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Brisbane’s short-term rental market continues to show strong underlying demand in 2026, although the market is becoming increasingly competitive. For property owners and investors, the opportunity remains attractive — but simply listing a property on Airbnb is no longer enough to maximise returns.
The latest market data points to a Brisbane short-term rental market where revenue is growing, demand remains relatively consistent throughout the year, and professionally managed properties can have a significant advantage.
According to the latest AirDNA data, Brisbane has approximately 13,400 active short-term rental listings, with average occupancy of 61% and an average daily rate (ADR) of approximately $178.
Over the past year, Brisbane has recorded:
This suggests that demand is continuing to support the increase in short-term rental supply, rather than additional listings simply diluting the market.
One of the most encouraging characteristics of the Brisbane short-term rental market is its relatively consistent demand throughout the year.
AirDNA gives Brisbane a seasonality score of 97/100, indicating comparatively stable demand rather than a market that relies heavily on a short peak season. This creates opportunities for owners who can optimise pricing and availability throughout the year rather than simply targeting traditional holiday periods.
Brisbane's broader accommodation sector is also performing strongly. Industry data shows hotel occupancy around 76%, with average daily rates reaching approximately $255 for the year ending March 2026. Short-term rentals are benefiting from the same broader demand drivers, including business travel, events, tourism and Brisbane's growing visitor economy.
While demand remains healthy, supply is increasing.
Brisbane's active short-term rental listings have grown by approximately 7.1% year-on-year, meaning property owners are competing against more listings for the same pool of guests.
This makes professional optimisation increasingly important.
Factors such as accurate pricing, high-quality photography, compelling listing descriptions, strong reviews, fast communication and strategic availability can have a meaningful impact on a property's performance.
In a growing market, the question is no longer simply "Can this property work as an Airbnb?"
The more important question is:
"How well is the property being positioned and managed compared with its competition?"
The current market presents an attractive opportunity for owners considering short-term rental accommodation in Brisbane.
However, market averages can be misleading. Performance varies significantly depending on location, property type, number of bedrooms, amenities, presentation and the quality of the management strategy.
A well-positioned property can outperform the broader market, while a poorly optimised listing can underperform despite being located in a strong market.
For owners, this means that revenue optimisation is becoming just as important as occupancy. The goal isn't necessarily to achieve the highest possible occupancy — it is to find the right balance between nightly rate, occupancy and overall revenue.
The Brisbane short-term rental market remains fundamentally attractive heading into the second half of 2026.
Revenue growth, relatively stable occupancy and strong year-round demand provide a positive backdrop for property owners. At the same time, increasing competition means that professional management and ongoing optimisation are becoming increasingly important.
For investors and property owners, the opportunity is not simply to participate in Brisbane's growing short-term rental market, but to capture as much of the available revenue as possible from each property.
At Co-Host, we help property owners achieve this through strategic pricing, listing optimisation, guest management and day-to-day short-term rental operations — allowing owners to benefit from the market without taking on the operational workload themselves.
Want to know what your Brisbane property could potentially earn as a short-term rental? Get in touch with our team for a property assessment.
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