Overview
The touring country music festival, Strummingbird, has announced the lineup for its 2026 return, with dates and acts earmarked for shows in Ballarat, Newcastle and the Sunshine Coast this October. At the top of the bill is pop-turned country star Post Malone, who's joined by the likes of Bailey Zimmerman, Cooper Alan, Stella Lefty, Dexter & the Moonrocks and many more.
Post Malone, returning to Aussie stages for the first time since sold-out Spilt Milk headline slot in 2023, is bringing his catalogue of modern classics like "Sunflower", "Circles" and "Rockstar," as well as plenty of tracks from his Grammy-nominated Nashville-style album F-1 Trillion, which featured country icons like Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson and Jelly Roll.
Bailey Zimmerman is similarly associated with the rising stars of country music, a multi-platinum artist whose 2025 album Different Night Same Rodeo saw him land a spot at Stagecoach, where he performed a cover of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb". Elsewhere on the lineup is more up-and-coming talent, including Nashville's Cooper Alan, who made his start in the honky tonk scene, feel-good songstress Stella Lefty and Western Grunge band Dexter & The Moonrocks — both of whom are currently ranking on the Billboard 100 chart.
On the local front, the lineup includes Brad Cox, best known for his singles "Lake House" and "Give me Tonight" and album Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions. There's also Sydney's own globally touring multi-genre outfit Sons of the East, Brisbane local and 2026 Countrytown Breakthrough Artist of the Year nominee Briana Dinsdale, outback-born artist Sarah Berki, CMAA Female Artist of the Year Max Jackson and Queensland cattlehand-turned global star Mack Geiger.
Each city that Strummingbird stops in will welcome local artists, too. Ballarat will see the rising folk-country and modern pop infusions of Lewis Love, Newcastle will welcome Gamilaraay artist Loren Ryan and the Sunshine Coast rounds out the tour with Sammy White.
Strummingbird will open its 2026 tour on Saturday, October 10 in Ballarat's Victoria Park, then up to Newcastle foreshore on Saturday, October 17 and rounding out the tour at the Sunshine Coast's Kawana Sports Precinct on Sunday, October 18.
Ticket presale begins on Wednesday, May 13 at 10am for the Sunshine coast, 11am for Newcastle and 12pm for Ballarat. General ticket sales open at 10am local time on Thursday, May 14. Visit the website for more info or to get your tickets.