Description
Maleny Music Festival returns with its biggest ever artist response
by Rachel Clarke
TN180 Sep 26
The Maleny Music Festival returns to the beautiful Maleny Showgrounds, Qld, from 6–8 November 2026
This year’s event will bring together an exciting and diverse lineup of folk, roots, acoustic, blues, world, spoken word and community performers for another unforgettable weekend in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Run by volunteers and celebrated for its warm, relaxed and community focused atmosphere, the festival continues to grow as one of Queensland’s most loved boutique music events.
Adding to the excitement, the Maleny Music Festival was recently named Festival of the Year in the People’s Choice category at the 2026 Queensland Music Awards.
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland community event took home the top honour at the awards ceremony held on the Gold Coast on April 22.
The 2026 festival received the greatest number of artist applications in the festival’s history, with more than 430 acts applying to perform.
With only a limited number of program spaces available, the selection process was incredibly competitive and difficult for the volunteer programming team.
More than 60 artists, bands and community performance groups, representing an estimated 200 individual performers, will appear across the festival weekend, with over 170 concerts, workshops, sessions and participatory events programmed across 7 venues and performance spaces throughout the Maleny Showgrounds precinct.
The 2026 program features an eclectic mix of established favourites, emerging performers and participatory experiences.
See our website for a complete list.
The festival will also welcome several international guest performers travelling from the United Kingdom and the United States, adding an exciting global flavour to this year’s program.
The festival will once again feature workshops, music sessions, poetry, a bush dance, the youth showcase, Saturday night lantern parade, community singing, market stalls, food vendors and late-night jams across multiple stages and venues.
Festival organisers say the event continues to focus on connection, creativity and participation.
“Maleny Music Festival is about bringing people together through music, storytelling and shared experiences.
“It’s intimate, welcoming and community driven.
“It’s a place where the audience and artists genuinely connect,” says Festival Director, Rachel Clarke.
The festival offers on site camping, family friendly programming and easy access to cafés and shops in Maleny and the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Beyond the stage, the festival delivers significant benefits to the region, boosting tourism, supporting small businesses, and creating a strong sense of community ownership.
Local accommodation books out, the daytime economy thrives, and visitors are welcomed with open arms by volunteers and residents alike.
Sustainability also sits at the heart of the festival’s operations.
Initiatives include reusable bar cups, refill water stations and educational signage.
Close collaboration with stallholders minimises environmental impact, with 100% compostable serve ware which helps to reach the goal of becoming a festival that creates no waste to landfill.
Kids are free at Maleny Music Festival.
Full festival tickets with camping and day tickets are available now via the official festival website:
https://www.malenymusicfestival.com
