St Kilda Festival returns in 2026 to help you celebrate summer!
Cub Sport at St Kilda Festival 2025. Photo by Will Hamilton-Coates.
St Kilda Festival will return Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February in 2026 for another huge weekend of summer celebrations featuring some of Australia’s biggest music acts, plus family entertainment, market stalls, and much more.
Proudly presented by the City of Port Phillip, the iconic Festival is Australia’s largest and longest-running free music festival, known for hosting more than 70 bands and artists each year in a celebration of live music and the diverse Port Phillip community.
St Kilda Festival also brings significant economic benefits to St Kilda and Victoria annually. The 2025 festival had a positive economic impact in excess of $40 million and brought approximately 350,000 attendees to St Kilda and Victoria.
Day One (Saturday 14 February) is First Peoples First, a showcase of Australia’s best established and emerging First Nations artists, and community events, across two stages at South Beach Reserve and O’Donnell Gardens.
Day Two (Sunday 15 February) is Big Festival Sunday, a large-scale, multi-stage event showcasing Australia’s biggest artists and bands that stretches across the St Kilda Foreshore. The festivities include food and market stalls, community activities, carnival rides and much more.
The Festival’s popular New Music Competition also returns in 2026, giving another selection of emerging bands and artists from across Australia the chance to perform on the New Music Stage. The winning act, as voted by the Festival audience, will take home a cash prize and a slot on one of our key stages at the 2027 St Kilda Festival. Entries for the New Music Competition will open mid-August.
“St Kilda is known and loved for its live music so we’re always excited to present this free summer celebration which has something for everyone to enjoy,” Port Phillip Council Mayor Louise Crawford said.
“The full 2026 program will be announced in January and keep an eye out on the St Kilda Festival website for updates.”
St Kilda Festival aligns with Council’s commitment to champion live music and its declaration of St Kilda as Victoria’s first Live Music Precinct.
Expression of Interest submissions for local traders, including market stalls, food stalls and food trucks will open in September. This includes community groups looking to participate in the 2026 Festival program.
Further details, including the full program, will be announced closer to the Festival.