Australia boasts a vibrant music festival scene that caters to diverse tastes and preferences. From the sun-soaked shores of Queensland to the cultural heart of Melbourne in Victoria, each state offers a unique musical journey. In this guide, we’ll explore the top annual music festivals, one state at a time.
If you’re looking to line up your campervan hire Brisbane trip for Splendour in the Grass, book a motorhome hire Perth and rock out at Margaret River Music Festival, or embark on any other musical adventure across this vast and musically rich land, we’ve got you covered.
Get ready to groove, dance, and sing your way through the best music festivals that Australia has to offer, each with its own distinctive flavour and unforgettable experiences.
Queensland
Woodford Folk Festival: Held at Woodfordia near Brisbane over the New Year’s Eve period, this six-day festival is a massive gathering of artists and musicians, featuring a diverse lineup of music, dance, theatre, circus, and visual arts.
CMC Rocks QLD: Australia’s largest international country music festival, hosted at Willowbank Raceway near Ipswich in March, attracting country music fans from all over the world with big-name acts from Australia and overseas.
Groundwater Country Music Festival: This free country music festival in the Gold Coast in October welcomes over 100,000 attendees across three days, featuring Australian country music artists and an array of food, drinks, and market stalls.
Airlie Beach Festival of Music: Held in Airlie Beach in November, this three-day festival offers a mix of Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, making it family-friendly.
Wynnum Fringe: Brisbane’s annual fringe festival takes place in Wynnum over three weeks in September and October, featuring music, comedy, theatre, circus, and visual arts.
The Ring Cycle: Held in Brisbane in December, The Ring Cycle is a prestigious epic opera event featuring four operas performed over four nights, attracting audiences from around the world.
BigSound: This international music industry conference and showcase festival happens in Brisbane in September, offering music fans the chance to discover new artists and industry professionals networking opportunities.
Brisbane Festival: Held in September and October, this three-week arts festival features a diverse range of events, including music, theatre, dance, comedy, circus, and visual arts, attracting audiences from across Australia.
New South Wales
Splendour in the Grass: Taking place at North Byron Parklands in July, this three-day festival draws over 50,000 attendees per day, offering a mix of Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music.
Lost Paradise: Held at Glenworth Valley near Newcastle in December, this three-day festival features Australian and international artists with a focus on electronic music, set in a stunning natural setting.
Field Day: This one-day festival at The Domain in Sydney in January showcases a lineup of Australian and international artists, focusing on electronic music and known for its world-class production.
Laneway Festival: Held in February across various Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, this one-day festival features Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, renowned for its intimate atmosphere.
Touch Bass: In February at Sydney Showground, this one-day festival showcases a lineup of Australian and international artists, with a focus on bass music, including drum and bass, dubstep, and trap, known for its high-energy atmosphere and production.
Ultra Australia: Taking place in February at Parramatta Park, this one-day dance music festival is part of the international Ultra Music Festival brand, featuring a lineup of the biggest names in electronic music with a massive main stage.
Strawberry Fields: Held near Wollongong in November, this three-day festival features a diverse lineup of Australian and international artists, with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, offering a laid-back atmosphere and beautiful natural surroundings.
Byron Bay Bluesfest: Held near Byron Bay in April, this five-day festival showcases Australian and international artists with a focus on blues, rock, and country music, offering an intimate atmosphere and eclectic lineup.
Deni Ute Muster: Taking place at Deniliquin Showground in October, this four-day country music festival features Australian country music artists, as well as food, drinks, and market stalls, attracting over 50,000 people.
Victoria
Beyond the Valley: Held at Lardner Park over the New Year’s Eve period, this four-day festival attracts over 30,000 attendees per day, featuring a diverse lineup of Australian and international artists, focusing on electronic, indie, and rock music.
Babylon Festival: Taking place at Werribee Park in January, this three-day festival features Australian and international artists with a focus on electronic, indie, and hip-hop music, offering an immersive festival experience and a stunning natural setting.
Let Go Fest: In November at Werribee Park, this two-day festival showcases Australian and international artists, focusing on punk, rock, and metal music, known for its high-energy atmosphere and diverse lineup.
Rainbow Serpent Festival: Held near Lexton North in January, this four-day festival features a lineup of Australian and international artists, with a focus on electronic, psychedelic, and world music, known for its spiritual atmosphere and connection to the natural world.
Golden Plains: Held at Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre in March, this three-day festival offers a lineup of Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, known for its eclectic lineup and laid-back atmosphere.
Meredith Music Festival: Near Meredith in December, this three-day festival showcases a lineup of Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, offering a unique festival experience and a commitment to sustainability.
Falls Festival: This three-day festival takes place in Lorne, Victoria, and Marion Bay, Tasmania, in December and January, featuring a lineup of Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, set against stunning natural surroundings.
Groovin the Moo: This one-day festival visits regional New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland in April and May, featuring a lineup of Australian and international artists with a friendly atmosphere and diverse lineup.
Western Australia
Farmers & Friends: In March at Yallingup, this three-day festival features Australian and international artists, focusing on indie, rock, and electronic music, known for its laid-back atmosphere and connection to the natural world.
Ocean Sounds Festival: Held at Busselton in December, this three-day festival offers a lineup of Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, known for its stunning natural setting and intimate atmosphere.
Glamapalooza: In January at Lake Claremont, this three-day festival features a lineup of Australian and international artists, focusing on electronic, indie, and dance music, known for its glamorous atmosphere and diverse lineup.
Margaret River Music Festival: In October at Margaret River, this three-day festival showcases a lineup of Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, known for its stunning natural setting and eclectic lineup.
Bridgetown Blues Festival: Celebrated in Bridgetown in November, this three-day festival features a lineup of Australian and international blues artists, offering an intimate atmosphere and a focus on blues music.
The Perth Festival: In February, this 10-day arts festival held in Perth features a diverse range of events, including music, theatre, dance, comedy, and visual arts, making it one of the largest arts festivals in Australia.
Stirling Sunset Festival: Taking place at Stirling Gardens in February, this one-day festival showcases a lineup of Australian and international artists with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music, known for its stunning natural setting and intimate atmosphere.
Out of the Woods: Held at Manjimup in March, this three-day festival features a lineup of Australian and international artists with a focus on electronic, indie, and experimental music, known for its immersive festival experience and focus on sustainability.
South Australia
Adelaide Fringe Festival: Taking place in March across various venues in Adelaide, this is the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring a diverse range of events, including music, theatre, comedy, circus, and visual arts, known for its edgy and experimental programming.
WOMADelaide: In March at Botanic Park, Adelaide, this three-day music and arts festival celebrates world cultures with a diverse lineup of artists representing traditional, folk, and contemporary music genres, known for its family-friendly atmosphere and focus on sustainability.
Harvest Rock Festival: Held in the Clare Valley in April, this two-day music and food festival features a lineup of Australian and international artists, offering a relaxed atmosphere and a stunning natural setting.
Laneway Festival: Celebrated in February at Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide, this one-day music festival showcases emerging and established artists from Australia and around the world, known for its eclectic lineup and intimate atmosphere.
Electric Gardens Festival: In December at Rymill Park, Adelaide, this one-day electronic music festival features a lineup of local and international DJs, known for its high-energy atmosphere and impressive production values.
Umbrella: Winter City Sounds: During the winter months, this month-long festival celebrates live music in Adelaide, featuring a diverse range of events, including concerts, gigs, and club nights, known for its intimate setting and focus on emerging artists.
South Australia Country Music Festival: Celebrated in Naracoorte in October, this three-day festival highlights the best of Australian country music, featuring local and national artists, line dancing workshops, and karaoke competitions, known for its friendly atmosphere and focus on country music.
uneARTh Festival: In September, this two-week festival showcases emerging and experimental music in Adelaide, featuring a diverse range of events, including concerts, gigs, and workshops, known for its eclectic lineup and focus on new and innovative music.
Adelaide Guitar Festival: Taking place in August at various venues across Adelaide, this two-week festival celebrates the best of guitar music from around the world, featuring international and Australian guitarists, workshops, and masterclasses, known for its diverse lineup and focus on guitar music.
Western Australia
BASSINTHEGRASS Festival: Celebrated in May at Darwin Waterfront, this one-day electronic music festival features a lineup of local and international DJs, known for its high-energy atmosphere and impressive production values.
Darwin Festival: In August, this three-week arts festival across various venues in Darwin features a diverse range of events, including music, theatre, dance, comedy, and visual arts, known for its world-class programming and vibrant atmosphere.
Garma Festival: In August at Gulkula, Yolngu Nation, north-east Arnhem Land, this four-day cultural festival celebrates the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land, featuring traditional dance and music performances, storytelling, and art workshops, offering a unique opportunity to learn about Yolngu culture and the beauty of Arnhem Land.
Wide Open Space Festival: Celebrated in April in Alice Springs, this three-day music festival features a lineup of Australian and international artists, known for its eclectic lineup and laid-back atmosphere.
Tasmania
Dark Mofo: This two-week winter arts festival is held in Hobart in June and features a diverse range of events, including music, performance art, and installations. Dark Mofo is known for its dark and atmospheric aesthetic, attracting both local and international visitors.
Mona Foma: Taking place in Launceston in January, this three-day summer music festival features a lineup of Australian and international artists, with a focus on indie, rock, and electronic music. Mona Foma is celebrated for its eclectic lineup and intimate atmosphere.
Festival of Voices: Held in Hobart in July, this three-week choral music festival showcases various choirs from across Australia, along with workshops and masterclasses. Festival of Voices is known for its diverse programming and focus on choral music.
Australia’s music festival scene is as diverse as the country itself, offering an array of genres, experiences, and breathtaking natural settings. Whether you’re a fan of country music, electronic beats, indie rock, or cultural celebrations, there’s a festival to suit your tastes in every corner of this remarkable nation. So, pack your bags, gather your friends, and embark on a musical adventure across Australia’s vibrant festival landscape.
