Festivals in Australia in May

The Top Half Folk Festival is an annual folk music event held at Ross River Resort on Arrernte Country, 80km east of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. It features a diverse program including Territory folk stars, bush dances, choirs, workshops, kid's activities, and cabaret, aiming to provide entertainment, education, inclusion, and engagement.

Generations In Jazz is an annual weekend jazz festival held in Mount Gambier, South Australia. It is notable for bringing together thousands of young jazz musicians from across Australia and New Zealand for concerts, competitions, and workshops.

The Charters Towers Country Music Festival is an annual celebration of Australian country music held in Charters Towers, Queensland, established in 1978. It draws thousands of fans from across Australia and abroad, featuring a diverse lineup of local and international country acts, talent searches, and family-friendly competitions.

The Charters Towers Country Music Festival, also known as the Dalrymple Country Music Festival, is one of Australia's largest and longest-running country music festivals, established in 1978 in Charters Towers, Queensland. Held annually on the May Day long weekend at the Charters Towers Showgrounds, it features a blend of established Australian country artists and a significant talent search competition, providing a family-friendly platform for both amateur and professional musicians.

The Grampians Grape Escape is an iconic food, wine, and music festival held annually in Halls Gap, Victoria, Australia, celebrating the region's artisan producers and winemakers. This family-friendly event features over 100 exhibitors, masterclasses, cooking demonstrations, live music, and grape stomping, set against the stunning backdrop of the Grampians National Park.

Midnight Mafia is an iconic indoor hard dance music festival held at Sydney Showground, known for transforming the venue into an immersive, themed underworld with a fictional Mafia concept. The event is celebrated for its mind-blowing production, unparalleled storytelling, and high-energy performances from top-tier hard dance artists.

The Capella Country Music Festival is an annual event held in Capella, Queensland, Australia, celebrating Australian country music and fostering a strong sense of community. The multi-day festival, hosted at the Capella Covered Arena, features open mic sessions, main stage performances by leading musicians, bush poetry, and cooking demonstrations.

The Cotton Capital Country Music Muster is a weekend-long country music festival held in Wee Waa, NSW, Australia, featuring a lineup of Australian artists, bush ballads, classic country, and poetry. The community event offers onsite caravan, RV, and camping facilities at the Wee Waa Showground, along with walk-up sessions and a Mother's Day breakfast.

The Bouldy Bush Ballad Bash is an annual week-long country music festival held in Bouldercombe, Queensland, celebrating bush ballads, country music, and bush poetry. Launched by the late Keith Jamieson, the event features invited guests, walk-up performances, and a bush poets breakfast, attracting performers and audiences from across Australia.

The Flinders Ranges Country Music Muster is a multi-venue festival held in Port Augusta, South Australia, featuring two weeks of live country music. The event is notable for encouraging 'Walk Up' performances and raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Music in the Mulga is an annual four-day country and country rock music festival held in Thargomindah, South West Queensland, Australia, known for its unique atmosphere of a large family gathering in true outback style. The event features evening concerts, walk-ups, a main Saturday concert, a charity auction, and yabby races with fashions of the field, fostering a welcoming and friendly environment.

Blues on Broadbeach is one of Australia's largest non-ticketed music festivals, held annually in Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland, offering four days and nights of live rhythm and blues music across multiple indoor and outdoor stages. The festival features a wide array of international and homegrown artists, transforming the beachside precinct into a vibrant celebration for music lovers and fostering strong community ties.

BASSINTHEGRASS is the Northern Territory's largest music festival, held annually at the scenic Mindil Beach in Darwin. The event showcases a diverse mix of international and Australian artists across various genres, attracting thousands of fans to its iconic tropical setting.

The Red Hot Summer Tour at Sandstone Point is an outdoor Australian music festival featuring an all-Australian lineup of iconic rock, pop, and country artists. The 2026 edition, held at the Sandstone Point Hotel in Queensland, is headlined by Paul Kelly and includes Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers, and Jess Hitchcock.

The WA Day Festival is a free, two-day metropolitan festival held in Perth, Western Australia, celebrating the state's people, culture, and shared identity. It features a diverse program of live music from local artists, family-friendly entertainment including carnival rides, drone shows, fireworks, and a variety of food and cultural experiences.