If The Beach Boys were allowed to invent “Kokomo”, YELO is officially claiming the stretch between the Sunshine Coast and Byron Bay as the ‘Bermuda Bahama Banana Republic Triangle‘.

It is not a recognised region, but it does contain an unreasonable number of festivals.

From the Sunshine Coast to Byron Bay, the second half of 2026 still has plenty of festivals worth crossing highways, borders and questionable service stations for.

Here are some of the biggest and most interesting events still to come across the triangle this year.

But enter carefully. People have been known to disappear for entire weekends.

Mates on Tap, Byron Bay

July 11, 2026 — Arts Factory

A new all-ages rock, punk and alternative festival will take over the Arts Factory in Byron Bay on July 11.

Radium Dolls will headline a 10-act lineup featuring Mac the Knife, Marshall & The Fro, Boof Heads, Ponzi Scheme, Flukes of Sendington, DVD, Valley Green, Wizz and Johnny & The C-Sections.

Created by a collective of young music organisers and community-focused promoters, Mates on Tap will also feature visual art, markets and other creative experiences.

One dollar from every ticket will support Women Up North, which assists women, children and young people affected by domestic, family and sexual violence.

Noosa Jazz Festival, Noosa

August 28–September 6, 2026 — Noosa

The Noosa Jazz Festival will return to the Sunshine Coast from August 28 to September 6.

The program spreads across theatres, restaurants, river cruises and other venues, bringing jazz into some of Noosa’s best-known coastal spaces.

Its centrepiece is the Noosa Jazz Party at The J, with further performances staged around the region throughout the festival.

BIGSOUND, Brisbane

September 1–4, 2026 — Fortitude Valley

BIGSOUND will bring musicians, industry figures, media and music lovers back to Fortitude Valley for four days and three nights in September.

The annual showcase and conference turns 25 this year, with emerging artists performing across venues throughout the Valley alongside panels, conversations and industry events.

It is the section of the triangle where everyone wears a lanyard and insists they are definitely going to the next showcase.

Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast

October 16–18, 2026 — Broadbeach

Broadbeach will again become a country-music precinct when Groundwater returns to the Gold Coast from October 16 to 18.

The free festival traditionally places artists across outdoor stages, bars and venues throughout the Broadbeach centre, allowing people to move between performances over three days.

It remains one of the biggest country events in the Bermuda Bahama Banana Republic Triangle and, importantly, does not require a camping chair to be carried through a muddy paddock.

Strummingbird, Sunshine Coast

October 18, 2026 — Bokarina

Modern country festival Strummingbird will return to the Sunshine Coast on October 18.

The 2026 lineup is headed by international stars Post Malone and Bailey Zimmerman, bringing one of the largest touring festival bills of the year to the region.

Strummingbird combines contemporary country, crossover pop and Australian artists in a large outdoor festival setting.

Rolling Sets, Tweed

November 28, 2026 — Ebenezer Park, Duranbah Beach

Rolling Sets will return to the Tweed on November 28, bringing a large Australian lineup to Ebenezer Park at Duranbah Beach.

The bill includes Ocean Alley, Royel Otis, G Flip, Violent Soho, The Rions, Old Mervs, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, The Belair Lip Bombs, Radium Dolls and more.

A separate electronic stage will feature Bushbaby, Fritter & Wongo, Anika, Elijah Something, Ryan Maloney and DJ Macaroni.

It is a strong finish to the year for the southern end of the triangle, with indie rock, punk, hip-hop and electronic music packed into one coastal festival.

Ministry of Sound Summer Dance Festival, Gold Coast

December 4, 2026 — HOTA

Ministry of Sound will return to HOTA for its biggest Gold Coast show yet, expanding through the surrounding parklands and lake precinct.

The 18-plus festival will be headlined by CLASSICAL, performed live by the Ministry of Sound Orchestra, with Roger Sanchez, Seb Fontaine, Braxe + Falcon, Utah Saints, K-Klass, DJ Paulette, John Course, Minx and Tenzin also on the bill.

Three stages, a silent disco and an open-air dancefloor will carry the triangle into its final month with significantly more glitter.

Good Things, Brisbane

December 6, 2026 — Brisbane

Good Things Festival has confirmed it will return to Brisbane on December 6 as part of its seventh national edition.

The alternative music festival will travel through Melbourne and Sydney before arriving in Brisbane, although its international headliners and full 2026 lineup remain under wraps.

Expect the heavier end of the Bermuda Bahama Banana Republic Triangle to become considerably louder when the bill lands.

Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford

December 27, 2026–January 1, 2027 — Woodfordia

Woodford Folk Festival will close the year with six days and nights of music, performance, talks, workshops and ceremony on Jinibara Country.

More than 1,800 local, national and international artists, musicians and presenters take part in the annual gathering, which begins with its opening ceremony and finishes on New Year’s Day.

By this point, anyone still inside the Bermuda Bahama Banana Republic Triangle should probably accept that they live there now.

Until then, the triangle remains active, unstable and full of portable toilets.