Post Malone is headlining Strummingbird Festival

The festival heads to Ballarat for the first time in 2026.

Australia’s largest touring country festival returns this October, and it’s bringing a line-up that demands a road trip. Strummingbird 2026 lands at Victoria Park Ballarat, Newcastle Foreshore, and Kawana Sports Precinct on the Sunshine Coast with a roster of international heavyweights, alt-country stars, homegrown favourites, and country icons who are impossible to ignore. Leading the charge is none other than Grammy-nominated, genre-defying superstar Post Malone, whose last Australian visit sold out in record time. Fans eager for a slice of the action are advised to act fast and secure presale access.

Strummingbird Festival

SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER – BALLARAT
SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER – NEWCASTLE
SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER – SUNSHINE COAST

Lineup

POST MALONE
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
COOPER ALAN
STELLA LEFTY, DEXTER & THE MOONROCKS
(A-Z) BRAD COX, CAM, CIGARETTES @ SUNSET,
KAITLIN BUTTS, NOAH RINKER, SONS OF THE EAST
(A-Z) BRIANA DINSDALE, MACK GEIGER, MAX JACKSON
SARA BERKI, LATE NIGHT RIOT WITH WILLIE PAKE
LEWIS LOVE*, LOREN RYAN^, SAMMY WHITE+
& LINE DANCING WITH MADDISON GLOVER
*Ballarat, ^Newcastle +Sunshine Coast

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Three years after his packed-out Spilt Milk tour, Post Malone returns to Australia with a distinctly country twist. Over a decade, he has amassed chart-topping hits, five American Music Awards, and a devoted fanbase spanning the globe. His latest record, F-1 Trillion, a Grammy-nominated ode to Nashville, unites legends including Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, and Strummingbird alumni Jelly Roll. Alongside these collaborations sit Malone’s solo anthems, from Sunflower to Rockstar and Circles, tracks that have become part of the global musical fabric.

Joining Malone is multi-platinum American country artist Bailey Zimmerman, whose meteoric rise has marked him as one of the genre’s brightest stars. From viral hits like Fall In Love and Rock and a Hard Place to his standout collaborations with Luke Combs, Zimmerman’s raw, gritty sound and magnetic presence have earned him a seat at country music’s top table. His recent cover of Miley Cyrus’ The Climb at Stagecoach sent the internet into a frenzy.

Strummingbird audiences can also look forward to North Carolina singer-songwriter Cooper Alan, whose witty, reflective lyrics and genre-blending anthems like Plead The Fifth and Take Forever (Hally’s Song) balance humour with heartfelt authenticity. The bill also features two rising Billboard Top 100 artists, LA-based Stella Lefty, whose sun-soaked, blissful tracks like Boston and Thinking ‘bout You are impossible not to sway to, and Texan outfit Dexter & The Moonrocks, purveyors of Western Space Grunge, a heady mix of DIY grit and rock-driven firepower.

Homegrown talent is well represented. Brad Cox continues to capture hearts with hits like Lake House and his reflective pivot on Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions. Singer-songwriter Cam, famed for crafting Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, will showcase her ethereal voice and introspective blend of folk, country, and pop. US outfit Cigarettes @ Sunset promise soulful Appalachian-tinged Americana, while CMT’s Next Women of Country 2025 alumna Kaitlin Butts delivers theatrical storytelling with a voice that lingers. Californian Noah Rinker brings dusky, intimate acoustic anthems, and Sydney favourites Sons of the East return with their seamless fusion of blues, country, soul, and folk. Brisbane native Briana Dinsdale and Central Queensland’s Mack Geiger add fresh regional flair, and Max Jackson, two-time CMAA Female Artist of the Year, promises an electrifying live set. Sara Berki brings an earthy, serene presence to the stage, complemented by country DJ Willie Pake, whose boot-scootin’ beats will keep crowds moving.

Each stop on the Strummingbird tour will showcase a local artist capturing the spirit of their home. Ballarat welcomes folk-country rising star Lewis Love, Newcastle is treated to Gamilaraay singer-songwriter Loren Ryan, and the Sunshine Coast features the soulful Sammy White. Between sets, line dancing sessions led by Strummingbird veteran Maddison Glover will get crowds kicking up dust just like last year.

For the full festival experience, camping at Ballarat and the Sunshine Coast is the way to go. Shuttle buses from Melbourne to Ballarat ensure travel is stress-free. Camping and bus tickets go on sale later in May.

Presale tickets are available here, offering early access to the best prices and payment plans. For guaranteed entry, Moshtix Ticket Request opens at 12pm AEST, Wednesday 6 May.

Find out more here.