Soul, Funk & Jazz Festivals in Australia & New Zealand

Cooly Rocks On is Australia's largest nostalgia festival, held annually in Coolangatta, Queensland, celebrating the motors, music, and lifestyle of yesteryear. It features a massive Show 'N' Shine display of classic cars, live rock 'n' roll and rockabilly music, an official Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, a Pin-up Pageant, and Nostalgia Markets.

The Cobby Riverland Music Festival is a yearly event held over the June long weekend in Cobdogla, South Australia, hosted by the Cobdogla Club and other local venues. It features a lineup of various artists, including country and folk performers.

Peak Festival is an annual winter music festival held in Perisher Valley, NSW, Australia, marking the start of the ski season with free entry. It features live music across seven stages, alongside snow sports and family-friendly activities, creating a vibrant alpine playground.

The Merimbula Jazz Festival is Australia's longest-running annual jazz celebration, held in Merimbula, NSW, bringing together over 500 musicians and 100 bands from across the country. It features diverse jazz styles across eight walkable venues and includes a Youth Jazz Quest to encourage emerging talent.

The Winter Wine Festival is an annual two-day music and wine festival held at the picturesque Crooked River Estate in Gerringong, New South Wales, Australia. It offers a blend of live music from award-winning artists and local talent, exquisite wines, gourmet food, and artisan delicacies against a backdrop of rolling hills and ocean views.

The 35th Townsville Folk Festival, held from 12–14 June 2026 at Foots Hill Station in Reid River, Queensland, is a not-for-profit, family-friendly event celebrating music, arts, culture, and community. It showcases an inspiring mix of folk, acoustic, world, and roots music, alongside workshops, artisan markets, and camping under the stars.

Garrmalang Festival is Darwin's only dedicated First Nations multi-arts event, celebrating the artistic richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in the heart of Larrakia country. It offers a powerful program of storytelling, music, dance, and visual arts, showcasing the depth and beauty of the oldest living culture in the world.

RTR FM's Fremantle Winter Festival is an annual music event held in North Fremantle, Western Australia, showcasing a diverse lineup of local and independent artists across multiple venues. It serves as one of RTRFM's key fundraising events, supporting the community radio station and the local music and arts scene.

The Big Red Bash is an iconic music festival held annually in the Simpson Desert near Birdsville, Australia, and is famously known as the world's most remote music event. Staged against the backdrop of the massive Big Red sand dune, it features performances by top Australian artists and offers a unique outback camping experience.

The Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival is a long-standing, free-entry blues and roots music festival held annually across multiple venues in Echuca-Moama, Victoria, Australia. Known as one of Australia's largest and most affordable blues festivals, it is a family-friendly, volunteer-run event that showcases Australian blues and roots talent.

Scouted is South Australia's premier music showcase for unsigned talent, held in Adelaide/Kaurna Yerta, Australia's UNESCO City of Music. It provides emerging artists with a platform to perform for national and international music industry figures, coinciding with the Indie-Con Australia conference and A2IM Indie Week.

The Inverloch Jazz Festival is a beloved annual winter event held in the seaside village of Inverloch, Victoria, Australia, transforming it into a vibrant jazz hub. Celebrating over 30 years, it showcases over 40 bands and 150 musicians across various jazz styles in multiple indoor venues, while also raising funds for community projects.

The Mundi Mundi Bash is a premier outback music festival held on the Mundi Mundi Plains near Silverton, featuring iconic Australian rock and country performers. This family-friendly camping event offers a unique desert experience complete with world-record dance attempts and stunning sunset views over the Barrier Ranges.

The Gympie Music Muster is an iconic Australian music festival held annually in the Amamoor Creek State Forest, Queensland, celebrated as the country's original bushland music festival. It offers a unique blend of country, blues, folk, roots, and rock music across multiple stages, fostering a strong community spirit and family-friendly camping experience while supporting charitable causes.

BIGSOUND is the southern hemisphere's largest music industry gathering, held annually in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland. It serves as a vital platform for influential tastemakers and music lovers to discover the future of music, featuring a daytime conference and nightly showcases of over 120 emerging artists across multiple venues.

Wonder Mountain is an intimate, genre-blurring music festival held annually in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, primarily at the historic Tanswells Hotel. The festival emphasizes local talent and community, offering a diverse lineup of disco, funk, indie, experimental pop, soul, and house music in a unique country-town setting.

The Neurum Creek Music Festival is an annual local acoustic music camping weekend held at Neurum Creek Bush Retreat in Mount Archer, Queensland, Australia. It aims to foster community and inclusion by showcasing established and emerging acoustic musical talents from the region and across Australia in a picturesque camping setting.

Mushroom Valley Festival is a renowned 3-day music, arts, and lifestyle event held annually in Yalboroo, Queensland, Australia, designed as a psychedelic wonderland that emphasizes sustainability, community, and conscious living. It features a diverse lineup of electronic music genres such as psytrance, drum & bass, and tech house, alongside creative workshops, healing spaces, and art installations, fostering connection and personal well-being.

The Mitchell Creek Rock N Blues Festival is a boutique music and camping event held on a private 100-acre property in the Mary Valley of Queensland's Sunshine Coast Hinterland, known for its intimate atmosphere and impressive lineup of blues, rock, and roots artists. It offers free onsite camping, two alternating stages for non-stop music, and a relaxed, community-focused experience in a natural amphitheater setting.

Wallaby Creek Festival is an annual three-day celebration of music and arts held in the lush wet tropics rainforest of Rossville, Far North Queensland, known for its community-focused, family-friendly, and intimate atmosphere. The festival features live original music across multiple stages, a dedicated Children's Festival, diverse workshops, and a strong environmental focus, with camping included.

Melbourne Fringe Festival is an annual independent arts festival held across various venues in Melbourne. It is an open-access festival showcasing a wide variety of art forms, providing a platform for emerging and independent artists.

Floriade NightFest is Canberra's after-dark extravaganza, transforming Commonwealth Park into an illuminated wonderland with cutting-edge light installations. This ticketed event features a mesmerising program of live music across multiple stages, street theatre, fire shows, and diverse entertainment for all ages, including an adults-only cabaret.

The Nanga Music Festival is an annual weekend event held at Fairbridge Village in Pinjarra, Western Australia, celebrating acoustic music in a rustic setting. It features intimate concerts, workshops, and communal meals, showcasing Australian acoustic, roots, folk, Celtic, indigenous, and world music artists.

Savannah in the Round is a premier music and camping festival held annually at the Mareeba Rodeo Arena in Tropical North Queensland, Australia. The event showcases a diverse lineup of international and Australian country, rock, and roots artists alongside local food, art, and cultural displays.

Gidgestock Music Festival is a family-friendly, fundraising music festival held annually in a natural amphitheater on a 50-acre property in Gidgegannup, Western Australia. It features over 22 live bands, rustic camping, market stalls, and activities for kids, with all profits donated to various local charities.

The Fleurieu Folk Festival is an annual, family-friendly celebration of contemporary and traditional folk music held in the picturesque town of Willunga, South Australia, and is known as the state's largest and friendliest folk music event. It features over 50 local, interstate, and international musicians across various folk genres, alongside workshops, dance, poetry, and local food and market stalls, creating a vibrant community atmosphere.

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival is an annual ten-day event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, showcasing a diverse range of local and international jazz artists across numerous venues. The festival features over 130 performances, including commissioned new works and world premieres, with a commitment to offering free or low-cost programming to ensure accessibility.

The Patchewollock Music Festival is an annual, volunteer-run bush festival held in Patchewollock, Victoria, Australia, known for its unique blend of music, dance, comedy, yarn-spinning, bush tucker, and sheep racing. It offers a diverse lineup of folk, country, blues, rock, and roots music, alongside family-friendly activities and a strong community spirit, with camping being a central part of the rustic outback experience.

The Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival is a three-day, family-friendly celebration of music, poetry, and dance held in Australia's picturesque Kangaroo Valley. It features a diverse lineup of folk, roots, and acoustic artists, alongside blues, gypsy jazz, world music, indie, pop, comedy, workshops, and market stalls, all within a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Parramatta Lanes is a street festival in Parramatta, New South Wales, that offers food and entertainment throughout the city's various streets and laneways. The festival showcases the cultural diversity of Western Sydney through themed sites, performances and food.

Perth International Jazz Festival is an annual event in Perth, Western Australia, that showcases jazz musicians across various venues. It is known for attracting world-class and Grammy Award-winning artists, highlighting Perth as a city of great music.

The Perth International Jazz Festival is an annual event held in Perth, Western Australia, showcasing a diverse range of international, national, and local jazz talent across multiple venues. It has grown to become a significant cultural highlight, known for attracting world-class and Grammy Award-winning artists.

The Tablelands Folk Festival is Queensland's longest-running folk festival, held annually in the scenic Yungaburra Heritage Village, celebrating music, friendship, and cultural understanding. It features over 50 local and national acts across various genres, alongside storytelling, circus, dance, crafts, and family-friendly entertainment, fostering an intimate, community-driven atmosphere.

The Maldon Folk Festival is an annual family-friendly event held in the historic, National Trust classified Maldon township in Central Victoria, Australia, celebrating over fifty years of tradition. It showcases a rich variety of folk, Celtic, bluegrass, jazz, and blues music, alongside dance, theatre, poetry, and interactive workshops, aiming to promote Australian and Multicultural Traditional music and dance.

The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues is an annual Australian festival held in Wangaratta, Victoria, celebrating jazz and blues music with a blend of local and international artists. Established in 1990, it features over 90 events, 350 artists, and hosts the prestigious National Jazz Awards, youth workshops, and master classes across multiple venues.

The Majors Creek Festival is an annual three-day folk and roots music celebration held in the beautiful old gold mining village of Majors Creek, New South Wales, Australia, known for its intimate and family-friendly atmosphere. It features a diverse lineup of folk, roots, and Americana artists across multiple stages, alongside instrumental, singing, and dance workshops, sessions, and bush dances.

Blues at Bridgetown is a long-running annual music festival held in Bridgetown, Western Australia, celebrating blues, roots, and associated genres. The event is known for its community atmosphere, diverse lineup of established and emerging artists, and a popular Saturday street party.

Handpicked Festival is a family-run music and wine event held annually at Lake Breeze Wines in Langhorne Creek, South Australia, known for its intimate atmosphere amidst vineyards and gumtrees. It offers a curated sensory experience featuring award-winning wines, local food trucks, a "Cocktail Forest," and a diverse lineup of Australian musicians.

The Port Noarlunga Blues Festival is a non-profit community incorporated organization held over three Spring days in Port Noarlunga, South Australia, transforming local venues into performance spaces. Established in 2017, it is the largest and longest-running Blues and Roots festival in South Australia, and for 2026, it plans to expand its lineup to include other music genres like Reggae.

Adl 500 - Bands on Track is a music festival held in Adelaide, South Australia, as part of the larger Adelaide 500 motor racing event. It is distinctive for showcasing local contemporary South Australian musicians who perform alongside international headliners.

The Australian Jazz Convention is an annual music festival held in Dubbo, New South Wales. It encourages socialising between musicians and devotees, with a focus on traditional jazz alongside other jazz genres.

The Woodford Folk Festival is a renowned six-day cultural event held annually in Queensland, Australia, featuring a vast program of music, arts, and workshops across more than 25 stages. It brings together thousands of performers and attendees over the New Year period, culminating in a spectacular fire ceremony that celebrates community and creative expression.

Rhythm and Alps is a premier multi-day New Year's music and camping festival held annually in the scenic Cardrona Valley near Wanaka, New Zealand. The event features a diverse lineup of international and local electronic, hip-hop, and alternative artists across multiple stages in a stunning alpine setting.

Rhythm & Alps is a multi-day music and camping festival that takes place annually in Cardrona Valley, near Wānaka, New Zealand. The festival is known for its diverse lineup of international and local acts, set against the backdrop of the Southern Alps.

Tanglewood is a family-friendly boutique music and arts festival held over New Year's Eve in Thornton, Lake Eildon, Victoria, Australia. It features a diverse range of music genres, art installations, workshops, and a focus on local talent and a community-driven, intimate atmosphere.

Luliepalooza is Melbourne's iconic rock 'n' roll block party, held annually at Victoria Park in Abbotsford, transforming it into a full-throttle, open-air celebration of music, art, food, and community. The festival, now in its fifth and biggest iteration, features two stages, over a dozen live bands spanning rock, punk, and soul, alongside skate demos, local food and beverages, and a strong emphasis on accessibility.

Ocean Sounds Festival is a family-friendly, picnic-style music event held annually on the scenic Churchill Island in Victoria, Australia. The festival features live performances from leading Australian acts alongside a curated selection of regional gourmet food, local wines, and cheeses.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival is Australia's largest music event and one of the world's top country music festivals, held annually over ten days in January. It features thousands of performances across the city and culminates in the prestigious Golden Guitar Awards.

The Nannup Music Festival is a four-day music and cultural event held annually in Nannup, Western Australia, known for its intimate atmosphere and commitment to showcasing emerging and Indigenous musicians. It features over 100 acts across eight stages, alongside workshops, talks, poetry, camping, kids' activities, food, and artisan markets, all set within a scenic forest and river backdrop.

WOMADelaide is an iconic annual four-day festival held in Adelaide's Botanic Park that celebrates global cultural diversity through world music, arts, and dance. The open-air event features international performers, workshops, environmental discussions, and culinary experiences in a vibrant multicultural setting.

The Yackandandah Folk Festival is an annual three-day event held in the historic town of Yackandandah, Victoria, celebrating folk culture with music, song, dance, poetry, and visual arts. It is a community-run festival known for its friendly, relaxed atmosphere, diverse folk performances across multiple walkable venues, and a strong commitment to sustainability.

The Cronulla Jazz & Blues Festival is a family-friendly, free music extravaganza held in the coastal suburb of Cronulla, NSW, featuring over 100 jazz, blues, and related music artists across multiple stages and venues. This community-driven event transforms the beachside area into a vibrant cultural hub, offering free performances, special ticketed events, a film festival, record fair, and various family entertainment.