The Gum Ball has expanded its 2026 lineup, adding more than a dozen new artists to its massive 21st birthday festival.
The additions bring even more colour to the beloved Dashville event, which continues to cement its status as a cultural anchor for regional NSW. Held over the ANZAC long weekend, the festival’s 21st edition promises one of its most eclectic musical journeys yet.
Leading the new announcement is Australian icon Christine Anu, bringing her unmistakable voice and catalogue of sing-along favourites to the Friday night celebrations.
Pinky Beecroft, the enigmatic Machine Gun Fellatio frontman, will debut his new album, while Sydney multi-instrumentalist Little Green adds her soulful folk-jazz to the mix.
Global-minded zamrock artist Immy Owusu joins the journey, alongside the long-awaited Gum Ball debut of Newcastle favourites Bob Corbett & The Roo Grass Band.
The festival’s adventurous streak continues with a run of fresh discoveries and returning favourites. Central Coast songwriter Joel Leggett and disco-rock outfit Jay Squire & The Loveliners step into The Gum Ball for the first time, while crowd-pleasing mischief makers Burger Joint return to the bush stage.
Tasmanian cinematic rockers Holiday Mystics, Alice Springs artist Gleny Rae with The Country Ace Soul Band, and bluesman Col Ray Price’s new project, The Nundle Five, all join the expanding roster.
Psychedelic and party-fuelled energy comes courtesy of Apocalypse Joe & The Coyote and Victorian gypsy-rave legends Ungus Ungus Ungus.
New local names also make their debut: alt-rock outfit Kev Sev and rising folk talent Izzy Maeve & The Wizards. An ANZAC morning ‘Tribute to the Diggers’, led by Australian balladeer William Alexander, adds a reflective moment to the weekend, with the ever-chaotic Dashville Progress Society returning for another special Sunday show.
These additions build on a lineup already featuring King Stingray, Don Walker, Meg Washington, Kingswood, These New South Whales, William Crighton, The Vasco Era and Jazz Party—alongside a special Thursday warm-up concert with Jordie Lane Band, Emily Lubitz and Norwood.
With around forty acts handpicked from across the country, The Gum Ball’s 21st year continues its legacy as a haven for diverse sounds, memorable moments and unexpected discoveries.
The Gum Ball returns to Dashville on 24–26 April 2026, with an optional warm-up night on 23 April. Tickets and the full program of music, workshops and activities are available now via dashville.com.au.
