“Moo?”
That’s all it’s taken for rumours to begin that Groovin the Moo is set to make its long-awaited comeback.
On Monday (February 16th), the Instagram page for the regional touring festival posted a story teasing that something is coming.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ has contacted organisers for comment.
It comes after Rolling Stone AU/NZ reported early last year that Groovin would not proceed with its 2025 event, with organisers saying at the time that it was working on “finding the most sustainable model for Australia’s most loved regional touring festival”.
The statement came exactly one year to the day that the 2024 lineup was revealed. However, just two weeks later, organisers axed the festival saying at the time: “Ticket sales have not been sufficient to deliver a regional festival of this kind.”
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Last December, when contacted by Rolling Stone AU/NZ about a 2026 update, organisers said: “At the beginning of 2025 we made the commitment to find a sustainable model for the future of Groovin the Moo, and we aren’t going back on our word.”
Groovin was a highlight of Australia’s festival calendar for years, bringing big names to regional towns across the country. Past lineups included Billie Eilish, Angie McMahon, Flight Facilities, The Preatures, Amy Shark, Violent Soho, The Wombats, The Veronicas, WAAX, Gang of Youths, and many more.
Traditionally held in March, it has also served as a launchpad for local talent including Confidence Man, Ecca Vandal, Alex Lahey, while being a staple for fans of indie, rock, hip-hop, electronic, and more.
Returning from the COVID-era disruptions proved difficult for many Australian festivals, and organisers cited the 2024 cancellation on insufficient ticket sales — but stressed it wasn’t an indefinite thing. The Beaches, DMA’S, Hot Dub Time Machine, Jet, The Jungle Giants, King Stingray, The Kooks, and more were on the 2024 bill.
Uncertainty lingered into 2025, when the festival neither announced a lineup nor issued official statements, leaving fans to wonder whether the beloved event would ever return. That was until a statement was posted to social media, again bearing bad news.
