Lost & Found Index 2026: From French Horns and DJ decks to a taxidermy mink…
What do a French Horn, a taxidermy mink and two pugs have in common? They were among the thousands of lost items reported across Uber rides in the past year - with Aussie riders proving once again that almost anything can be forgotten in the back seat.
Now in its ninth year, the annual Lost & Found Index reveals the weird, wonderful and truly baffling belongings riders accidentally abandoned in Ubers - painting a uniquely Aussie picture of life on the move.
When it comes to the most commonly forgotten items, phones and cameras took the top spots - proving the digi-cam comeback is well and truly alive and no good girls night is complete without it - with bags, keys and wallets also high on the list.
Clothing of various kinds made the index once again. In 2025, we shared that Aussies left behind a suspicious amount of belts - well imagine our surprise when the 2026 index revealed belts were back for another appearance, joined by a confusing number of pants, skirts and shorts… Australia, we have questions. And ladies, while we completely understand ditching your heels after a night out, there is definitely room for improvement when it comes to taking them home with you.
Among the more unusual treasures Aussies temporarily parted with were a microwave, a leg compression device, a framed photo of Bluey, a Rolex, laboratory samples, a decorative Japanese fan, a single ten-pin bowling pin and a Looney Tunes snow globe.
There were also a few adult toys we won't name - but just know we're clutching our pearls.
With DJ decks, plenty of golf clubs and even professional brewery instruments on the list, the 2026 index occasionally reads a bit like an ‘Aussie lad starter pack’. It also uncovered a new category we're calling ‘items your dad definitely left behind’. Think air-conditioning compressors, shock absorbers, truck grease, car mufflers and a Milwaukee impact wrench. Somewhere, an Aussie dad is probably wandering around the shed muttering, "now where'd that thing go?" and making an excuse to go to Bunnings - again. Thankfully, Aussies can now save themselves a trip (and prevent dad from leaving anything else behind) by getting Bunnings items delivered via Uber Eats!
Beauty routines and sporting commitments also took a hit, with riders leaving behind everything from pickleball paddles, mouthguards and Panthers jerseys to Rhode lip glosses, Versace makeup bags and Botox medicine.
Looking good and staying active? Yes. Remembering your belongings? Still a work in progress.
Other findings from the 2026 index include:
- Saturday was (unsurprisingly) officially the most forgetful day of the week Down Under, followed by Friday and Sunday.
- ANZAC Day and the following day (25 and 26 April) ranked as the 2nd and 3rd most forgetful dates of the year.
- 11am, 11pm and 6am were the most forgetful hours of the day - proving Aussies are capable of losing things after brunch, on a night out or even before their first coffee.
Whether you're missing your birth certificate, surfboard, or the four cinnamon scrolls you were planning to enjoy later, retrieving lost items is simple with a few taps in the Uber app.
Check out the full 2026 Uber Lost & Found Index below, including step-by-step instructions on how to get help retrieving lost items through the Uber app.
The Australian 2026 Uber Lost & Found Index
The 30 most *unique* lost items:
- Taxidermy Mink
- Two Pugs (yes, actual pug dogs)
- A French horn
- Bible
- DJ decks
- Golf clubs…a lot of them (a little fore-getful after back-nine beersies?)
- Mortarboard (i.e., graduation hat)
- Microwave
- A decorative Japanese fan
- Pool cue
- Drone
- Green shorts - wet (we hope you enjoyed your swim…you were swimming right?)
- Looney Tunes snow globe
- Brewery instruments
- A single ten-pin bowling pin
- Framed photo of Bluey
- Birth Certificate
- Surfboard
- A Rolex
- Quokka teddy
- Laboratory samples
- Taekwondo belt
- License plate
- Nintendo Switch
- Guess Who? (the boardgame!)
- 4 cinnamon scrolls
- Leg compression device
- Ferrari cap (no offense Lewis, but we only ride in true style. Uber Black. Duh.)
- Goat meat 3kg
- VR headset
The 10 most commonly forgotten items:
- Phones
- Cameras (digital, film, disposable)
- Backpacks / Bags / luggage
- Keys
- Wallets / Purses
- Clothing (heels - we get it. It’s the belts, pants and skirts that have us a little confused…)
- Headphones / speakers
- Glasses
- Passports (22 of them to be precise)
- Cash
The 15 most “forgetful” cities:
- Sydney, NSW
- Melbourne, VIC
- Perth, WA
- Brisbane, QLD
- Adelaide, SA
- Gold Coast, QLD
- Canberra, ACT
- Newcastle, NSW
- Hobart, TAS
- Darwin, NT
- Cairns, QLD
- Geelong, VIC
- Sunshine Coast, QLD
- Wollongong, NSW
- Ballarat, VIC
The top 10 fashion and beauty finds:
- Versace makeup bag
- Rhode lip gloss (Hailey Bieber would be disappointed)
- Hair straighteners
- Gucci sunnies
- Jo Malone perfume
- Leather skirt
- Kerastase hair oil
- Hair extensions
- Nail polish
- Botox medicine
The top 10 sporting finds:
- Golf clubs
- Two Panthers jerseys (now, what would Ivan Cleary say?)
- Rugby ball
- Pickleball paddle
- Mouthguard
- Broncos flag (misplaced after Grand Final celebrations?)
- Rugby ball
- Cycling helmet
- Table tennis bat
- AFL football ticket
The top 10 items your dad definitely left behind:
- Auto part air-conditioning compressor
- Milwaukee impact wrench
- Plumbing gear
- Esky with drinks in it
- Vehicle collision report
- Car muffler
- Shock absorbers
- Grease for truck parts
- Mini grinder
- Gasket
How to retrieve lost items:
Plenty of items end up taking an unexpected extra trip in an Uber each day - but if you’ve lost something, don’t panic. Reconnecting with your belongings is easy: just contact your driver directly through the Uber app and follow the steps on this help page:
Open the Uber app and tap “Activity” on the bottom icon menu.
Select the trip on which you lost the item.
Scroll down to "Find lost item" in the Help section, and then "Contact driver about a lost item."
Choose to either enter your phone number, or let Uber's support team connect with the driver on your behalf.
If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you.
If your driver doesn’t pick up, leave a detailed voicemail describing your item and the best way to contact you, or get in touch with Uber support where an agent may assist you.
And remember to be considerate, the driver's schedule will be affected by taking time to return your item to you.
Forgot your registered phone? Sign in to help.uber.com for support.