Riverboats Music Festival 2026: Family, Footloose Fun, and the Mighty Murray

Riverboats Music Festival has made a home on the Murray, embedded in the natural ecosystem of the region.

Sunlight filters through towering river red gums, casting dappled patterns across the grassy riverbank. Historic paddlesteamers glide lazily along the Murray, their polished decks filled with festival-goers enjoying the gentle breeze and the distant hum of soundchecks. Somewhere, a family lays out a picnic while children chase the occasional raucous corella. This is Riverboats Music Festival, a boutique event where music, community, and nature intertwine in a way that feels effortless yet extraordinary.

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Since its first edition in 2012, Riverboats has grown steadily into one of Australia’s most beloved regional festivals. Staged each February on Yorta Yorta country in Echuca-Moama, it has become known for its single-stage, all-ages format, offering a rare opportunity to see top-tier artists without missing a moment. Festival Director Dave Frazer describes it simply: “We have one stage and plenty of room for dancing, brilliant artists, and some of the best food trucks going around. The festival is small at 5,000 capacity, but it feels anything but small. The artists are big names, the setting is incredible, and the community involvement is enormous.”

Riverboats is returning from February 13 to 15 with its biggest line-up yet, featuring an eclectic mix of Australian talent. Friday opens with the alt-folk sounds of Norwood, Brisbane’s psych-rockers Full Flower Moon Band, and a headline performance from Baker Boy, whose infectious energy has been described as capable of getting a crowd airborne within seconds. Saturday’s program is a marathon of music and culture, opening with local duo The Wildlings and moving through Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band from North East Arnhem Land, the supergroup Bleak Squad, Emma Donovan performing Take Me To The River, and the commanding Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, culminating in a headline set from The Living End. Sunday closes with Daisy Kilbourne, The Counterfeit featuring Freya Josephine Hollick, Merpire, Paul Dempsey’s Shotgun Karaoke, and roots icon Xavier Rudd. Throughout the festival, MC Brian Nankervis from RocKwiz ensures continuity with humour and games that have become part of Riverboats’ DNA.

 

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For Frazer, the family-friendly vibe is central to the festival’s identity. “I would say at least half our lineup is bringing their family,” he says. “Last year Dan Sultan performed and brought his young family along. They stayed for the whole day, took it all in, and mingled with the rest of the crowd. It really shows the nature and atmosphere of the festival.” Families, local residents, and music lovers all mingle freely across the grounds, creating a sense of community that is rare at larger events.

The festival’s location plays an equally important role in shaping its character. Set under the red gums in a natural amphitheatre with the river winding beside it, Riverboats offers a uniquely Australian backdrop. Historic paddlesteamers drift past, sometimes stopping for intimate one-hour performances. Sunset brings flocks of corellas and a glow over the river, providing a cinematic end to each day’s program. “The site places audiences in one of the most picturesque settings in Australia,” Frazer says. “The community involvement is enormous. It makes the festival feel like a shared celebration rather than a commercial event.”

Over the past decade, Riverboats has grown carefully, prioritising quality over quantity. Frazer reflects on the programming philosophy that guides the festival: “One piece of advice I received early on was to never book bands that you like because you need to consider what the audience likes. I have never had luck with that because the acts I love are just as loved by our loyal punters.” That mix of personal passion and audience insight has helped Riverboats maintain its distinctive voice, balancing national and regional talent with performances that appeal to both dedicated fans and casual listeners.

The festival has also become a cornerstone for regional arts, ensuring that high-quality music reaches communities outside the major cities. “Riverboats Music Festival is our mothership. We also run Winter Sounds in Daylesford. Even though we are based in Melbourne, our festivals are held in regional centres to bring incredible music moments outside of metropolitan areas,” Frazer says. The focus on regional engagement is evident not only in the artists programmed but in the community involvement across Echuca-Moama.

 

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As Riverboats prepares for 2026, it is also celebrating ten years of MC Brian Nankervis. Frazer laughs recalling the tradition: “He is part of the festival’s DNA, to the point that we actually made a commemorative T-shirt for ‘I’m throwing the frisbee’.” Moments like these, small and joyful, capture the spirit of a festival that prioritises connection over spectacle.

Whether it is dancing barefoot under the red gums, boarding the paddlesteamer for a secret set, or simply enjoying the music alongside family and friends, Riverboats remains a festival that celebrates life, music, and community. Over a decade after its founding, it has found its feet, continuing to offer a rare combination of intimacy, talent, and natural beauty. 

For anyone seeking a weekend that feels both grand and personal, Riverboats Music Festival is a destination that delivers on every level.

 

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RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL INFORMATION

Lineup

The Living End

Baker Boy

Xavier Rudd

Paul Dempsey: Shotgun Karaoke

Emma Donovan: Take Me To The River

Cash Savage & The Last Drinks

Bleak Squad

Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band

Queenie

Full Flower Moon Band

The Counterfeit ft. Freya Josephine Hollick

Daisy Kilbourne

Norwood

Merpire

The Wildlings (Local Showcase)

MC Brian Nankervis

Tickets

Weekend Passes 

Adult | $250.00, Youth (13-17 years) | $125.00, Child (5-12 years) | $20.00, Family (2 adults + 2 youth) | $625.00

Friday Night

Adult | $80.00, Youth (13-17 years) | $40.00, Child (5-12 years) | $10.00, Family (2 adults + 2 youth) | $200.00

Saturday Pass

Adult | $130.00, Youth (13-17 years) | $65.00, Child (5-12 years) | $12.00, Family  (2 adults + 2 youth) | $325.00

Sunday Pass

Adult | $120.00, Youth (13-17 years) | $60.00, Child (5-12 years) | $12.00, Family  (2 adults + 2 youth) | $300.00

Paddle steamer Sideshows

A Riverboats weekend wouldn’t feel complete without getting out on the water for one of the festival’s much-loved paddle steamer sideshows.

Set aboard the historic PS Pevensey on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February, these intimate experiences combine a relaxed one-hour journey along the Murray River with live sets from Riverboats 2025 artists, offering a uniquely immersive way to enjoy the music.

Tickets start at $13.30 for children and up to $640.60 for family weekend passes.

 

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Accommodation

Echuca–Moama is one of Australia’s most iconic river destinations, offering a wide range of places to stay to suit every style of visit. From houseboats and riverside camping to hotels, motels, boutique retreats and fully self-contained holiday homes, there are plenty of options for festival-goers to make a weekend of it.

Some recommendations for stays include:

Holiday Parks (Camping & Cabins)

• BIG4 Moama Holiday Park
• Discovery Parks – Maiden’s Inn Holiday Park
• Tasman Holiday Park – Moama on Murray
• Riverbend Caravan Park
• Rich River Tourist Park
• Discovery Parks Moama West
• Discovery Parks Moama Waters
• Discovery Parks Echuca
• Kyabram Western Gums Tourist Park
• Koondrook Glamping Retreat

Hotels & Motels

• Georgian Motor Lodge
• Mercure Port of Echuca

Boutique Accommodation & Holiday Houses

• Tindarra Resort
• Echuca Moama Holiday Accommodation

Transport

Need a ride to and from the festival? The popular shuttle service is back connecting punters to select accommodation providers, with expanded stops in 2026. There’s also a cheeky Saturday afternoon service. 

The services are

• Moama West Service

Pick-ups at Cadell on the Murray, Merool on the Murray, Discovery Parks Moama West, Madison Spa Motel, and Kerrabee Soundshell

• Moama East Service

Pick-ups at Discovery Parks Moama Waters, Moama on Murray, Maiden’s Inn, Kerrabee Soundshell, and Madison Spa Motel

• Echuca West Service

Pick-ups at Northern Highway (outside Thompson Motors), Old Coach Motor Inn, Echuca Motel, Big River Motel, Pevensey Motor Inn, and Georgian Motor Lodge

• Echuca East Service

Pick-ups at Discovery Parks Echuca (Yarraby Holiday Park), Rich River Tourist Park, and Tara’s Hall Hotel

Tickets are on sale now at riverboatsmusic.com.au