In 2026, the Outback Trail delivered its biggest program yet, reaching more communities, drawing larger audiences, and working with more artists and partners than ever before. Running from 24 April to 9 May, the fourth edition of the Trail took us through eight Outback towns.

Regional Destinations

The Outback Trail covered over 1,400km, travelling through Charleville, Tambo, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, Hughenden and Julia Creek, before finishing in Mount Isa. Along the way, more than 7,500 locals and travellers came together across nine live events, six community activities and six partner events.

Building on the strong success of previous years, the Outback Trail 2026 achieved a 95% increase in attendance compared with 2025. Direct visitor nights across host communities increased by 57%, while out-of-region visitation grew by 33%. These results further demonstrate QLD Music Trails’ growing contribution to cultural tourism and regional economic development.

Co-created with Community

Each performance along the journey was shaped around the people and character of the host town.

Charleville’s – Saddle Up kicked off the Trail with a celebration of community, country spirit and music under the wide western sky, while in Tambo, the Bush Dance brought generations together at the Tambo Racecourse with live music, local talent and plenty of reasons to hit the dance floor.

Barcaldine saw the Outback Exchange inspire locals to consider a career in music and the arts. In Longreach, a one-of-a-kind concert headlined by Lee Kernaghan at the iconic Qantas Founders Museum supported flood-affected communities following severe flooding across Outback Queensland in early 2025.

Winton featured a performance by local artists, The Crackup Sisters, in their unique home venue, the Dustarena, and an unforgettable night of country music at the North Gregory Hotel. In Hughenden, the Festival of Outback Skies paired a lakeside performance led by William Barton with a community lantern parade.

The Trail wrapped up in Mount Isa with Outback Sounds, an open-air festival at Buchanan Park headlined by Kaylee Bell and The Wolfe Brothers, alongside 2026 Toyota Star Maker Jarrad Wrigley and the Homegrown Trio (Katelyn, Liam, and Kasey O’Donoghue).

For Mount Isa, hosting the finale was a significant opportunity to bring visitors, media attention and economic activity into the region, and to share the city’s cultural offering with a wider audience.

Beyond the Music

QMF CEO Daryl Raven said:

 “The Outback Trail has captured the nation’s imagination by blending music, travel and adventure in a way that feels distinctly Queensland. The Outback Trail is more than a festival; it’s an iconic Australian road trip. At each stop, travellers can expect to swap city skylines for red dirt horizons, discovering unforgettable performances, heartfelt community moments and the kind of country hospitality that lingers long after the journey ends.“

“The Outback Trail proves that music can be a powerful compass, guiding travellers into places they might never have ventured and creating moments they will never forget.”

As QMF continues to strengthen partnerships across the state, we acknowledge the invaluable support of our collaborators, communities, artists, volunteers and stakeholders. Together, we are shaping a distinctly Queensland experience that delivers lasting cultural, social and economic benefits while contributing meaningfully to the growth of the regional visitor economy in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tickets for the 2027 Outback Trail go on sale Tuesday 13^th October.