Festival Calendar 2024: The Best Queensland Music Festivals

Festivals are well and truly back and we couldn’t be more ready to be out and about in the sunshine, under the stars, amongst people and most importantly… amongst the music! With entertainment and the arts returning to normal, we’re beginning to plan out our festival calendar, so we thought we’d share the best events on track for throughout 2024. From the major players like Splendour In The Grass and CMC Rocks to the lesser known (or brand new!) festivals, we’ve found a mix of the best music festivals on the radar.

From the outback to the shores of Byron Bay, these music festivals are spread across the region and range from country to soul and hip-hop. There’s something on offer for every kind of music lover. So keep on scrolling and start getting your playlist ready for the road trip, it’s time to plan out your events calendar for the next few months!

CMC Rocks

Howdy ma’am, it’s time to pull on your boots and jeans and get ready for Australia’s biggest country music festival. The country music scene is a touch underserved when it comes to live music, so CMC is the best Queensland music festival to see multiple major country acts all in one location. In its 17th year of rocking the lives of country music fans across the nation, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest international country music festival found its home at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway near Ipswich. CMC Rocks brings some of the best in the business, with the likes of Chris Young, Lainey Wilson, Tyler Hubbard, Chase Rice, Oliver Anthony and many more taking to the stage.

Prepare to dance the nights away from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 March 2024 when CMC Rocks QLD returns to Ipswich for one showstopping weekend.

Friday 15th March to Sunday 17th March 2024

Willowbank Raceway, 38 Champions Way, Willowbank

OUT 2 LUNCH FESTIVAL

A brand new festival is coming to Coolangatta Beach this May, brought to you by world-renowned local DJ FISHER and TEG Live. Dance your cares away to energetic live performances by Flight Facilities, Little Fritter and Shimmy on the beachfront of Coolangatta, for Euro summer vibes like no other. Plus, $1 from each ticket sold will be donated to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

From $153.80 per person

Saturday 4th May 2024

Coolangatta Beachfront, Coolangatta

Open Season

After a successful first year of events, Open Season has cemented itself as part of The Tivoli’s annual programming, and we’re giddy with glee about it. This festival is spread across the two venues and spans over thirty performances from local and international acts. If 2023 is anything to go off, expect sold-out performances from major bands like Lastlings and King Stingray as well as special edition performances from Ngaiire with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Combined with the old-world glamour of two of Brisbane’s most iconic venues, this premier arts festival will be one to add to your calendar year after year. Stay tuned, the lineup will be announced soon!

Dates TBC 

The Princess Theatre, 8 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba

The Tivoli, 52 Costin Street, Fortitude Valley

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

Toowoomba’s most exciting event of the year happens each September, and if you haven’t yet attended, you’ve certainly heard of it. The Carnival of Flowers showcases incredible floral displays, garden tours, live music and of course the grand parade. Whether you’re a green thumb or simply an admirer of beautiful things, it’s the best time of year to visit Toowoomba and soak up the food, florals and culture that come to life.

If you’re searching for things to do in Toowoomba, you’ll find the widest variety of events occurring throughout October, from food and wine festivals, live music from your favourite bands and arts and crafts workshops so you can make a little bit of magic to remember your trip by. The program changes each year and accommodation books out months in advance, so make sure you’ve planned and prepared accordingly!

Friday 13th September - Monday 7th October, 2024

Various locations across Toowoomba

Swell Sculpture Festival

Queensland’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition returns again this year to Currumbin with SWELL, an immersive outdoor gallery spread along the coastline. Along with sculptures from local, national and international artists, Gold Coast locals and visitors can enjoy cultural and venue programming, from comedy, to live music and so much more.

Friday 6th September to Sunday 15th September 2024

Pacific Parade, Currumbin, Gold Coast Area

Listen Out Festival

Need to shake some stress out of your system? The dance festival of the year is the perfect place to let off some steam and dance like none of the thousands of other festival-goers are watching. Set at the iconic Brisbane Showgrounds, there’ll be plenty of room to stretch your legs or rest your worn-out party feet on the grandstands at this Queensland music festival. Stay tuned, the lineup for Listen Out will be announced soon!

Dates TBC

Brisbane Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills

Promiseland

A cutting-edge, multi-genre festival experience returns to the Gold Coast in 2024, blending the intersecting rhythms of Afrobeats, Reggae and R&B. Promiseland promises an effervescent new experience by delivering a cultural melting pot of global music, culture and energy. This Queensland music festival offers more than tunes, with unique brand activations, market-style shopping plus some surprises along the way! The 2022 debut of Promiseland was a breakthrough event for the African and Polynesian people in our communities, celebrating and sharing their culture with this landmark new event. Stay tuned, the lineup will be announced soon!

Dates TBC

Doug Jennings Park, Main Beach

Savannah In The Round

Don your Akubra and boot scoot your way down to the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds for Savannah In The Round, a three-day festival with over thirty artists on the bill! Located in the Atherton Tablelands of Tropical North Queensland, you can easily combine your trip up north for this music festival with a vacay to Cairns or Port Douglas.

Featuring heavy-hitting major acts like The Living End, Hoodoo Gurus and Troy Cassar-Daly this year, lovers of country, blues and roots will be in their element in this beautiful pocket of Tropical North Queensland. Opt to glamp, camp, snuggle in a swag or stay a little further afield with shuttle buses running daily.

Friday 11th October to Sunday 13th October 2024

State Route 27, Mareeba

With such a full calendar of diverse Queensland music festivals, we couldn’t be more thrilled to see the music and entertainment industry revived and thriving. Prep your skin for the festival season with these new beauty products that we’re currently loving! If festival season sets off your wanderlust, check out these dreamy day trips from Brisbane that will scratch your travel itch. See you under the stars!