After months of planning and excitement, the Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival is here!
Visitors from all over Australia and beyond have arrived in Tamworth, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to walk down Peel Street across the 10 days.
The non-gated festival is an annual celebration, bringing together country music artists and fans from all over the world. This unique community and stakeholder event principally coordinated by Tamworth Regional Council, is expected to inject more than $100,000,000 into the regional economy.
The 2025 festival has an impressive line-up of more than 700 artists, featuring some of Australia’s most celebrated names in country music including; Lee Kernaghan OAM, John Williamson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Colin Buchanan, James Johnston, Amber Lawrence, Aleyce Simmonds, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, Fanny Lumsden, Shane Nicholson, Tania Kernaghan & Jason Owen, Travis Collins, Kasey Chambers, Ashleigh Dallas, Max Jackson and Andrew Swift, just to name a few.
More than 400 buskers have also registered to be a part of the largest and longest running country music festival in the southern hemisphere.
Hundreds of camp spots have been booked at Design RV Riverside Campgrounds and accommodation is booking out right across the region while plenty of people will be utilising Airbnb and homestays.
The festival officially launched on 16 January, during the Opening Concert at Toyota Park. The lineup featured a range of 2025 Golden Guitar winners including Zac & George, Ashleigh Dallas, Brendan Radford & Lindsay Waddington, Kristy Cox, Luke O’Shea, plus the 45th Toyota Star Maker Felicity Kircher, 2025 Best of the Buskers Champions, Charley Castle and The Boys in the Well and Golden Gig senior winner Ava Bizzanelli.
Barry Harley OAM entered the 10-day celebration for the final time as Festival Manager, but says “it’s business as usual.”
“There is already a wonderful vibe in the CBD and it will only get busier as the Festival progresses," he said.
“It’s exciting to see many returning artists and we look forward to welcoming many new performers and fans for the first time as well.
"Tamworth is a truly special place, that offers opportunities to artists of all ages and at all stages of their career. Many artists started their careers busking at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, then went on to do talent quests and are now winning Golden Guitar Awards.”
Every year, the Festival brings together a mix of artists of all ages and sub-genres of country music. 2026 is no different with a stacked line up of both free and ticketed events every single day.
The 2026 Toyota Star Maker Grand Final took place in Toyota Park on Sunday night, while Australia’s youngest stars will compete in the Golden Gig, sponsored by Macca’s from 19 January, with the Grand Final to take place on 23 January.
Festival Ambassador Max Jackson said: “I’m so happy to be back for my third year as Ambassador for the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the event I have known and loved for as long as I can remember.
“It’s the place where so many of my dreams have been realised and come true.
“My show will be held at the Longyard on 22 January and I am so excited to be holding a busking competition for one busker to open my show.”
On 22 January, Festival favourite Lee Kernaghan will perform at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) and Australia’s favourite children’s group The Wiggles will also perform at TRECC on 25 January. Meanwhile, Orchestral Country is back by popular demand, presenting one show only at TRECC on 21 January.
Away from the music, AELEC will host the 2026 Xtreme Bulls & Xtreme Broncs Australia, Tom Curtain’s Katherine Outback Experience and the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo.
The festival will round out with the 2026 Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards on 24 January and The 2026 Toyota Best of the Buskers on 25 January.
Festival-goers are urged to keep hydrated and stay safe throughout the festival and most of all, have lots of fun!
Tamworth Country Music Festival is proudly supported by Destination NSW.
