Australia is known the world over for its vibrant festival culture – how lucky are we? From our electrifying bush doofs to more laid-back affairs, our country is home to over 500 music festivals. Our festival scene is also so unique that it attracts music lovers from all corners of the globe, making Aussie music festivals a cultural experience in more ways than one.
With so many festivals lined up for 2025, it’s naturally a bit tricky for festival fans to select which events they’ll want to prioritise booking tickets for. You don’t want to miss out on final round tix for festivals earlier in the year, and you want to make sure you stay aware of early bird ticket release dates to maximise your savings. Here, we recommend signing up to festival organiser mailing lists and keeping track of ticket release dates as well as festival dates with a 2025 diary. That way, your entire year of festivals should be pretty easy to manage from Jan to Dec.
And what festivals should you be adding to your watch list? Here are our top picks for Australia’s must-attend festivals across 2025.
Let Them Eat Cake
The first festival on our list is the first festival of the year. Ring in 2025 by dancing your heart out with mates at Let Them Eat Cake, Australia’s biggest New Year’s Day dance music festival. Held at the heritage-listed Werribee Mansion just outside of Melbourne, Let Them Eat Cake platforms some of the most talented names in art and dance music – Colette, Interplanetary Criminal, and KETTAMA, to name a few. Final Release tickets are still available, so grab yours soon if you don’t want to miss out!
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival
With February dates in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is one of Australia’s most iconic and beloved events of the year. This year’s lineup includes exclusive shows from international superstars like Charli XCX and Beabadoobee, as well as homegrown talent like Byron Bay-based band Skegss.
If you get tired from jamming in the summer heat, grab a drink from one of Laneway’s well-stocked bars or food stalls. Unsurprisingly, some dates are already sold out (looking at you, Sydney and Melbourne), but snag a ticket to another city (or look out for a resale ticket), and you’ll be the envy of all your festival-loving friends.
Yours & Owls Festival
On March 1st and 2nd, you can catch the Yours & Owls Festival on the Wollongong Foreshore. The festival has been lauded as one of the city’s biggest successes in recent history and a symbol of Wollongong’s spirit. This year’s headliners include Fontaines D.C., Denzel Curry, The Kooks, and The Goo Goo Dolls, supported by dozens of familiar Australian artists. The weather’s expected to be stunning, so bring your swimmers to take a dip between sets. VIP and General Admission tickets are still on sale, so if you’re sixteen or older, head onto their website to learn more.
Golden Plains XVII
Golden Plains has been called one of Australia’s greatest bush doofs. In 2025, the festival will be hosted from March 8-10 at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, halfway between Ballarat and Geelong. If you enjoy community vibes and an anti-consumerist atmosphere, Golden Plains is the festival for you. No commercial vendors or signage is permitted at the premises, ensuring your festival experience feels more organic rather than like you’re living in a theme park.
At Golden Plains, you can also camp where you want and bring your own goods. And best of all, ticket sales help regional organisations continue important work. So, if you’re looking to join in the fun and see a diverse range of performers – from PJ Harvey to Mulga Bore Hard Rock – grab a ticket and mark Golden Plains XVII down in your calendar for next year.
Ultra Music Festival
Get ready to experience the excitement of the Ultra Music Festival, which will be returning to the Gold Coast and Melbourne on April 11th and 12th, respectively in 2025. This internationally renowned electronic music event is celebrating its 25th anniversary, promising to bring the trance music scene of Miami and Ibiza to the rest of the world for another year.
With major headliners like Martin Garrix, Axwell of Swedish House Mafia, and Knock2, you will be shuffling and fist-pumping from dawn till dusk. Final General Admission and VIP tickets are on sale right now, so grab yours as soon as you can to secure your ultra-good time.
Spilt Milk House Party
If you’re looking for a carefree vibe, look no further than the Spilt Milk House Party, with dates in various cities all over Australia. Tickets for 2025 aren’t out yet, but the festival will likely take place in November.
Previous lineups have included top-rated musicians from down under and around the globe. In 2024, Spilt Milk was headlined by Glass Animals and Australia’s own Troye Sivan, while 2023’s lineup included Post Malone, Peach PRC, and Dom Dolla.
You can sign up for updates on next year’s festival on the Spilt Milk website to find out if they’ll be bringing the party to a city near you.
Get your Festival Fix in 2025
In recent times, many festivals have been running at a loss, with only half of all Australian music festivals turning a profit. With the cancellation of iconic festivals like Splendour in the Grass and Now & Again Festival, many music lovers have wondered if the golden age of live music is over.
With this in mind, 2025 is undoubtedly the year for all us fans of live music to turn out and rock on. With your patronage, the top Australian festivals can live on.
Whether you’re in the mood for a long weekend out in the bush, a single, day-long dance party, or both, Australia’s got loads of options for you. Be sure to pencil the dates in, tell your friends, and grab your tickets before it’s too late.
Photos from Laneway Festival Melbourne 2024 by Eloise Coomber.
