Meredith Music Festival 2026: Dates, Lineup, Tickets & Guide

After a three-year gap, the 34th Meredith Music Festival returns to the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre in December 2026. The event has built a cult following among festival veterans for its remote rural setting, curated lineups, and intimate atmosphere—a reputation reinforced by past headliners like TV On The Radio and Jamie xx.

Dates: December 11-13, 2026 ·
Edition: 34th ·
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights ·
Camping: Included in ticket ·
Location: Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre

Where is the Meredith Music Festival?

The Meredith Music Festival takes place at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre—a purpose-built outdoor venue tucked into the rural farmland outside the small town of Meredith in Victoria, Australia. The location is roughly an hour and a half west of Melbourne, making it a feasible drive for anyone based in Victoria’s capital or willing to make the journey from neighbouring states.

Directions to Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre

• By car: Approximately 130km west of Melbourne CBD via the Western Highway
• Nearest town: Meredith, Victoria
• Full address: 1233 Meredith Mt Mercer Rd, Meredith, Australia (Tixel venue listing)

The amphitheatre’s rural setting is central to the festival’s identity. The lack of nearby hotels or urban infrastructure means camping is effectively the only option for most attendees, which contributes to the intimate, community-oriented atmosphere the event is known for.

The pattern: the remote location deliberately limits accessibility, filtering attendees to those committed enough to make the journey and camp for the weekend.

What type of music is Meredith festival?

The Meredith Music Festival has built its reputation on curating lineups heavy on indie, alternative, rock, and electronic acts—often drawing artists who don’t regularly tour regional Australia. The programming tends toward the eclectic: headliners typically include internationally recognised acts alongside Australian and New Zealand artists who’ve earned their spots through critical acclaim rather than mainstream radio play.

Genres and past performers

Looking at the venue’s recent history offers a sense of the calibre the festival aims for. According to secondary market listings and event records, notable acts who have performed at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre in recent editions include:

• TV On The Radio (2025)
• Jamie xx (2024)
• The Streets (2024)
• Kraftwerk (2023)
• Róisín Murphy (2019)
• Nicolas Jaar (2017)
• Peaches (2016)

The pattern suggests the festival attracts artists who operate in the experimental, electronic, and indie rock spaces rather than pure pop or mainstream commercial acts.

The implication: if you prioritise mainstream pop headliners or predictable setlists, Meredith’s programming may not match your expectations.

What’s the difference between Meredith and Golden Plains?

The Meredith Music Festival and its sister event, Golden Plains, share the same venue and the same team of organisers, but they are distinct events with different identities. Understanding the differences matters if you’re trying to decide which one—or both—to attend.

Timing, location, vibe differences

A side-by-side comparison reveals the practical differences that affect your planning:

The catch: attending both means budgeting for two separate camping trips to the same location in the same year, since the events bookend opposite seasons.

The implication: if you’re planning to attend both, you’ll want to budget for two separate trips to Meredith. The gap between the 2022 edition and the upcoming 2026 Meredith Music Festival means there’s likely significant pent-up demand.

What time does Meredith Music Festival finish?

The festival runs from 8am Friday morning through to 4:30pm on Sunday afternoon—a schedule that reflects the event’s three-day, two-night format. This gives attendees roughly 56 hours of programming, including overnight sets that can stretch well into the early morning hours on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Dates and Times for 2026

• Friday, December 11, 2026: Gates open 8am
• Saturday, December 12, 2026: Full day of programming
• Sunday, December 13, 2026: Programming until 4:30pm

Playing times for individual acts are typically released closer to the event date, according to regional coverage from Forte Magazine. The festival is known for scheduling some acts in unusual time slots—late night, early morning, or in unconventional locations within the amphitheatre grounds.

What this means: the 4:30pm Sunday finish means most attendees will be travelling back to Melbourne or beyond on Sunday evening. Factor this into your transport planning, particularly if you’re relying on public transport or shuttle services.

Is Meredith a good festival?

For those who value an intimate, curated festival experience over stadium-scale production, Meredith consistently ranks among Australia’s most respected boutique events. The combination of a remote amphitheatre, camping-only accommodation, and selective programming creates conditions that festival veterans often describe as unique.

Capacity, reviews, attendee experiences

The venue’s capacity is not publicly confirmed in official festival communications, but festival directories and attendee reports suggest numbers well below the threshold for major Australian festivals like Splendour in the Grass or Falls Festival. This limited capacity is a deliberate feature rather than a constraint—smaller crowds contribute to the event’s reputation for intimate sets and a relatively relaxed atmosphere.

The bottom line for your decision: Meredith rewards attendees who prioritise artistic curation and intimate crowds over mainstream headliners—but the uncertainty around pricing and lineup for 2026 makes early planning a calculated risk.

Attending Both Meredith and Golden Plains

Some festival enthusiasts make it a tradition to attend both Meredith and Golden Plains in the same year, since the events bookend the calendar with opposite-season dates. The shared venue means familiarity with the amphitheatre’s layout and camping areas pays off on the second visit.

Both events are run by the same organising team, and the programming philosophies reportedly overlap—fans of one event typically find the other worth attending. The key difference remains timing: December’s heat versus March’s cooler conditions, which can significantly affect the on-site experience.

The 34th Meredith happens December 11, 12 & 13, 2026. If you’re not already, become a SUBSCRIBER.

— Meredith Music Festival (Official Site)

Meredith Music Festival runs from December 11-13 at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre.

— Forte Magazine (Regional Arts Publication)

Related reading: Grand Prix Melbourne 2026

Meredith’s renowned camping experience mirrors the vibe at Lost Paradise 2025 in New South Wales, perfect for NYE celebrations.

Frequently asked questions