1 Jul 2025
First Wave of Artists Revealed for the Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival
After more than five decades, Australia’s largest and longest running music festival continues to gain momentum and next year’s event is already shaping up to be just as big and exciting.
The Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival will return in 2026, celebrating its 54th year. Locked in for 16 – 25 January, the Tamworth Region will come alive once again for 10
fun-filled days with non-stop entertainment.
Building on its long legacy, this festival will highlight Tamworth as the ‘Home of Country Music’, a place where Australian artists have been discovered, nurtured and celebrated for
more than 54 years.
Festival Executive Producer, Peter Ross says excitement is already building for the 54th Festival after a stellar 2025 event which attracted hundreds of thousands of people to the
streets of Tamworth.
“We’re excited to be hosting the Tamworth Country Music Festival for another year, with a range of fan-favourites and new events already in the line-up.
“Tamworth is a place for everyone, with free and ticketed shows, along with talent competitions for children all the way through to emerging and established artists.
“Whether it’s the buskers on the Boulevarde of Dreams through to celebrating excellence in recording at the Golden Guitar Awards, Tamworth delivers at all levels!” Peter said.
Coming off the back of winning five trophies at the 2025 Golden Guitar Awards, Troy Cassar-Daley will return to Tamworth’s largest indoor venue, the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC) on Thursday 22 January at 4pm, followed by Lee Kernaghan OAM at 8:15pm. John Williamson OAM will also return to TRECC on Friday 23 January, delighting long-time fans.
Orchestral Country is back by popular demand and will be showcased for a special onenight-only performance at TRECC. The show, which was first staged in 2024, features some of Australia’s most loved country artists and their songs, performed with a 38-piece orchestra, led by Australian conductor George Ellis. Artists for this special encore concert
include Troy Cassar-Daley, Travis Collins, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Amber Lawrence, Luke O’Shea, Lyn Bowtell, Catherine Britt, Darren Coggan, Tania Kernaghan & Jason Owen.
For the first time, RocKwiz, the Australian television live music trivia quiz show, usually focused on rock music, is going country! RocKwiz Salutes Country will be staged live on
Tuesday 20 January at 7:30pm at TRECC hosted by Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis. Entertainment Venues Manager Roz Pappalardo says the 2026 Festival program honours Tamworth’s incredible country music legacy while embracing a few new directions.
“We’re especially excited to welcome the RocKwiz team to town as they put their signature twist on a salute to country and we’re thrilled to bring back the wildly popular Orchestral
Country, featuring many of your favourite artists in a stunning symphonic setting.” Roz says.
Tamworth’s Town Hall, one of the most versatile venues in the region, boasts a stellar program including a range of much-loved tribute shows. Taking on the venue are many multi-Golden Guitar winners, including Amber Lawrence, Ashleigh Dallas, Fanny Lumsden, Lyn Bowtell, Travis Collins, and Zac & George with more to be announced in coming weeks.
Amber Joy Poulton’s tribute show, Coal Miner’s Daughter, is returning, The Honey Sliders pay homage to Neil Young’s classic album, “Harvest”, while QLD boho-country rock trio
Vixens of Fall promise to bring electric vibes.
The venue will also stage epic country tribute shows like ELVIS The Golden Years, Ultimate Country Rock and Roll, as well as the annual Music for McGrath fundraiser, the Tamworth Country Music Charity Ball, CCMA National Jamboree and The Peoples’ Choice Awards.
The Capitol Theatre, Tamworth’s premier live entertainment venue, has a number of exciting new, and returning performances. Brian Letton, Catherine Britt, Duncan Toombs, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Hussy Hicks, Melinda Schneider, Shane Nicholson and Wicker Suite are all bringing their hits to the stage across the 10-day program.
After a hugely successful tribute to Cat Stevens, Darren Coggan returns, this time with “Fire & Rain The James Taylor Songbook”; Victoria McGee will present two popular shows, The Great American Country Songbook and Rockin’ The Ryman; local Tamworth favourites 2340 Big Band are back with their favourite country hits; Liam Kennedy-Clark and Melody Moko will present The Songs & Heartbreak of Tammy Wynette & George Jones, Amber Joy Poulton brings back her Man! I Feel Like A Woman show; New Zealand’s Jenny
Mitchell will deliver a unique concert with Dingo, along with some special guests; Graham Toole presents a tribute to Kenny Rogers and Friends and Australia’s best fiddle players will be showcased at The Golden Fiddle Awards.
Housed inside the Tamworth Community Event Centre, The Bluebird Room returns with a curated line-up of artists, while The Listening Room is a new edition to the festival. Inspired by the iconic listening rooms of Nashville, these venues are dedicated to showcasing a lineup of Australia’s finest emerging and established country artists in intimate, up-close settings. Music lovers can expect raw, acoustic performances and storytelling at its most personal and a chance to discover the next wave of country stars and hear their favourites like never before.
Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer, Vin Naidoo praised the line-up for the 2026 Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival, which will mark Toyota’s 34th year as the event’s major sponsor.
"The 2026 festival promises an unforgettable celebration of country music, with an incredible line-up spanning legendary performers and rising stars. Toyota is proud to
continue supporting this iconic event and look forward to another outstanding January in Tamworth," Mr Naidoo said.
Tamworth’s The Pub Group delivered multiple sell-out shows in 2025 and is planning on bringing the excitement back in 2026. Entertainment Manager Sarah Caskey says “2025 was something truly special — the crowds, the music, the atmosphere — it all came together in a way we’ll never forget. That’s the heart of this festival.
“For 2026, we’re going even bigger with an incredible line-up of shows across all venues and one-of-a-kind experiences that celebrate everything people love about country music. We love seeing fans come back year after year — dancing, singing, and creating moments they’ll never forget. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for what’s shaping up to be our biggest and best year yet.”
Tamworth Country Music Festival Ambassador and 2025 Golden Guitar Awards Female Artist of the Year, Max Jackson, will return to The Longyard, with a bigger show. Also returning to The Longyard, following their own Golden Guitar success, is Tassie duo The Wolfe Brothers. Other stand-out acts hitting the Longyard stage include Ian Moss, The
Bushwackers, The Pigs, and new to the festival is Australian rock band, The Hype Boys, while The Flood will appear at The Pub.
Returning to Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar is 2024 Australian Idol Dylan Wright, as well as Jake Davey, Missy Lancaster, The Pigs Family Show and 2017 Toyota Star Maker, Rachael
Fahim. Alt-country artist, the 45th Toyota Star Maker Felicity Kircher, together with her band and special guests, will launch her Star Maker EP. While the CMAA Senior Academy
will come together for a final graduation concert on Thursday 15 January, just in time for the festival to kick off.
Wests Entertainment Group is looking forward to staging top class acts once again with the first wave of artists confirmed for West Tamworth League Club and Wests’ Diggers.
You’ll find Adam Harvey on stage in the Blazes Showroom at Wests for two shows on Saturday 17 January and Friday 23 January, as well as Beccy Cole. Keith Urban fans can be
entertained at the Keith Urban, Tina Turner & Bryan Adams Tribute Show and fans won’t want to miss the show Words And Music with James Blundell and Patsy & Dave.
Multi–Golden Guitar award winners, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley will perform at Blazes Showroom, with risqué Jenny Talia, first-time dad and spirited artist Andrew Swift,
everyone’s favourite Irish band Murphy’s Pigs, The Sunny Cowgirls, McAlister Kemp, Anne Kirkpatrick, and The Travelling Country Band.
Well-known festival events Country Turns Pink and the Maton Guitar Showcase return. There’s something for kids too, with award winning children’s act The Dino Maniacs – Family
Dinosaur Show ready to roar.
Wests’ Chief Communications Officer Paddy Donnelly says; “The Wests Entertainment Group boasts a rich history as one of the most sought-after venues during the annual
Tamworth Country Music Festival. We have hosted Australian music legends including Keith Urban, Jessica Mauboy, Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly, The Waifs and John Butler among others.
“The 2026 Tamworth Country Music Festival promises to uphold this tradition featuring topclass performances such as Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, McAlister Kemp along with the Maton Guitars 80th Anniversary Showcase & Country Turns Pink in aid of Cancer Council to name just a few.”
Local country rock artist Jayne Denham will perform at Tamworth’s unique underground whiskey and cocktail lounge, The Press Basement Bar, which will also play host to Kelly
Brouhaha, The Buckleys, Saralyn, 2012 Toyota Star Maker Bob Corbett, together with his Roo Grass Band and A Mob of Golden Guitar Greats featuring Gina Jeffreys, Rod
McCormack, Greg Champion, Paul Wookey and Khristian Mizzi.
Busking favourites and country-folk duo Sunday Lemonade will play at both The Press, and Tamworth Services Club.
Jarred Taylor is bringing back The Australian Luke Combs Experience to Joe Maguires Pub.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a country music festival without action packed entertainment and competitions at Tamworth’s world-class Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
(AELEC). Australia’s number one National Finals Rodeo will be held in the AELEC Arena from 22-24 January, expecting to attract more than 3,000 competitors and 10,000 spectators. More details on these events will emerge in coming months.
The first line up of ticketed shows and the Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards will go on sale on 7 July 2025, with hundreds more free and ticketed shows and venue line-ups to be
announced in the coming months. To book and find out more head to tcmf.com.au/whatson.
Tamworth Country Music Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Stay up-to-date on the Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival at tcmf.com.au
About Tamworth Country Music Festival
The Tamworth Country Music Festival will celebrate 54 years in 2026. It is recognised as the largest and longest live country music event in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere and sees over 300,000 people converge on Tamworth in North West NSW.
Held over ten days in January, the Festival boasts hundreds of artists and thousands of shows, including the iconic Country Music Awards of Australia, commonly known as the
Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, which are the only industry affiliated country music awards in Australia and the biggest celebration of Australian country music talent.
The Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival will be held from Friday 16 to Sunday 25 January 2026, and the Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards will be held on Saturday, 24
January 2026.