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The Birdsville Big Red Bash festival has been cancelled

Credit: Matt Williams

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
The iconic Outback music festival won’t go ahead in 2026.

In devastating news for the Birdsville Big Red Bash and its loyal festivalgoers, one of the most anticipated music events on the Australian calendar has been cancelled due to widespread flooding across the Australian outback in late February and early March. “This is an incredibly tough call for Greg Donovan and the Big Red Bash team, particularly with the event 90% sold out," said Stuart Field, Oztix Co-Founder & Managing Director.

A flag that says Big Red Bash
The iconic festival was scheduled for July. (Credit: Matt Williams)

The three-day, family-friendly outback music festival, which is held annually in July on the Big Red sand dune near Birdsville, Queensland, was scheduled to take place July 7–9, 2026, with Australian music legends Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Teskey Brothers, The Living End, Birds of Tokyo and Jessica Mauboy set to take to the stage.

A night time performance at Big Red Bash festival
The festival is set to return in 2027. (Credit: Matt Williams)

Managing Director of the Outback Music Festival Group, Greg Donovan, said hosting the festival in another location wasn’t on the cards. “After careful consideration of the available options, we decided that relocating the Birdsville Big Red Bash was not feasible for 2026," he shared. “We surveyed our patrons to fully understand their feelings about a relocated festival and their attendance intentions." The survey received a 95 per cent response rate, and the festival team based their decision on what they believed was in the best interest of the event and patrons.

So what’s next?

Aerial view of the Big Red Bash festival
Ticketholders can receive refunds. (Credit: Matt Williams)

Ticket holders will have until June 19, 2026, to take action on one of the following:

  • Request a refund that will be processed immediately by Oztix
  • Transfer your tickets to the 2027 Birdsville Big Red Bash (6-8 July 2027) (no action required)
  • Transfer your tickets to the 2026 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash (20–22 August 2026)

“We’ll be doing our part to ensure customer refunds are processed efficiently and, importantly, supporting Greg and the team to bring the Bash back next year," said Field. The majority of the 2026 artist line-up is committed to the 2027 edition of the festival. 

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love, Bed Threads and Australian Traveller/International Traveller. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
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The Gold Rush town that’s become Victoria’s best country escape for foodies

    Jocelyn Pride Jocelyn Pride
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    The well-preserved Gold Rush town where an idyllic country vibe meets the best of city living.

    Cafe culture

    ‘Slow down’ is the mantra of Tortoise Espresso, and it’s apt for anyone visiting town. This local coffee hangout was the brainchild of Lloyd Meadows, who at 16 started it as a hole in the wall of an old pub. Five years on, it graces a fine shopfront with a menu of around 60 different coffees. Other one-off centrally located daytime cafes, such as Saffs, Togs, Saint Florian and Lazy Bones, are tucked into historic buildings and serve creative menus featuring local produce. A personal favourite is Origini, where chef Luca Sartori brings a taste of northern Italy to his rustic restaurant. For the best banh mi outside Vietnam head to Super Hero, and the pastries at Johnny Baker are legendary.

    the Saint Florian Cafe, Castlemaine
    Saint Florian is one of many businesses tucked away in a historic building. (Image: Griffin Simm)

    On the town’s fringe you’ll find some treasured cafes: Blackbird. Grist, Doveton Corner Store, and the cosy Aitken’s Corner. The Mill precinct also brings another dimension to Castlemaine. Located directly opposite the beautiful Botanical Gardens, this once-derelict woollen mill is a hive of creativity and collaboration. Retaining an industrial feel, it is home to a myriad of 44 unique businesses, galleries and studios that stretch over the three-hectare site.

    Brilliant brews, bars and food

    diners at The Mill, Castlemaine
    The Mill is home to many local businesses. (Image: Visit Victoria/Michelle Jarni)

    The Mill is also home to one of Castlemaine’s bespoke breweries, Shedshaker Brewing Company and Taproom. Within the sensitively restored walls of the oldest part of the building (circa 1875), small-batch, handcrafted beer features alongside fine wholesome food and live music.

    A more recent newcomer to the brewing scene is Love Shack. Starting small as a laneway pop-up in 2021, visionaries Conna Mallett and Harry Cox were armed with a Melbourne beer culture pedigree, which helped them create a great new ‘pub’ that feels as though it’s been there since the 1850s. Other atmospheric bars and restaurants are dotted around town – Grafting Cellars for local wines by the pour; buzzy Mostyn Street Cellars; Table Records plays vinyl on weekends; and the quirky Maurocco bar is not to be missed.

    food and drinks at Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro, Castlemaine
    The nostalgic Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro serves comfort food. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    For food you’ll write home about, the hatted Bar Midland serves exquisite dishes from Victorian-only produce. The freshly renovated Wild is located in the original firestation, Voor Ouker specialises in Indonesian/Dutch fusion, and the Railway Hotel oozes English pub charm.

    the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
    Theatre Royal is the longest continually operating theatre on the mainland. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

    Much-loved Teatro Regio, found in the magnificent Theatre Royal, is the go-to for pizzas with a twist. As mainland Australia’s longest continually running theatre, this grand dame is also one of more than a dozen performance spaces that add to a rich and diverse entertainment and festival scene.

    pizza at Theatre Royal
    Dine before a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria)

    Quirky country stays

    Quirky, authentic and perfectly located, the Midland Hotel is a private hotel that dates back to 1879. Each of the nine rooms at the Northern Arts Hotel is different and named in honour of an Australian artist. Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation also has a range of properties to suit all types of travellers.