The 23 best music festivals in Australia for 2026

When: January 7-11, 2026

Where: Parkes, NSW 

Are you ready to rock and roll, mama? What began as a humble get-together of 300 Elvis aficionados in 1993 has grown into the biggest celebration of Elvis outside of Memphis. Join thousands of like-minded people who gather to shake, rattle and roll their way through five days of concerts, tribute acts, a street parade, look-alike competitions, rock’n’roll dancing and even a vow renewal ceremony, for couples whose love for each other is as strong as their love for the King. 

When: January 16-25, 2026

Where: Tamworth, NSW 

Giddy up and get on down to the largest and longest-running country music festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people flock to Australia’s country musical capital, Tamworth, for a ten-day celebration featuring many of the world’s greatest country music stars. The pinnacle event is the Golden Guitar awards, with other highlights including the music parade, busking championships and free concerts on the main stage.

When: February 2026 (various dates) 

Where: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide

Laneway has long been a champion of indie music since launching in 2005. The one-day festival is famous for bringing out some of the hottest new acts alongside local talents and international superstars to Australia, with previous headliners including Billie Eilish, Tame Impala, Stormzy and Rüfüs Du Sol. You can get hot’n’sweaty in the front row at Laneway Festivals in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, with midwest pop princess Chappell Roan headlining the summer fest in 2026.

When: February 5-8, 2026

Where: Carrick, Tasmania

Forget Woodstock. Party in the Paddock is where it's at. Hosted by Triple J in the rural vicinity of Quercus Park, in Carrick, Tasmania, this all-ages, inclusive arts and music festival is made for all kinds of free spirits. The 2026 line-up features so many big names, like Ocean Alley, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Veronicas, Sofi Tukker and The Temper Trap. Plus with yoga, comedy, wellness activities and art installations, it's a festival worth visiting to kick off the new year. 

When: 27 February – 9 March, 2026

Where: Canberra, ACT

For ten magical autumn nights, Canberra becomes a nocturnal playground, with colourful light projections on iconic national attractions like Parliament House, the National Library of Australia and Questacon. In fact, the full city comes alive as a full festival hub with past after-dark experiences, including silent discos, outdoor symphony concerts, night noodle markets and a short film festival. Stick around a week later for the highly anticipated Canberra Balloon Spectacular, which is free to watch from the lawns of Old Parliament House.

When: March 6-9, 2026

Where: Adelaide, SA 

It’s a huge international affair at WOMADelaide – World of Music Arts and Dance – where artists from more than 40 countries grace the stage in Adelaide’s beautiful Botanic Gardens. Historically drawing crowds of almost 100,000, 2026's program features an incredible line-up, including legendary icon Grace Jones, Kiwi crooner, Marlon Williams and ARIA-award winner Baker Boy, plus a huge variety of vibrant international acts. That’s not to mention all the other stuff: the huge array of multicultural food and drink, the markets, and all the cool interactive art stuff you can do when you're, um... feeling the music.

When: March 20-22, 2026

Where: Ipswich, QLD 

If you love a good hoedown throwdown, mark your calendars for Australia’s leading country festival, CMC Rocks. Since its debut in the early 2000s, big names like Taylor Swift, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen have lit up the stage, and 2026 promises to be no different, featuring honky-tonk heartthrobs Riley Green, Old Dominion and Jordan Davis. Expect plenty of line dancing, live band karaoke and late-night drinks, plus the return of the iconic eight-metre-high cowboy boot. Yee-haw! 

When: April 2-5, 2026

Where: Byron Bay, NSW 

For almost 40 years, Byron Bay Bluesfest has been cranking thousands of people through their slick festival site for a five-day fest over the Easter long weekend. Over the years, the jam-packed line-ups have been stacked with traditional bluesy rock bands and big-name music legends, cult folk offerings, indie gems, traditional jazz and world music acts. 2026 returns in full swing, with headliners including Earth, Wind and Fire (gasp!), Buddy Guy, Split Enz and The Pogues – plus many more legends of sound from Australia and overseas.

When: May 14-17, 2026

Where: Gold Coast, Queensland

This May, the beloved blues festival is returning to Queensland's Broadbeach on the Goldie, and you're invited. Headlining the amazingly husky-voiced Teskey Brothers, and boasting an impressive lineup of international and Aussie blues talent, this four-day and four-night celebration of rhythm and blues is bringing out the big guns for its 25th year. 

When: May 15-24, 2026

Where: Kununurra, East Kimberley, WA 

2026 marks the 25th year anniversary of the Kimberley’s biggest festival. Located on the banks of the Ord River, Kununurra is the launch pad of this diverse cultural experience, highlighting the vast and dramatic landscapes of northwest Australia through culinary, creative and cultural events. Rally the squad and adventure on down for comedy in the park, dinner under the stars, the top-end mustering rodeo, a yoga boat ride and more.

When: May 16, 2026

Where: Darwin, NT

Every year at the start of the dry season, the epic BASSINTHEGRASS music festival arrives in Darwin, heralding in a perfect storm of sequins, disco and quality music acts that draw in great crowds and even greater times. Blazing sunsets, incredible street food, stunning music, a whole plethora of parties, silent discos and rainbows galore make Bass worth your salt. Although this one-day festival only happens once a year, if you're planning on making the trip up north, think about making it coincide with this big and fabulous day out.

When: May 22 – June 13, 2026

Where: Sydney, NSW 

Vivid has long been Sydney's shiniest time of year. Lighting up the city during the darkest months of winter, this festival of food, art, music and ideas is always a dazzling kind of spectacle – and every year it gets a little bit better. Incredible projections, talks and activations aside, we're excited about the stellar Vivid Music festival program that'll be illuminating the city in 2026. From intimate gigs to electrifying concerts, your ears will glow from start to finish during Vivid 2026.

When: 27 May – 8 June, 2026

Where: Melbourne, VIC 

Reflect, rave and revel under the moonlight at Rising – Melbourne's flagship festival of music, food, art and culture. Returning in June 2026, this two-week extravaganza promises a fully immersive journey through powerful theatre, exhilarating dance and inspiring outdoor installations at the city’s landmark venues. Music is a really exciting core heart of this experience, with mesmerising local and international music acts set to take the stage and dazzle all music fans with their masterful beats.

When: June 11-22, 2026

Where: Hobart, TAS 

Want to walk into a witch's heart and drink a tipple of pagan fire? You basically can at Dark Mofo. Returning once again in 2026, this darkly debaucherous festival will soak Hobart in its signature mystery, chaos and red lights for ten days straight. This one-of-a-kind extravaganza shocks, surprises and delights with rituals like the Winter Feast, Night Mass and Ogoh Ogoh – plus heaps of weird and wacky music gigs. Made to coincide with the winter solstice, Dark Mofo also features the infamous Nude Solstice Swim – which saw a record-breaking 3,000 people plunge into the icy waters of the River Derwent wearing nothing but red caps last time.

When: June 3-7, 2026

Where: Coolangatta, QLD 

Rock and roll into the Gold Coast in June for Australia’s largest nostalgia festival, which takes place on the famous Coolangatta foreshore. More than 160,000 people make the annual pilgrimage for crowd-favourite events, like the renowned Show’N’Shine display with more than 900 cars, Elvis tribute concert, 1940s moonlight swing dance and classic pin-up pageant. Don’t forget your vintage totes to pick up retro goods and memorabilia from the beachfront markets.

When: July 7-9, 2026

Where: Simpson Desert, QLD

Finding your way to the start line is all part of the fun at the most remote music festival on the planet. Whether you’re embarking on an epic Aussie road trip, hopping on the Rock’n’Roll Charter Bus or opting for an easy flight, your outback adventure is only just getting started. Thousands of music fans gather under the open skies of the Simpson Desert for this three-day festival, set against the backdrop of Big Red, the biggest sand dune in Munga-Thirri National Park. Sing along to your favourite songs by Aussie music legends, with Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus and the Teskey Brothers all headlining in 2026. Plus, go full outback with camel rides, sunrise yoga and sand dune surfing. PS: Kids and dogs are welcome to join the fun too. 

When: August 27-30, 2026

Where: Amamoor State Forest, QLD 

Saddle up cowboys, because the amazing Gympie Music Muster is swinging back into town for 2026. Running since 1982, this iconic fundraising festival has been bringing in big money for charity for decades now, but always with a distinctly country twist. Expect to see koalas on your drive into this four-day camping festival featuring live music, line dancing and bush poetry. The line-up for 2026 is yet to be announced, but past acts have included Daryl Braithwaite, The Wolfe Brothers, Adam Harvey and The Black Sorrows.

When: October 8-11, 2026

Where: Mareeba, Tropical North QLD 

Country music and camping? Sounds like the dream duo to us. Throw in some of Australia’s most legendary artists – rocking out on the doorstep of the reef and the rainforest – and it’s a done deal. If you’re hoping to get in on this winning combo, then you’ll want to snag tickets to Tropical North Queensland’s largest country music festival, Savannah in the Round. The three-day rodeo takes over the town of Mareeba, just an hour’s drive west of Cairns, with camping and glamping available so you can have the ultimate nights out.

When: December 2026 (Dates TBC) 

Where: Ballarat, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast 

For a festival born and bred in Canberra, Spilt Milk has done pretty well for itself. The regional-ish Aussie music bash expanded to Ballarat in 2019, the Gold Coast in 2022, and Perth in 2023, establishing itself as Australia's largest touring day music festival. Every year, Spilt Milk delivers a slick line-up of international hitmakers, with 2025 seeing hip-hop legend Kendrick Lamar headlining the festival alongside US rap goddess Doechii. As always, the fun goes beyond the stage, with immersive activations like rowdy country bars, jolly sing-alongs, empowering art exhibitions and a pumping party bus. 

When: December 27, 2026 – January 1, 2027

Where: Woodford, QLD 

Woodford Folk Festival is kind of like Australia's own version of Woodstock, circa 1969. The summer of love has been going down on this fertile piece of reclaimed farmland for more than 35 years – and it doesn't seem to show any sign of stopping. Boasting more than 2,000 acts from a mix of local, national and international musicians and performing artists, this folksy, family-friendly festival is all about good times and great classic hits in a rainforest-fringed campground. Running for that awkward in-between time that bridges Christmas and New Year's Eve, this music and art festival is full of butterflies, rainforest birds and very yummy (and ethical) food. Pro tip: Bring gumboots, just in case. 

When: Late December - early January (dates TBC) 

Where: Barunah Plains Homestead, Hesse, VIC

Get ready to tear up the dance floor at Australia's biggest New Year's music festival in Barunah Plains (a 30-minute drive from Geelong, 90 minutes from Melbourne). Judging by 2025 headline acts, Kid Cudi, Addison Rae and Dom Dolla, we have no doubts that the 2026 program will be jam-packed with international and local artists who'll soundtrack a NYE to remember.

When: Late December - early January (Dates TBC) 

Where: Glenworth Valley, NSW 

Get weird in the wilderness over New Year's at this whopping four-day fiasco in the Central Coast, just an hour north of Sydney. Sure, Lost Paradise is another camping festival, but it’s taken great lengths to provide more than just a (killer) line-up of music with a packed program of talks, workshops and spiritual and wellness experiences. There’s a Hawkesbury River-connected stream to cool off in and a small forest of hammocks for swinging in the breeze.

When: Late December - early January (Dates TBC) 

Where: Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide 

Kicking off in Brisbane, then blazing through Perth and Adelaide, this epic series of one-day summer festivals is sure to make Sydneysiders and Melburnians sweat with envy. In 2026, Grammy-nominated Aussie producer Fisher will return to home turf as a headliner in all three cities, and will be joined by a powerhouse line-up of international and local acts spanning dance, hip-hop and indie genres. Sounds like a wild and wacky festival we wanna be at.