St Kilda Festival will take over the foreshore once again on 14 and 15 February 2026, bringing more than 100 Australian acts to multiple stages across the suburb and drawing an expected crowd of more than 350,000 people.
Ahead of the full program announcement on 14 January, organisers have revealed the major headline artists across both days, confirming BARKAA and Selve as Saturday’s First Peoples First headliners, followed by Jessica Mauboy, Mental As Anything and Sneaky Sound System on Big Festival Sunday.
The two day event opens on Saturday 14 February with the 20th edition of First Peoples First, a dedicated celebration of First Peoples music, culture and community.
Spanning two stages at South Beach Reserve and O’Donnell Gardens, the program also features workshops, markets and the Kummargii Yulendji Gadabah Sunset Ceremony, overseen by N’Arweet Carolyn Briggs of the Boonwurrung Land & Sea Council. Indigenous Outreach Projects will also present a full day of dance and cultural activities at the Palais Forecourt.
Sunday’s Big Festival lineup sees Jessica Mauboy take the main stage, bringing nearly two decades of chart-topping success and international recognition. The day will also mark a milestone return for Mental As Anything, with founding members Peter O’Doherty and Reg Mombassa reuniting 25 years after their last St Kilda Festival appearance. Sneaky Sound System will round out the major acts, continuing their long run as festival and dancefloor favourites.
The St Kilda Festival New Music Competition also returns, spotlighting emerging artists including MAGNETS, OSITA, Wild Gloriosa, The Carp Factory and Sunsick Daisy.
The full program will be announced on 14 January.
