The Tamworth Country Music Festival is the largest country music festival held in Australia and usually takes place in January each year.
Since 1973, the Tamworth Country Music Festival typically runs over two weeks. It celebrates everything in country, including live music, gala dinners, and award shows.
Tamworth Country Music Festival 2026, Dates, Artist Lineup & Tickets
The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an experience like no other! It is not gated, so you do not need to purchase a ticket.
From free shows every night in the park to buskers, stalls, kids activities and street performers, there is something for everyone! Choose from thousands of free and ticketed shows over the ten days in the pubs, clubs and hotels around Tamworth. The whole of Tamworth is in full festival swing!
Australia’s largest celebration of country music and longest-running Festival will return to the country music capital in January 2026, with a huge line-up of artists and ticketed shows announced for the Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival will kick off on 16 January 2026 with the Opening Concert in Toyota Park, the Festival’s largest venue. Ten epic nights of free entertainment will include Americana In the Park, Toyota Best of the Buskers, and the Toyota Star Maker Top 10 Grand Final. At the same time, Toyota FanZone will see hundreds of artists perform for free in the main Festival precinct.
The Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre (TRECC) features the ‘star of the show’, the Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards, which celebrate the recording excellence of Australasian country music over the last 12 months.
The Tamworth Town Hall, known as the spiritual home of country music, has a huge line-up of shows that celebrate the future and rich history of Australian and New Zealand country music.
Tamworth Country Music Festival is not just about the music. If you are after some thrilling action, then the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) will be the place to be, with rodeos set to return on both weekends of the Festival.
So many events are held during the festival that it’s impossible to feature them here. Please refer to the official website’s event schedule for a full list of artists, set times, stages, and locations.
Golden Guitar Awards
The Golden Guitars are at the heart of it all – at the heart of the journey for both artists and fans alike.
The night is the pinnacle awards event for country music, celebrating recording excellence and showcasing the cream of Australian country music artists and the songs that have left their mark on the fans throughout the past 12 months.
This event is much more than the presentation of the coveted Golden Guitars—it’s a fast-paced concert that’s a night of nonstop entertainment and special magic moments you won’t see anywhere else.
Busking
The Toyota Country Music Busking Championships is one of the most anticipated aspects of the Festival each year – up to 400 buskers performing on Tamworth’s “Boulevard of Dreams” in Peel Street.
Some of the buskers are here in the hope that they’ll be spotted for their talent and follow in the footsteps of some of the country’s biggest stars. Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, and Keith Urban all started by busking on Peel Street.
Some buskers, however, are just here to experience all the fun and excitement of the Festival. Whatever your reason for busking, get ready to register for one of the biggest busking events in the world!
Busking is totally free! Registration is required for identification and insurance purposes.
Each year, ten buskers are chosen by judges and invited to perform at the Toyota Busking Championships in Toyota Park on the last weekend of the festival. Buskers compete for a cash prize and the coveted People’s Choice. The People’s Choice Prize is voted by audience members digitally.
Country Music Parade
The 2025 Tamworth Country Music Parade made its grand return in a brand-new format, offering fans a unique opportunity to rub shoulders with their favourite country music stars in person.
The parade will replicate the ever-popular cavalcade event, celebrating the very best of Australian country music. Festival attendees will witness the excitement of a traditional street parade, where they can catch glimpses of their beloved stars up close and personal.
Get ready for an unforgettable day of music, excitement, and camaraderie. The 2026 Tamworth Country Music Parade is your chance to be a part of country music history. Bring your passion for music, creativity, and enthusiasm, and join us as we celebrate the heart and soul of Australian country music. We can’t wait to see you there!
Toyota FanZone
The Toyota FanZone experience is a FREE and jam-packed event across the festival’s ten days.
Toyota FanZone offers festival goers the opportunity to get up close and personal with their favourite country music artists. Throughout the festival, some artists will sign and sell merchandise at FanZone.
During the ten days at FanZone, visitors can enjoy live performances from 150+ artists and musicians! FanZone is a place to discover some of the biggest names in country music playing alongside some of the finest emerging talent.
Located in the heart of the Festival on the corner of Peel and Fitzroy Streets and playing music from approx. 9am daily.
Toyota Park
Tamworth’s picturesque Bicentennial Park is transformed into Toyota Park for the Toyota Country Music Festival, which offers 10 nights of FREE entertainment from 7pm.
Artists perform on the outdoor stage, where you can sit back with your camp chair, picnic rug or on the grass and enjoy!
XXXX Country Club Experience is an exclusive and strictly limited opportunity to soak up live entertainment undercover with the best seat in Toyota Park.
Your entry fee gives you access to Toyota Park’s only licensed area. Numbers are strictly limited, so grab your ticket while you can.
Family Zone
The whole family can enjoy an abundance of fun at the Toyota Country Music Festival, with dedicated family zones, family concerts, and heaps of kids’ activities!
The whole family can enjoy dodgem cars, a Ferris wheel, the sound wave ride, bungees, water balls, teacups and more!
There are a range of family-friendly concerts and activities throughout the festival, great for kids of all ages.
Must do’s:
- Wander down Peel Street and experience the vibrancy of the buskers and street performers
- Don’t miss the free concerts at Toyota Park
- Stop by the Big Golden Guitar for a family ‘selfie’
- Visit the AELEC for the 2026 ABCRA National Finals Rodeo
- Spend hours at our award-winning Tamworth Regional Playground, where children of all ages will find endless enjoyment
Other Festival Activities
Helicopter flights
See the festival from the sky with a scenic helicopter flight around the Tamworth area. A brilliant way to see the sheer scale of the festival. Taking off from the Gipps Street Playing fields, it’s a view from the top!
Enaex Strong Man/Woman Competition
See competitors from near and far compete in the Strong Man / Woman competition at the Toyota Country Music Festival! It will be great to watch with a Truck Pull, a Flintstone Deadlift, Log Pressing, Loading Races, and Barrel Stones.
Platform Sessions
Each day of the festival, one of the top 10 Star Maker finalists will play at the Tamworth train station as the train rolls in in the afternoon!
Hands of Fame Induction
The Country Music Hands of Fame Cornerstone is a free experience that is accessible all year round at the corner of Kable Avenue and Brisbane Street, Tamworth. New inductees are imprinted annually on the second Saturday morning of the TCMF.
Galaxy of the Stars Ceremony
Each year, stars are recognised with star-shaped plaques set into the forecourt of the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre to celebrate their place in country music.
2026 ABCRA National Finals Rodeo
With top honours up for grabs, the nation’s best cowgirls and cowboys will throw everything on the line in a battle of speed, agility and determination across all junior and senior rodeo events, including saddle bronc, bull ride, bareback, steer wrestling, barrel race, rope and tie, breakaway roping, steer undecorating and team roping.
Getting There
Driving
Tamworth is 405km northwest of Sydney, 280km from Newcastle and 570km south of Brisbane.
Flying
Get to Tamworth quickly and easily with daily flights.
Train
Get to Tamworth by rail with daily train services from Sydney and Armidale.
Coach tours
There are quite a few coach tours from each state that will give you an exciting and enjoyable trip.
Getting around the festival
Festival express bus
Jump on the Festival Express to avoid the traffic and easily get between venues! All Festival Express buses are accessible, with low-access wheelchair-friendly entry.
Taxi
Take a taxi ride and zoom between venues with ease.
The CBD taxi rank is on Fitzroy Street outside Peel House (near the Tamworth Town Hall).
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