Dust off the boots and pack your hat, Groundwater Country Music Festival (CMF) 2026 is saddling up for another unforgettable three days of country by the coast, returning to the Gold Coast from Friday 16 – Sunday 18 October 2026.
Australia’s ultimate country music beach party is once again bringing the twang to the shoreline, transforming Broadbeach into a three-day celebration of live music, line dancing, great food and Gold Coast sunshine.
KASEY CHAMBERS | KAYLEE BELL | THE WOLFE BROTHERS
BECCY COLE | JAMES BLUNDELL | KINGSWOOD | TYLA RODRIGUES | LANE PITTMAN
HENRY WAGONS | ANDREW SWIFT | HAYLEY JENSEN | PETE DENAHY & THE SURREAL MCCOYS
JAKE PENROD | SWEET TALK | RUTH MOODY | DENVAH | AUSTIN MACKAY | STERLING DRAKE JOSH STUMPF | 2026 STARMAKER JARRAD WRIGLEY | MIDNIGHT CHICKEN | DEAR TOMMIE MICHAEL HONAN | TAUREAN THOMPSON’S OUTLAW COUNTRY SESSIONS | JOSIE | BREWN
RB BROTHERS | DJ COLONEL’S COUNTRY MUSIC COTTAGE
BLUEGRASS BREAKFAST WITH HUXLEY & FRIEL | COUNTRY CALLING SHOWCASE
BEACHSIDE LINE DANCING WITH CHRIS WATSON & MORE
Leading this year’s lineup is Australian country icon Kasey Chambers, returning to Groundwater CMF with her full band. One of the most awarded and influential artists in Australian music, Chambers has spent more than three decades shaping the country music landscape, with 13 ARIA Awards, 17 Golden Guitars, multiple chart-topping albums and a catalogue of songs that have become part of the fabric of Australian country music.
“Always happy to be playing back at one of my favourite music festivals in Australia – Groundwater! I’ll be bringing my full band and playing a bunch of my old songs in my set as well as a few new ones and favourite covers. Looking forward to seeing that street fill up with all you music lovers,” said Kasey Chambers.
Joining Kasey on this year’s lineup is New Zealand’s country powerhouse Kaylee Bell, returning to Groundwater CMF after becoming one of the biggest contemporary country success stories in Australasia. With more than 100 million catalogue streams, a viral global breakthrough with Keith, and stadium performances supporting Ed Sheeran on his Mathematics World Tour, Bell has built major international momentum while cementing her place as one of the region’s leading country-pop artists.
“So excited to be playing Groundwater again! Queensland is our favourite place to play, and we can’t wait to see all our Gold Coast fans again,” said Kaylee Bell.
Australian country standouts The Wolfe Brothers, Lane Pittman, Hayley Jensen, Tyla Rodrigues, Beccy Cole and James Blundell will also feature across the festival weekend, bringing a mix of established hits and crowd favourites to the Broadbeach precinct.
Among the international acts in the line-up is acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth Moody, who will be making her Groundwater CMF debut. A two-time JUNO Award winner and founding member of The Wailin’ Jennys, Moody is celebrated worldwide for her songwriting and contemporary folk sound. She is joined by fellow Canadian Josh Stumpf and country and honky-tonk musician Jake Penrod, bringing even more global flavour to the beachside lineup.
Making their Groundwater CMF debuts are singer-songwriter Austin Mackay, ARIA chart-topping country-rock outfit Kingswood, country blues artist Dear Tommie, and 2026 Toyota Star Maker winner Jarrad Wrigley. They’re joined by Henry Wagons, Midnight Chicken and Pete Denahy, bringing everything from alt-country and bluegrass to bush storytelling across the three-day festival.
Festival Director Mark Duckworth said this year’s lineup showcases the incredible breadth of country music, from household names and international artists to exciting emerging talent.
“We continue to be inspired by the rise of country music in Australia and to be able to present Groundwater Country Music Festival in such a uniquely Gold Coast setting is such a highlight,” said Mark Duckworth.
“The line up brings together everything from current pop country and Americana to bluegrass, folk, and traditional honky tonk and even a little Outlaw.”
Free and family-friendly, Groundwater CMF delivers a festival experience unlike any other, where country fans can move from beachside bars and open-air stages to headline performances under the stars, all just steps from the sand.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell MP said the three-day festival would showcase the highest calibre of country music talent while delivering strong economic outcomes for the Gold Coast.
“The Groundwater Country Music Festival is set to generate more than 63,500 attendances across the multi-day event, injecting close to $17 million into businesses, venues and operators across Broadbeach, the wider Gold Coast and Queensland,” Minister Powell said.
“This is exactly the kind of event that drives jobs and backs local industry.
“The Crisafulli Government is backing events like this to bring more visitors in, support local jobs and cement Queensland as Australia’s events capital.”
Gold Coast Acting Mayor Cr Mark Hammel said “Thirteen years ago, the Gold Coast dared to be different launching the first Groundwater festival for our city.”
“Bringing country music to the beach was ambitious but it has paid big dividends and Groundwater is now one of Australia’s premier country music festivals.
“Our city has always promoted a ‘yes’ mentality. Yes to great events, yes to having-a-crack and yes to securing the best country stars for a three-day spectacular, set against the iconic Broadbeach foreshore and skyline.
“I’ve dusted off the Akubra and will be there for Groundwater 2026. Make that a yes from me’’.
Now in its 13th year, Groundwater CMF 2026 promises another three unforgettable days of live music, community and country culture, where boots meet the beach and country comes to the coast.
Groundwater CMF remains a community-focused festival that brings people together through a shared love of live music and unforgettable experiences. From bluegrass breakfasts and beachside line dancing to sunset sessions and after-dark celebrations, the festival continues to offer something for every kind of country music fan, drawing thousands of visitors from across Australia and beyond each year.
Groundwater Country Music Festival is produced by Experience Gold Coast and supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.
GROUNDWATER COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
16-18 October 2026 | Broadbeach, Gold Coast
