Knotfest Australia isn’t returning in 2026 — but it’s not the end of the festival on these shores.
Following months of speculation about its future, Knotfest Australia organisers today confirmed that the metal festival’s next local edition will take place in 2027.
In a statement released by organisers alongside Destroy All Lines and TEG, they explained that the time off “will allow us to come back in 2027 with the best Knotfest Australia yet.”
“After three incredible years – made unforgettable by the fans and the artists that shared the stage across each lineup – we’ll be taking a short break in 2026… Thank you for your passion, patience, and loyalty. We can’t wait to share what’s next and to make 2027 a truly unmissable experience.”
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Slipknot headlined their own festival in 2025, backed by heavyweight acts such as BABYMETAL and Slaughter to Prevail. Knotfest Australia quickly cemented itself as a beloved fixture in the country’s festival calendar, with Polaris vocalist Jamie Hails praising its importance in an interview with Rolling Stone AU/NZ earlier this year.
“To be a part of this festival and this incredible lineup – it’s truly something special,” he told us. “It’s definitely going to go down in the history books, not just for everyone, but for us as Polaris. These shows are going to mean so much.”
The blow of Knotfest Australia’s brief hiatus, however, will be softened by the arrival of the inaugural Park Waves festival next year.
Founded by Australian metalcore heavyweights Parkway Drive and launched in Dresden, Germany, last year, the debut local shows will kick off February 14th, 2026, in Perth before heading through Adelaide, Geelong, Wollongong, Maitland, and Parkway’s hometown of Byron Bay, wrapping up on March 15th on the Sunshine Coast.
The events will be headlined by Parkway Drive and boast a stacked local lineup including The Amity Affliction, Northlane, Alpha Wolf, and US outfit Story of the Year.
Speaking with Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Parkway Drive frontman Winston McCall said Park Waves has been in the works for many years, and while launching it internationally was a big step, the band have always wanted to bring it home.
“Being able to take it regional is really important,” he said. “This is the first Byron show we’ve been able to play in 12 years, because regional places, a lot of the time, they don’t have an entertainment centre to put on an arena-sized act. And if you don’t have that, you’re playing a 1000 cap club and thousands of people are missing out.”
