Blog Post | Galaxy Beads

A gem show is easy to love and easy to run out of day in. There are a lot of stands, a lot of stones and a lot of talk about rocks, which is my idea of a good weekend. A little planning means you get to see what matters to you. Here's everything I'd want to know before going.

The 2026 Perth Gem & Mineral Show runs from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November at Pavilion 6, Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre (PCEC), 21 Mounts Bay Road, Perth WA 6000. Galaxy Beads and Unique Gems will be at stand H9, so I've built that into the plan too.

Opening hours

Friday 6 November: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday 7 November: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday 8 November: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Your ticket is listed as covering the whole weekend, so you can choose one long day or a couple of shorter visits. Either way, aim to be there when the doors open so you can wander slowly and talk with stallholders.

Tickets

The official ticket page currently lists a $10 adult ticket, with free entry for children under 16. Adult tickets are listed as covering the whole weekend, which is handy if you want to come back for a second look at something you loved.

Prices, booking fees and concession arrangements can change, so please check the official tickets page and the Humanitix event listing for current prices and how concession tickets work.

Getting there

Public transport

The show organisers encourage public transport. Elizabeth Quay train station and the Elizabeth Quay Busport are both a short walk from the PCEC. Weekend timetables can differ from weekdays, so check the Transperth website or app for your route on the day. The venue also lists its transport options, including walking, taxi and rideshare.

Driving and parking

Paid parking is available beneath the PCEC, operated by the City of Perth. Rates change, so the best place to check is the City of Perth's Convention Centre car park page before you leave home. If you're carrying a few heavy mineral specimens back to the car, you'll be glad of the short walk.

Accessibility

The show organisers advise that there's a ramp on the left side of the entrance to avoid the stairs, with access to the whole floor. For more detail, see the PCEC's accessibility information or contact the organisers through the show website.

What to bring

Cash. The show FAQ notes that many vendors don't take cards and there are no ATMs inside the convention centre. Banks are a short distance away on St Georges Terrace.
A sturdy bag. Stones are heavy. A tote with a padded base, or a small wheeled trolley, saves your shoulders.
A notebook or your phone. Jot down stand numbers and the names of stones you want to go back to.
Project notes. If you're making something, bring a photo, a colour swatch or your bead sizes. It makes conversations much easier.
A loupe, if you have one. Handy for looking at inclusions and surface detail.

One more note from the show FAQ: no pets are allowed indoors, apart from guide dogs.

More than shopping

The event guide describes a good day out beyond the stalls:

Gold panning and family geoscience activities run all day for kids, with a lot of enthusiastic splashing from what I can tell.
A seminar and workshop program with talks from geologists, curators and collectors. Times and topics can change, so check the current seminar page and plan around the sessions you don't want to miss.
A kiosk and coffee bar in the pavilion for something to eat and drink.
A Gem Lounge, listed in the guide as a quiet place to rest when your eyes and feet need a break.

A simple plan for the day

Arrive early. The first hour is calm and you can see things properly.
Do one slow lap first. Don't buy yet. Notice which colours and shapes keep pulling you back.
Stop at H9. Come and say hello to me at Galaxy Beads / Unique Gems. Ask about natural gemstone beads, tell me what you're making, and hear how Unique Gems is shaping up. The dedicated Unique Gems website for cut gemstones is still being developed, so H9 is the place to talk about it for now.
Take a break. Coffee, a sit in the Gem Lounge, or a listen to a talk.
Go back for your favourites. Second looks are how you avoid impulse buys that don't suit your project.

Before you head off, check the official show map and vendor directory and the 2026 event guide. For the venue itself, the PCEC has visitor FAQs, and Visit Perth has an event listing too.

Keep reading

I hope to see you there.

Happy creating, Wendy

Planning Your Visit to the Perth Gem & Mineral Show 2026: Hours, Tickets and Getting There