Following a 2026 event that was nothing short of spectacular, CMC Rocks QLD can today reveal the highly anticipated dates for next year’s festival. Australia’s premier country music event will return to Willowbank Raceway to celebrate its 20th year from Wednesday 17th to Sunday 21st March 2027.
Festival Director and Chairman of Chugg Entertainment, Michael Chugg said, “We couldn’t be more excited to kick off our 20th year celebrations in March. The legacy of CMC Rocks runs deep, as the festival continues to grow and blow even our minds. The sense of community and country spirit we experience each year is like nothing in this world and we’re proud to be able to connect our community with the hottest local and international talent around. Bring on 2027! It will be a wonderful memorial and celebration of the late Rob Potts’ vision of country music and Australia.”
Festival Director Jeremy Dylan echoes, “The journey of the last twenty years of CMC Rocks has been about making each year better than the last, a celebration of all the memories and moments that have built the incredible community around us and a promise to make some amazing new ones. We’ve been hard at work cooking up a 20th anniversary edition of the festival that is truly unforgettable, and we can’t wait to share this weekend with you all next March.”
From the inaugural 2008 event in Thredbo, through the Hunter Valley, Townsville and now Willowbank, CMC Rocks QLD has grown into the most iconic country music festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Two decades in, it’s become a family tradition as much as a festival. Some fans have made the trip every single year, others will be packing the swag for the first time and many who started out as young punters now bring their kids along for the ride too.
Lineup speculation is already running hot, with the full artist announcement coming later this year.
In March 2026, the 19th instalment of CMC Rocks QLD delivered some of the most talked-about moments in festival history, from Tucker Wetmore’s epic (and shirtless) festival debut to Dasha’s surprise visit to the Honky Tonk Stomp line dancing and Lee Kernaghan joining James Johnston on stage for a huge rendition of the iconic ‘Boys From The Bush’.
Massive singalongs soundtracked the headline sets across Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, with a choir of more than 25,000 fans belting out some of country music’s biggest hits long after the sun had gone down.
Some of the weekend’s most memorable moments came as artists joined forces on stage for a series of exclusive collaborations that could only be experienced at CMC Rocks QLD. Tucker Wetmore joined Jordan Davis during his Sunday night headline set for a crowd-pleasing cover of Darius Rucker’s ‘Wagon Wheel’, Tyla Rodrigues and Braxton Keith performed their heartfelt duet ‘Do I Ever Cross Your Mind’, while Riley Green and Carly Pearce reunited for a stunning rendition of their hit collaboration ‘If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay’. These one-off performances showcased the camaraderie that has become a hallmark of the festival and delivered unforgettable moments for fans.
Dasha brought the party off the stage and into the crowd, jumping the barrier to perform her chart-topping hit ‘Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)’ alongside thousands of singing fans. The spontaneous moment quickly became one of the weekend’s most talked-about highlights, perfectly capturing the artist-fan connection that makes CMC Rocks so special.
An enduring crowd favourite, the Songwriters Show once again delivered some of the festival’s most intimate and memorable performances, with Old Dominion, Waylon Wyatt, Riley Green, Elizabeth Nichols, Tucker Wetmore, Jordan Davis and more sharing the stories behind their songs before stripping them back for acoustic performances. Offering a rare glimpse into the creative process, the sessions highlighted the songwriting talent that sits at the heart of country music.
For the second consecutive year, Nifty’s Sports Bar and the Tailgate precinct proved to be a hub of activity from sunup to sundown, giving fans even more reasons to keep the celebrations going between sets. Bingo, fashion parades, trivia and interactive games kept festivalgoers entertained all weekend, while local favourites Wade Forster and Robbie Mortimer had crowds in stitches as surprise hosts of the ever-popular hot dog and wing eating contests.
Closing out the weekend in true CMC Rocks QLD style, Gavin Adcock turned the Tailgate Stage into a full-blown rock ‘n’ roll party for the festival’s final performance. Packed from front to back, the crowd sang, danced and celebrated together until the very last note, ensuring the energy remained sky-high right through to the festival’s close.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said CMC Rocks QLD’s 20th anniversary was a significant milestone for one of Australia’s most successful country music festivals.
“Reaching this milestone speaks to what makes CMC Rocks so special, year after year it continues to bring people together through a shared love of country music and gives fans a reason to travel to Queensland from right across Australia and beyond.” Minister Powell said. “The festival generated more than $16 million for Queensland’s economy in 2026, highlighting the important role events like this play in driving visitation to our great state and supporting local tourism operators, businesses and communities. Through Destination 2045, we’re focused on growing world-class events that strengthen Queensland’s reputation as Australia’s events capital, which is why the Crisafulli Government is pleased to continue supporting CMC Rocks through to 2028.”
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said CMC Rocks QLD has become a mainstay of Ipswich’s packed events calendar.
“Ipswich has been home to CMC Rocks since 2015, and that is not about to change as the festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary at Willowbank Raceway in 2027, and will return in 2028,” Mayor Harding said. “More than 25,000 people attended this year’s CMC Rocks, enjoying all that Ipswich has to offer. Festivalgoers brought the energy but they also brought their tourism dollars, with CMC Rocks QLD generating more than $13 million for Ipswich’s economy. With Ipswich growing at unprecedented rates in population and in stature as a destination, CMC Rocks only promises to get bigger and better as country music remains the fastest growing music genre worldwide.”
The Queensland Government is proud to support CMC Rocks QLD through Tourism and Events Queensland.
*Festival is open exclusively to campers on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th March.
Stay tuned for the full CMC Rocks QLD 2027 Artist Lineup – Coming later this year. Sign up to become a member of THE DROVE HERE, for exclusive offers & to stay up to date on all the latest info!