The small Wheatbelt town of Williams is preparing for the national spotlight this weekend after being named a finalist in the 2026 Keep Australia Beautiful National Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards.

For more than five decades, the Australian Tidy Towns program has recognised towns and cities that demonstrate excellence in environmental leadership, from waste reduction and resource recovery to biodiversity protection and community engagement.

Located 168km south-east of Perth, just off Albany Highway, Williams is known for its leafy streets, well-manicured parks and clean public areas.

Representatives from the town will travel to Tasmania along with other State winners for the national awards on Saturday to find out who will receive the prestigious Overall Australian Tidy Towns Award.

The finalists represent the very best of their State or Territory and have demonstrated excellence in environmental stewardship, sustainability innovation and local pride.

Williams is up against Ikuntji in the Northern Territory, Orange in New South Wales, Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Huon Valley in Tasmania and Cloncurry in Queensland.

Chief executive of the awards’ national sponsor TOMRA Cleanaway James Dorney said they were honoured to support an awards program that celebrates community-driven action to protect the environment and build more sustainable places to live.

“TOMRA Cleanaway is proud to stand alongside Keep Australia Beautiful in recognising communities that are taking meaningful action for a cleaner, more sustainable Australia,” he said.

“Programs like Tidy Towns demonstrate the power of local initiatives to create lasting environmental and social impact.

“We are delighted to support the 2026 national awards and to celebrate the achievements of communities across the country.”

KAB chief executive Val Southam said that Tidy Towns honours the volunteers, local councils and passionate residents who create real change for the environment.

“The Tidy Towns Awards are a reminder that meaningful change often starts at a local level,” she said.

“Every finalist represents a community that has chosen to act, whether its protecting waterways, reducing waste, engaging young people or preserving what makes their place unique.

“The collective commitment to a cleaner, kinder Australia is exactly what this program exists to celebrate.”