Must-do Queensland music festivals to keep you dancing
Event
By Danielle Reckless
Do you live to hear the strum of a guitar from the front row? Local and international talent is on show year-round at our Queensland music festivals.
There’s a little something to suit every taste, no matter who's your most-played on Spotify. And from the outback to the beach, they’re in destinations you’ll never want to leave.
Road trip to Australia’s most remote desert music festival, or settle into a hammock at a forest folk jam. Maybe you’re more into country music campouts, or blues by the beach.
Our long, warm nights and shoes-optional attitude make music festivals feel more like a laid-back gathering of friends - with all of the good times and none of the stress.
So grab your mates and hit the road for these Queensland music festivals.
Agnes Blues, Roots & Rock Festival | Southern Great Barrier Reef
When: 21 - 23 February 2025
Agnes Blues, Roots & Rock Festival
Get your dancing shoes ready and let the party begin with the best in Blues, Roots and Rock in the funky town of 1770. Be treated to three jam-packed days of fantastic music from a variety of artists across two stages. A licensed bar, and a variety of food vendors and market stalls to suit all tastes are features of this all-weather event, with plenty of undercover space to chill out or dance your socks off.
CMC Rocks QLD | Brisbane
When: 21 – 23 March 2025
CMC Rocks QLD, Brisbane
Country music fans finally have a reason to pull on their boots again, as CMC Rocks QLD returns to Willowbank once again in 2025. The massive sold-out event brings the biggest international country stars to Queensland - this year including Chris Young, Lainey Wilson and Tyler Hubbard - as well as plenty of Aussie talent too. Come, camp and get ready to party. For more information, here's your go-to guide to CMC Rocks QLD.
Minden Music Festival | Brisbane
When: 4 - 6 April 2025
Minden Music Festival, Brisbane
The Minden Music Festival has come back for its 13th year, celebrating live music in a vibrant, community atmosphere. Nestled in nature, the event brings together incredible local talent and music lovers for an unforgettable weekend getaway.
There's free camping right on the festival's doorstep with other accommodation options available too.
Queensland Music Trails’ Outback Trail 2025 | Outback Queensland
When: 20 April - 3 May 2025
Lovers of music, food and Queensland’s iconic outback should set their sights on the Outback Trail. Across nine action-packed days, visitors can enjoy soulful folk melodies and foot-stomping country tunes from a mix of beloved local, Queensland-based and national musicians. Read the full guide here.
Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival | Gold Coast
When: 15 - 18 May 2025
Blues on Broadbeach, Gold Coast
Just steps from the sand, the streets, parks and venues of Broadbeach burst with musical talent for Blues on Broadbeach. Held over four days, Australia’s largest free music festival is jam-packed with a line-up giving music lovers food for the soul, combining the best of blues with the cream of Gold Coast cuisine in a guaranteed recipe for success.
Headlining the festival are the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, Don Walker, Emma Donovan and The Putbacks - and so much more.
Festival of Outback Opera | Longreach | Outback Queensland
When: 13 - 19 May 2025
Set in Queensland’s iconic Outback, the Festival of Outback Opera celebrates the wonder of opera under an endless sky or stars. With a program of engaging outdoor concerts and pop-up performances in historical settings around Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Tambo and Windorah.
Cooly Rocks On | Gold Coast
When: 4 - 8 June 2025
Cooly Rocks On, Gold Coast
Get your cars, dancing shoes and retro outfits sorted: Cooly Rocks On is Australia’s largest rock ‘n’ roll and nostalgia festival and a signature event on Queensland’s events calendar. With thousands of rock ‘n’ roll and vintage car and bike enthusiasts looking to celebrate the music, memories and moments of the 50s, 60s and 70s, the beachside destination comes to life across five action-packed days.
The festival's highlights include the Classic Cars Show 'n' Shine, live music, Elvis Precinct, vintage markets, Miss Cooly Rocks On Pageant, Miss Rockabilly Pageant, dance classes and more - including the beauty of Coolangatta out front.
Jumpers and Jazz Festival | Queensland Country
When: 17 - 27 July 2025
Don’t stand still too long in Warwick during the Jumpers and Jazz Festival or you might just be yarn bombed. This quirky festival brings a splash of colour to the cool months as the creative community comes together to change their streetscape by jumpering trees in textiles. The up-tempo vibes continue with more than 30 jazz performances across the 10-day event, along with workshops, exhibitions, pop-up art & craft shops, street festivals, a giant bonfire night, country-style breakfasts and swing dance.
John Williamson Big Red Sunset Concert | Birdsville
When: 8 - 9 July 2025
You can’t beat a classic – and this year’s bucket-list Big Red experience takes music lovers back to where it all began in 2013. An intimate concert with Aussie legend John Williamson, atop the iconic sand dune.
Set to bring you back to the magical feeling that created Big Red Bash, there’s already been so much interest in The Big Red Sunset Concert that the ‘one-night-only’ show has expanded to offer two nights – with Williamson playing 8 and 9 July. Only 1,000 tickets are on sale for each night – so be quick. Overnight camping offers the complete Big Red experience under the vast outback sky.
Day parking is also available for those who prefer to head back to Birdsville to spend the night.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music | Townsville
When: 25 July - 3 August 2025
Sublime music is performed by some of the best musicians in the world, staged in a tropical destination in the middle of winter. The Australian Festival of Chamber Music is returning to Townsville– and it brings a diverse program of more than 40 artists from around the world for 10 days of performances and masterclasses.
Gympie Music Muster | Sunshine Coast
When: 28 – 31 August 2025
Gympie Music Muster, Sunshine Coast
Like clockwork, thousands of revellers make the pilgrimage to pitch their tents, pull on their cowboy boots and celebrate the best of blues, roots and country at the Gympie Music Muster.
Spilling out over 50 hectares of bushland near Gympie, you’ll find yourself under the spell of this iconic event that brings good times and great mates together under one big open roof. Here's 5 things you need to do at this year's event.
Noosa Jazz Festival | Sunshine Coast
When: 29 August - 7 September 2025
The Noosa Jazz Party returns to the Sunshine Coast for a jam-packed event in 2025. Get ready to see some of the best Australian and overseas-based jazz musicians come together for all this jazz. Running for nine days, jazz performances will be taking place all over Noosa, from The J Theatre to river cruises at sunset and popping up in restaurants and bars.
Brisbane Festival | Brisbane
When: 5 - 27 September 2025
Brisbane Festival
Weird, wacky, and totally wonderful, Brisbane Festival is the largest festival in Queensland dedicated to the arts. A celebration of the city, there's something to see every day and night throughout the month of September, bringing Brisbane to life in a glorious display of performance art and culture.
From the festival’s infamous Spiegeltent in the heart of South Bank, to roving performances, plays and performance art at QPAC, Brisbane Festival is the beating heart of Queensland’s burgeoning arts hub.
BIGSOUND | Brisbane
When: 2 - 5 September 2025
BIGSOUND, Gold Coast
It’s the festival that helped uncover the likes of Gang of Youths, Flume, Tones and I, Tash Sultana, DMAs and Courtney Barnett. If there was an event to put Brisbane firmly on the music festival map it might just be BIGSOUND, Australia’s premier festival of new music.
Part music festival, part conference; musicians and industry professionals from around the globe will descend on Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to showcase and witness the best new Aussie music. Promoting togetherness, music innovation and new sounds, the festival is defining and owning its place in the international music industry calendar.
It’s also your chance to earn bragging rights with your mates to say “I heard them first” when you dance the night away with 100 of the best new artists.
Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival | Sunshine Coast
When: 19 - 21 September 2025
Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival, Sunshine Coast. Image credit: Steve Fitchett 2024
Relax in a natural amphitheatre of Aussie bushland as you connect with music and good times at Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues Festival.
This unique festival blends music and camping, showcasing 120+ Australian artists across three huge days and nights in the Noosa Hinterland. While 2025's headliners are yet to be announced, previous acts include Vanessa Amorosi, Dave Hole, Matty T Wall, Blue Shaddy and more - with alternating stages offering non-stop music, you're sure to head home having discovered a few new favourites.
As for the camping? Camping, including RVs and caravans, is included in all Big Weekender and 2-Day Entry Passes at no extra cost. Soak up the sights and sounds of the bush, under bunya pines and cedar trees - and of course, a blanket of stars.
Savannah in the Round | Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
When: 9 - 12 October 2025
Savannah in the Round is Tropical North Queensland's very own music and camping festival, taking place at the Mareeba Rodeo Arena (less than one hour's drive west from Cairns).
Featuring the hottest international and Australian country, roots, rock and pop artists, plus cultural exhibits/demonstrations, market vendors featuring local produce and products, paddock to plate, a funfair and much more, there's plenty of entertainment for the whole family.
Groundwater Country Music Festival | Gold Coast
When: 17 - 19 October 2025
Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast. Photo by @groundwatercmf
The beach is probably the last place you’d expect to find a country music festival, but Queensland continues to surprise its visitors. Free to attend, Groundwater flows through the streets and venues of Broadbeach, nestled steps from the sand. Expect 50 artists across 15 stages, and three whole days of rocking country music. There’s nothing else like it – and the best excuse to make a weekend of it on the Gold Coast.
Airlie Beach Festival of Music | The Whitsundays
When: 7 - 9 November 2025
Only in Airlie Beach can you see 74 bands alongside 74 islands in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. There’s no need to choose between a tropical getaway or seeing your favourite band live. Here at Airlie Beach Festival of Music, there are 15 stages worth of performances. Your band can even get in on the action at the Battle of the Bands where the winners are treated to four nights of free accommodation, VIP main tent passes and your chance to play live at the festival.
Check out this guide to soak up the tunes and epic views.
Woodford Folk Festival | Brisbane
When: TBC December 2025 - 1 January 2026
Woodford Folk Festival, Brisbane
More than just a music festival, Woodford Folk Festival is the largest gathering of artists and musicians in Australia, held annually over six days and six nights.
Set on a former dairy farm that has been lovingly regenerated with subtropical rainforest and wildlife, this festival experience is deep, rich and colourful. Folk music, Indigenous performances, theatre, comedy, film, street performances, visual arts, acro yoga, sustainability forums and so much more comprise a festival for everyone – even those with kids in tow.
Birdsville Big Red Bash | Birdsville
When: 7 - 9 July 2026
Queensland’s biggest party is unlike anything you could ever imagine. The dance floor is red dirt. The disco ball is the sparkling Milky Way. The stage is set beneath a magical 40-metre-tall Big Red sand dune, the largest of its kind in the world. The artists? The biggest names in Aussie music.
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