Modern Country Music Festival Strummingbird Returns in 2026

This year’s edition is taking place on the Sunshine Coast, Newcastle and Ballarat.

Proving a massive success last year, modern Australian country music festival Strummingbird returns in 2026.

The roving festival will once again hit the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and Newcastle, New South Wales, while welcoming new home Ballarat in Victoria.

The lineup is set to drop on Tuesday 5 May, although organisers have ensured fans that many of the things that made the inaugural Strummingbird a success will return, including the Silver Spur Saloon, where cold bevs and good times flow, rowdy line dancing and location-specific pop-ups.

Strummingbird Festival 2026 takes place on Saturday 10 October in Ballarat, Saturday 17 October in Newcastle and Sunday 18 October on the Sunshine Coast.

Sign up for lineup and pre-sale access at strummingbird.com.au.

READ MORE: Yours & Owls Festival Reveals New 2026 Event Format

Last year’s Strummingbird featured two stages headlined by four-time Grammy-nominated superstar Jelly Roll.

The lineup also included performances from a host of international and national artists, including Shaboozey, Treaty Oak Revival, James Johnston, Kaylee Bell, Matt Hansen, Julia Cole, Wade Forster and more.

Fans are already speculating about who might appear on this year’s lineup (Post Malone is almost a certainty), but thankfully, fans don’t have to wait long to find out, with the lineup dropping Tuesday next week.

Strummingbird takes in Ballarat, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast in October. Sign up for lineup and pre-sale access at strummingbird.com.au.

Strummingbird Music Festival 2026

Saturday 10 October - Ballarat, VIC/Wadawurrung

Saturday 17 October - Newcastle, NSW/Awabakal

Sunday 18 October - Sunshine Coast, QLD/Kabi Kabi