festival Opening, live music, market stalls, and a festival day. ningaloowhalesharkfestival.com 
• Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival - June 1 - 3 | Margaret River | Australia's South West The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival is the biggest regional literature event in WA. Each year the festival brings an array of thought-provoking writers to the region, including poets, authors, playwrights, journalists, comedians, illustrators, magazine editors, screen writers and radio hosts from WA, interstate and overseas. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2018, the event will be held at Voyager Estate winery. mrrwfestival.com
• Truffle Kerfuffle - June 22 – 23 | Manjimup | Australia's South West Truffle Kerfuffle is a weekend long celebration of the truffle season held in Manjimup, the heart of Australian truffle country, located in the Southern Forests region of WA. A hands on and adventurous festival, guests can join truffle hunters to search out prized truffles, visit the festival village for a taste of the region or get their truffle fix at exclusive dining events. trufflekerfuffle.com.au 

Perth's state-of-the-art 60,000 seat Optus Stadium opened in January 2018, providing a world-class venue for WA to host more major events. Below is a taste of what's to come at the new stadium: 

• Chelsea Football Club (July 23, 2018) – English Premier League Champions Chelsea FC will be heading to Perth to play an Australian-exclusive match against local heroes Perth Glory. The match will be played at Perth's new state-of-the-art 60,000 seat Optus Stadium, and will be the first international soccer club appearance at the venue. 
• Australian Rules Football (March – August) – The stadium will be the home for Australian Rules Football in WA, with the first AFL game to be between the Fremantle Dockers and Collingwood women's teams on February 10, followed by the main season from March to August with the first game between the West Coast Eagles and the Sydney Swans scheduled for March 25.
• Rugby League State of Origin (June 2019) – Regarded as Australia's biggest annual sporting event, the New South Wales Blues clash with the Queensland Maroons in a fiercely contested game that will attract thousands of visitors, particularly from interstate.
• Bledisloe Cup (July 2019) – The only time the Australian Wallabies and New Zealand All Blacks teams will play on Australian soil in 2019 in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup.