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Fancy belting out your favourite Aussie anthems under the stars at the most remote music festival on Earth? Deep in the Australian outback, the Birdsville Big Red Bash has quietly been named one of the world’s best music festivals in 2026 by Time Out. Crowned the ultimate event for ‘escaping reality’, this desert party is one to put on your radar for the upcoming season.
Every year, Time Out’s editors and writers compile lists of the best new things to do, exhibitions to see, places to go and music festivals to attend. From Sziget and Tomorrowland to Coachella and Burning Man, our festival round-up features all the greatest dance parties and raves around the world – and in 2026, we’re beyond stoked to see a humble Aussie music bash make the cut.
Set against the backdrop of the biggest sand dune in the Simpson Desert (Munga-Thirri National Park), the Birdsville Big Red Bash began in 2013 as a one-night, 600-person concert. Fast forward 13 years, and it’s grown into one of Australia's most iconic, multi-day camping festivals, set to welcome 10,000 festivalgoers when it returns from July 7 to 9, 2026, following a one-year hiatus.
It’s not easy to get to Big Red, but that’s all part of the fun. Road-tripping through the outback is central to the experience, as is camping under the open skies with thousands of fellow Aussie legends. Kids and dogs are invited too, with plenty of outback activities to keep everyone entertained day and night, like sand-dune surfing, camel rides, sunset yoga, outdoor movies and scenic heli flights.
As for the main event, the 2026 line-up is stacked with Aussie icons, including Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Teskey Brothers, Birds of Tokyo, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll, Furnace and the Fundamentals, and more. But the real magic is the Big Red’s lack of light, sound curfews and minimal reception, making it a proper escape from real life.
You can explore Time Out’s full list of the best music festivals in the world for 2026 here.