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Festivals
Who takes applications, when the window opens, and what it costs. Most windows are closed right now; the dates tell you when they come back.
Most Sydney festival slots are council EOIs, and most are paid. Inner West, City of Sydney, Parramatta, Liverpool, Blacktown, Sutherland, Randwick and the Northern Beaches all run them. Nearly all want a public liability certificate if you are picked.
Open Now
9 Oct Liverpool City Council 9 Oct Hawkesbury City Council: Australia Day on the Hawkesbury 31 Dec Wollongong City Council 15 Jan Narooma Oyster Festival Open Georges River Council: Lunar New Year Open Tumbafest
Sydney Festivals and Councils21 Wollongong, Newcastle, Central Coast, the Mountains9 Regional NSW, the Folk Circuit and Interstate14 Venues with a Submission Form2 Songwriting Prizes and Comps4 ↑ Sydney Festivals and Councils 21
Sydney Fringe
Registration 2–30 March, annual
Who Anyone. Open access: everyone gets a slot. What Register a show for the September festival. You produce it and pay the registration fee and your own public liability. [email protected] . Link sydneyfringe.com
Marrickville Music Festival
EOI mid-June to mid-July, annual
Who Local bands and musicians. Priority to acts connected to Marrickville and surrounds. What Inner West Council festival, second Sunday in October. Paid, by quote. No fee to apply. Also Same council runs performer EOIs for Dulwich Hill Festival (September), Festival of Balmain (November, EOI closes late August) and Bairro Português (EOI December–January). Sign up to their Creative Communities newsletter for the windows. Link innerwest.nsw.gov.au
Sydney Streets
Applications closed February 2026; 2027 dates to come
Who Local performers. You need a site, socials or a video of you playing. What City of Sydney street closures on spring and summer Saturdays across Darlinghurst, Glebe, Haymarket, Pyrmont, Redfern and Surry Hills. [email protected] . Also City of Sydney busking permit is $52 and rolling; new code from 4 August 2026. Link cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Vivid Sydney: music EOI
2027 round closed 28 August 2026; opens mid-June each year
Who Not stated. What EOI for the music program. Shortlist late September, interviews October, decisions early November. Link vividsydney.com
Stanmore Music Festival
2026 applications closed; acceptances by 31 August
Manly Jazz
EOI closes mid-April, annual
Who Jazz acts. Two music samples and your rate for a 45-minute set. What Northern Beaches Council festival in September. Paid by quote. Public liability required if picked. Link northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Parramatta Lanes
EOI opens around May
Who You don't need to be an established name to apply. What City of Parramatta laneways festival, 21–24 October 2026. EOI through atparramatta.com. Link cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
Liverpool City Council
Starry Sari Night closes 9 October 2026
Who Performers with a $10m public liability certificate. Busking EOI is for local performers. What Rolling performer EOI plus dated ones: Starry Sari Night 29 Nov (closes 9 Oct), NYE (closes 7 Nov), Australia Day (closes 5 Dec), Motherland African Festival April 2027 (closes 5 Feb), Lanterns & Lights May 2027 (closes 19 Mar). Paid by quote. Link liverpool.nsw.gov.au
Blacktown City Council
Rolling database
Who Any performer. Does not guarantee a booking. What One EOI covers the City Festival and the suburb festivals: Seven Hills, Quakers Hill, Riverstone, Doonside, Kings Langley and others. Published rates: semi-professional $250–400, community group $200–400, professional by contract. Link blacktown.nsw.gov.au
Sutherland Shire Council
Rolling database
MusicNSW: Outset
Closed 11 August 2026, annual
Who Ages 15–25 (75% of the band), based in Western or South-West Sydney, 30-minute set with at least four originals. What Paid all-ages gig in October. Link musicnsw.com
The Spot Festival
EOI closes mid-February, annual
Georges River Council: Lunar New Year
Performer EOI open for 13 February 2027
Who Not stated. What Hurstville street festival. Survey form. Deadline, fee and pay not listed. Link georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
Hawkesbury City Council: Australia Day on the Hawkesbury
Live entertainment EOI closes 9 October 2026
Canterbury-Bankstown Council
Rolling
Who Any performer. Always open to new acts. What Performer expression of interest form for council events. Link cbcity.nsw.gov.au
Hornsby Shire Council
Rolling register
Who Any artist or performer. Does not guarantee selection. What Artists and performers register for council events. Link hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Bayside Council
EOI late May to August, annual
Who Performers; a separate Creative Directory for Bayside locals is rolling. What Spring Fair (September) and Food & Wine Festival performer EOIs. Link bayside.nsw.gov.au
Hunters Hill Council: Moocooboola Festival
EOI closes late July, annual
Camden Council: Live'n'Local
2026 run over; register by email for 2027
Who Local musicians. Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly creatives can join the Creative Camden directory. What Paid Saturday gigs, May to June. [email protected] . Link camden.nsw.gov.au
Ku-ring-gai Council: citizenship ceremonies
Rolling
Who Local performers. What Performer EOI for citizenship ceremonies. Pay not listed. Link krg.nsw.gov.au
Fairfield City Council: Cabramatta Moon Festival
Festival is in September. Check their site for the EOI.
Wollongong, Newcastle, Central Coast, the Mountains 9
Yours & Owls
Unearthed comp closed 2 August 2026
Who NSW residents with music on triple j Unearthed. What The only way in is the Unearthed competition each July. No direct application. Festival 3–4 October 2026, Flagstaff Hill. Link abc.net.au
Wollongong City Council
Performer pool open to 31 December 2026
Who Musicians, bands and performance artists. Family-suitable sets. What One form for council performance opportunities. Asks original or not, and whether you have an ABN. Also Culture Mix (late September) runs a separate EOI April–May for Wollongong LGA artists, with $3,000 development grants. Link wollongongcitycouncil.wufoo.com
Illawarra Folk Festival
2027 applications closed 4 May 2026
New Annual: Made New
EOI mid-January to mid-February, annual
Who Newcastle-based or affiliated artists. What $20,000–40,000 commissions for the City of Newcastle festival. Judged on artistic merit, fit to the brief, connection to place. [email protected] . Link newannual.com
Blue Mountains Music Festival
Check their page
Who Not listed here. What 12–14 March 2027, Katoomba. Check their performer applications page directly for details. Link bmff.org.au
Central Coast Council
Lakes Festival 2026 EOI closed
Who Not listed here. What Council runs performer EOIs for the Lakes Festival and Harvest Festival. Not listed here. Link centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
Lake Macquarie: Live and Local
Rolling
Who Lake Mac locals. What Register through a free Creative Business Directory listing. Link arts.lakemac.com.au
Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival
Paused 2026, back 5–7 March 2027
Wingecarribee: Bundanoon Folk Festival
Check their page
Regional NSW, the Folk Circuit and Interstate 14
Tamworth Country Music Festival: busking
Registration never closes
Who Anyone. Free to register. What 15–24 January 2027. Ten buskers are picked by judges for the Toyota Busking Championships on the last Sunday, with cash prizes. Also Toyota Star Maker takes entries 1 June to 1 September each year, solo artists over 18, prize package over $100,000. Link tcmf.com.au
Deni Ute Muster: day stage
2026 applications closed
Woodford Folk Festival
Reopens January 2027, closes late March
Who Any genre. Public liability at contracting. What Paid after the festival by EFT, free artist camping. Link woodfordfolkfestival.com
National Folk Festival, Canberra
2027 applications closed
Who Folk and roots. Public liability required. What Easter festival. Applications through their site each year. Link folkfestival.org.au
Port Fairy Folk Festival
2027 applications closed
Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival
Applications 1 February to 31 March, annual
Who Any act. You quote a fee for the weekend. What Mid-October. Paid within a week after, free ticket and camping. Insurance required. Link kangaroovalleyfolkfestival.com.au
Cobargo Folk Festival
Applications closed 20 June 2026, annual
Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival
EOI February to April, annual
Who Acoustic folk, bluegrass, old-time. Original music encouraged. Whole weekend preferred. What Late October. Paid, fees quoted ex GST, free camping. Link dorrigofolkbluegrass.com.au
St Albans Folk Festival
Applications close 31 August, annual
Who Traditional and contemporary folk. What April, Hawkesbury. Apply by email. 2027 details are not out yet. Link stalbansfolkfestival.com.au
Narooma Oyster Festival
Musicians EOI open to 15 January 2027
Who Professional and emerging artists, bands, community groups. What 7–9 May 2027. The form asks your fee. Link naroomaoysterfestival.com
Tumbafest
2027 performer EOI open
Who Not stated. What Tumbarumba, 27–28 February 2027. They only reply if interested. Link tumbafest.com.au
National Multicultural Festival, Canberra
Applications mid-June to late July, annual
Henry Lawson Festival, Grenfell: busking comp
Registrations close late May, annual
Who Youth and open categories. $20m public liability required. What June long weekend. $250 a category, People's Choice $150. Link henrylawsonfestival.com.au
Lismore Lantern Parade
2026 closed, back 2027
Venues with a Submission Form 2
Oxford Art Factory
Rolling
Who Bio with your previous Sydney shows, a streaming link, a requested date. What Band submission form for the Main Room (500) and Gallery (120). Link oxfordartfactory.com
The Vanguard
Rolling
Who Bands with a proposal. What Performance proposal form, linked from their contact page. Link thevanguard.com.au
Songwriting Prizes and Comps 4
The Songwriting Prize
Entries open March 2027
Who Any songwriter. $25 a song. Demos fine. What Judged on the writing and theme; recording doesn't count. State finals in September; 2026 Sydney final was at Blackwattle Bar. Link listenupmusic.com.au
Australian Songwriting Contest
Closed 31 May 2026, annual
Who Amateur or professional, any nationality. Originals only, no AI. What $33 a song for ASA members, $44 otherwise. 13 categories, judged anonymously by three or more judges. Link asa.songcentral.com.au
Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition
No 2026 round posted; 2025 ran July to October
Who Any age, any country. What $50 a song to Noro Music Therapy. Judged on melody, composition, originality and lyrics. Production and performance don't count. Link globalsongcomp.com
triple j Unearthed competitions
Watch the page
Who Australian artists with a track on Unearthed. Most comps are region-limited. What The route into Yours & Owls, One Night Stand and Unearthed High. Upload first, then enter. Link abc.net.au
No Application Route
Sydney Festival · Majors Creek Festival · Thredbo Blues · Mullum Roots · Armidale Autumn Festival · Lane Cove Festival · Mosman Encore · Great Southern Nights · Lost Paradise · Beyond the Valley · Groovin the Moo · Mullum Roots · Winter Magic · Waywards · Sydney Con Jazz Festival. Nothing on their sites for artists.
Councils with no performer or busking route published: Cumberland, Wollondilly, The Hills, North Sydney, Woollahra, Cessnock, Shellharbour. Wingecarribee is still drafting its busking policy.