The Birdsville Big Red Bash (Matt Williams Photography)
Event update (9 March 2026): Due to heavy rainfall in the region, organisers of the Big Red Bash have announced the 2026 event may be relocated, with current conditions suggesting the site is unlikely to dry out in time for July. They are looking for an appropriate location and further updates will be shared as they become available, including if the event is ultimately cancelled. Read the full event update newsletter here.
The Simpson Desert is calling. After taking a gap year, the Birdsville Big Red Bash — the most remote music festival in the world — returns this July, promising three days of epic live music, outback adventure and unforgettable sunsets. Tickets are going fast, so it’s time to plan your winter escape.
With 2026 well underway, now’s the perfect time to start locking in your winter adventures — and if outback travel, great Aussie music and good company are your thing, the Birdsville Big Red Bash deserves a spot on the list.
Returning to the Simpson Desert from 7–9 July 2026 after a year off, the Big Red Bash is set to transform the iconic Big Red Dune, 35km west of Birdsville, into a buzzing pop-up desert town. First held in 2013 and now run by the Outback Music Festival Group, the event has become legendary for combining live music, family-friendly activities and jaw-dropping outback scenery in one unforgettable setting.
While the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash (20–22 August 2026) holds the title as Australia’s biggest outback music festival, the Big Red Bash is the most remote — appealing to those chasing a true desert experience, where the journey is just as memorable as the destination. Three days of camping, music and shared experiences make it a standout winter escape for festivalgoers of all ages.
Each year, thousands of Bashers make the trek with caravans, campers, tents and 4WDs for the chance to experience the outback at its best — a rare mix of music, adventure and community played out beneath endless desert skies.
Bring your dancing shoes and sense of adventure to the most remote music festival in the world (Matt Williams Photography)
Fast facts
What: 2026 Birdsville Big Red Bash
Where: Big Red sand dune, 35km west of Birdsville, Qld
When: 7–9 July 2026
More info and tickets are available on the festival website
Tickets and vehicle entry
Before we dive into the program, a little housekeeping is in order. While July might feel a way off, tickets are selling fast.
A festival ticket grants access to three days and nights of music, plus on-site camping for up to seven nights (Saturday 4 – Friday 10 July), depending on the Vehicle Entry Pass purchased. Every vehicle entering the festival requires a pass, covering all occupants and anything being towed.
General admission:
Adult 18+: $795
Youth 5–17: $59
Child 0–4: $29
Vehicle entry passes:
Three-day early entry (roll in 4 July): $190
Two-day early entry (5 July): $155
One-day early entry (6 July): $130
Standard entry (7 July): $19
Early exit pass: $15 (roll out Thu 7 July, 2–5pm) — handy for beating some of the post-festival traffic and restocking on essentials in Birdsville before the rest of the Bashers descend.
General roll-out begins from 7am on Friday 8 July, but be prepared for a very slow drive out — we’re talking hours, even in good conditions.
Additional ticketed activities:
Big Red Bash record attempt: Tuesday 7 July, 10am, $20 per person
Bashville Drags Race: Wednesday 8 July, 10am, $35 per person
Caravans rolling into the pop-up festival city in the Simpson Desert, Qld (Matt Williams Photography)
2026 Big Red Bash lineup highlights
If you love Aussie music, you’re in for a treat. Both the Big Red Bash and Mundi Mundi Bash will showcase some of the biggest names in the industry, including Jessica Mauboy, The Living End and Birds of Tokyo. But only the Big Red Bash will see Missy Higgins, The Teskey Brothers and Hoodoo Gurus gracing the desert stage.
Other Aussie favourites performing across the three days include Chocolate Starfish, Fanny Lumsden, Furnace and the Fundamentals, Gypsy Lee, Jem Cassar-Daley, Kate Ceberano, Ross Wilson, Shane Howard, Shannon Noll, The Whitlams, Tim Finn, Tom Busby, Troy Cassar-Daley, Wes Carr, and a special tribute, 50 Years of Fleetwood Mac.
To keep up to date on who will be playing at this year’s Big Red Bash, subscribe to the mailing list for the latest news.
Fanny Lumsden at the 2024 Big Red Bash (Neil Donovan)
Outback fun and activities
Beyond the music, the 2026 Big Red Bash offers a full program of activities designed to immerse visitors in the outback lifestyle:
Big Blue Day World Record Attempt: Dress head to toe in blue and join Bashers of all ages to create a massive human image supporting Breakthrough T1D and its mission to find a cure for diabetes.
Bashville Drags Race: Bring your costumes for a short, fun run with all proceeds going to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
Sunrise Yoga: Start the day with a peaceful session on the sand dunes.
The Crackup Sisters: Comedy workshops and shows throughout the festival.
Scenic Heli Flights: See the Simpson Desert and Big Red Dune like never before.
Camel Rides: Meet the Simpson Desert’s coolest camels — fun for kids and adults alike.
Big Screen Movie: Outdoor cinema under the outback sky.
Beach Volleyball on the Dune: A playful challenge for all ages.
Dunny Door Painting: Guided sessions to create a unique piece of outback art.
There’s something for Bashers of all ages, and these activities are a great way to meet other festivalgoers and bond over shared experiences.
Join the Big Blue Day World Record Attempt and help raise funds for a good cause (Matt Williams Photography)
Don’t forget your costume for the Bashville Drags Race! (Matt Williams Photography)
Why the Big Red Bash and Mundi Mundi Bash are so special
Founder and Outback Music Festival Group managing director Greg Donovan says the events continue to resonate with travellers.
“On trend isn’t something I would have traditionally used to describe the Bash events,” Donovan said. “But when you look at some of the things that are predicted to shape travel in 2026 — shorter breaks, regional travel, bucket-list experiences, eco-friendly experiences, self-drive trips and destinations where you can be immersed in nature — that’s exactly what we offer.
“We saw a strong surge in ticket sales before Christmas, and that momentum didn’t drop off as much as it usually does over the holidays. Families were together, talking about doing something meaningful together, and our events tick that box. We’re confident that both events are heading for another sell-out year.”
The road trip itself is a big part of the experience.
“Road trips continue to grow in popularity, and the journey is a big part of the appeal of our Bash events,” Donovan said. “People travel in convoys, look out for one another and arrive already feeling connected. Our ‘Travelling to the Bash’ groups are full of people offering help and advice to strangers — and callouts never go unanswered.
“As event oranisers we are also incredibly conscious of treading lightly on the beautiful landscapes on which we operate. At Birdsville we’re on an organic beef farm and we work hard to ensure the organic status of the land isn’t jeopardised — and our patrons have embraced this. We’ve developed organic composting toilets which have built a reputation as being the cleanest festival toilets in Australia without the use of chemicals. And we have a dedicated recycling and rubbish disposal plan.
“As the wind blows the sand across our sites within hours of our final rollouts you can barely tell we had a pop-up town of thousands on either site. We’re incredibly proud of how everyone embraces leaving the beautiful countryside just as we found it.”
Experience a truly unique side of outback Queensland at the Birdsville Big Red Bash (Matt Williams Photography)
An all-ages outback experience
After a break in 2025, the Big Red Bash is set to welcome around 10,000 people to the dunes near Birdsville, with crowds of up to 15,000 expected at the Mundi Mundi Bash. Both festivals are all-ages, dog-friendly and BYO, creating a relaxed, communal atmosphere focused on outback fun and great Aussie music.
Organisers are also working on a new participatory event to replace the long-running Nutbush World Record Attempt, with more details to be announced.
From dune surfing and camel rides to outdoor movies and live music under the stars, the Big Red Bash delivers a one-of-a-kind outback escape — a pop-up desert town where red dirt, open space and shared experiences are all part of the magic.
To find out more about the 2026 Birdsville Big Red Bash and grab tickets, head to the festival website.
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