The Sunshine Coast festival calendar stretches beyond the coastline, combining major local events with long-running regional favourites across the hinterland and nearby districts.

Read more in the Sunshine Coast live music guide.

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Major & Nearby Sunshine Coast Festivals

These major events help define the wider festival year for Sunshine Coast audiences.

Horizon Festival — May 1–10

Horizon Festival is the Sunshine Coast’s flagship multi-arts event, bringing live music, performance, visual art and contemporary culture to venues and public spaces across the region. The program combines local voices with national acts, giving the Sunshine Coast a broader festival identity beyond a single music-only weekend.

Website → Horizon Festival

NOOSA alive! — July 17–26

NOOSA alive! is a multi-arts festival held across Noosa, bringing together music, theatre, thought and live performance across 10 days. While broader than a straight music festival, its long-running program and mix of Australian and international artists make it one of the Sunshine Coast’s major cultural events.

Website → NOOSA alive!

Gympie Music Muster — August 27—30

First held in 1982, Gympie Music Muster is one of Australia’s most iconic country music festivals. Held in Amamoor State Forest near Gympie, the event draws tens of thousands of fans each year and has raised more than $20 million for community charities.

Website → Gympie Music Muster

Big Pineapple Festival — November

Big Pineapple Festival is one of the Sunshine Coast’s biggest music festivals, spotlighting major Australian artists while drawing visitors from across the state. The Woombye event has become known for its distinctly local flavour, including its fancy-dress tradition and The Great Australian Pineapple Toss.

Website → Big Pineapple Festival

Woodford Folk Festival — December 27–January 1

Held at Woodfordia, Woodford Folk Festival is one of Australia’s best-known music and cultural gatherings. The six-night event blends music, arts, ideas and community experiences, drawing large crowds each summer from across Queensland and beyond.

Website → Woodford Folk Festival

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Festivals across the wider Sunshine Coast region

Pricey performs at The Big Weekend Festival in Coolum on the Sunshine Coast. Photo: Dameeka Middleton for YELO.

These events sit within the wider Sunshine Coast live music orbit, including nearby hinterland and regional destinations that remain part of the annual festival calendar for many local audiences.

Sunny Side Up — April 4

Sunny Side Up brings a new festival energy to Banana Bender Pub on Easter Saturday, with Golden Features, Sneaky Sound System and Mashd N Kutcher leading a high-energy program of dance music and large-scale production.

Website → Sunny Side Up

Coondoo Mountain Campout — June 19–21

Held near Gympie in the northern Sunshine Coast region, Coondoo Mountain Campout is a boutique BYO music campout set beneath Mount Coondoo. Its open-air setting, curated line-up and relaxed regional atmosphere make it one of the wider Sunshine Coast area’s most distinctive small festival experiences.

Website → Coondoo Mountain Campout

Zen Fest — September 4–6

Zen Fest is a three-day event celebrating creative expression through music, dance, yoga, bodywork and meditation in the Noosa hinterland. Hosted by Island Vibe Festival and the ZenThai Shiatsu community, it combines live performance with workshops and wellness experiences.

Website → Zen Fest

Mitchell Creek Rock ’N’ Blues Fest — September 18—20

Hosted on a private 100-acre property in the Mary Valley near Kandanga, Mitchell Creek Rock ’N’ Blues Fest is a three-day festival of rock, blues and roots music. With free camping, two alternating stages and more than 120 artists, it remains a favourite for families and festivalgoers looking to escape the city rush.

Website → Mitchell Creek Rock ’N’ Blues Fest

Pranafest — June 5–7

Pranafest is a wellness-focused gathering held at Woodfordia, home of Woodford Folk Festival. Combining live music, yoga and workshops with community connection, the event also features mindfulness, movement and immersive experiences.

Website → Pranafest

The Big Weekend — TBA

The Big Weekend is a Sunshine Coast live music event hosted by Pricey, built around local artists, community spirit and a strong DIY festival feel. Previous editions at Blackflag Brewery in Coolum have mixed emerging acts with bigger names, helping give Sunshine Coast artists a louder platform.

Website → The Big Weekend

Maleny Music Festival — November 6–8

Maleny Music Festival is an all-ages, three-day event held at Maleny Showgrounds. Offering camping, workshops, markets, open mics, bush poetry and jam sessions, the volunteer-run festival is known for its community feel and eclectic program spanning folk, blues, jazz, traditional Irish and rock.

Website → Maleny Music Festival

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Related YELO guides

Looking for more live music around the region? Explore YELO’s Sunshine Coast gig guides, venue pages and broader Queensland festival coverage.

• Sunshine Coast Gig Guide
• Queensland Music Festivals
• Sunshine Coast Live Music Venues
• Sunshine Coast Rehearsal Studios