Victoria’s far east is set to light up again this winter, with the East Gippsland Winter Festival returning from 19 June to 19 July 2026 for a month-long celebration of food, music, art and culture.
More than 100 events will take place across East Gippsland throughout the festival, transforming towns, rivers and coastal spaces with lantern installations, bonfires, live music, immersive performances and outdoor experiences designed around the region’s winter landscapes.
Now considered one of Victoria’s biggest seasonal festivals, the annual event has become a major drawcard for visitors during the quieter winter months while also supporting local tourism operators, venues and artists across the region.
Returning favourites include the popular Lakes Lights lantern parade, the Bruthen Medieval Festival and the Nicholson River Trestle Bridge Long Lunch, which pairs regional produce with one of the area’s most scenic outdoor dining locations.
Several new additions are also joining the 2026 program.
On 27 June, High Country Hooch Distillery in Glenaladale will host a Scottish Festival featuring traditional cèilidh celebrations complete with storytelling, dancing, live music, whisky, bagpipes and bonfires.
Adventure lovers can take part in the Mitchell River Gourmet Packraft Trip on 28 June, with guided groups paddling through Mitchell River National Park before stopping for a gourmet lunch in the wilderness.
A formal winter celebration, The Riversleigh Winter Masquerade Ball, will arrive in Bairnsdale on 10 July, offering live music, dancing and vintage-inspired glamour with guests encouraged to wear masks and formal attire.
Food will also play a major role throughout the festival, including Garden to Ocean at Sodafish on 12 July. The event will feature a four-course collaboration between chefs Bodee Price and Nick Mahlook, highlighting seasonal produce from inland and coastal Victoria alongside matched wines.
The festival wraps up on 18 July with a live music celebration at the Paynesville Hotel, closing out another massive winter program for the region.
