[category]
[title]
Dance music fans of all abilities, we've got news. Dylan Alcott's beloved Ability Fest is returning to Naarm on April 11, and for 2026 it’s levelling up with a new venue, a fresh format and an all-electronic line-up. The one-day event will take over The Timber Yard – the industrial Port Melbourne space better known for hosting some of the world’s biggest dance acts – proving once again that it’s possible to make warehouse parties radically inclusive.
Founded in 2018 by Alcott (Paralympic gold medallist, 2022 Australian of the Year and all-round force for good), Ability Fest has always been about more than a stacked bill. It’s a blueprint for what live music can and should look like when people with accessibility issues are centred in the design. This year’s venue shift – from open-air fields to a warehouse rave – is a deliberate move.
“There’s more than 5.5 million Australians living with disability,” Alcott said in the lead-up to the announcement. “If we’re not designing spaces with us in mind, we’re excluding more than one in five people.”
His mission? To show that large-scale accessibility isn’t a nice-to-have – it’s entirely achievable, whether you’re in a paddock or under a corrugated iron roof in Port Melbourne.
This year's fest will be delivered in collaboration with powerhouse promoter Untitled Group (the team behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch and Wildlands) and supported by the Australian government’s Revive Live initiative. It’s also been backed by the Victorian government and will be presented in collaboration with Triple J. On the line-up? Iconic electronic trio Pnau will be headlining (a DJ set, but just as high-energy as a live set), alongside Logic1000, Kito, Ollie Lishman, Surusinghe, Blusher (DJ set) plus live sets from daine and Robert Baxter.
As you’d expect, inclusivity has been baked into every detail. Expect elevated viewing platforms, quiet zones, sensory areas, Auslan interpreters and live captioning. There’ll be dedicated accessible parking and drop-off zones, accessible bathrooms and changing places, a designated assistance dog area and navigation via the Bindi Maps app. Companion tickets remain free for carers, and ticket prices are held at an accessible $60 – a rare sight in today’s festival economy.
Brands will be stepping up in pretty meaningful ways, too. Nike will bring custom merch, accessible viewing platforms and even a wheelchair basketball half court for exhibition matches and come-and-try sessions. The TAC is backing the tactile sensory silent disco (a crowd favourite), CeraVe is launching a ‘Hydration Station’ complete with icy popsicles and skincare freebies, and Anytime Fitness is returning with its glitter bar and secure lockers.
Since its inception, Ability Fest has donated 100 per cent of proceeds to the Dylan Alcott Foundation, raising more than $1.5 million to fund scholarships, sport initiatives and entrepreneurial programs for young Australians with disability.
Accessible and previous purchaser presales kick off on February 25 (sign up here), with general sales opening February 26. Doors open at 2pm, with music until 10pm. You can find out more over here.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.