From tropical Top End raves to folky summer pilgrimages, Australia's live music scene is as sprawling and unpredictable as its landscape.

Every genre has a home when it comes to music festivals in Australia: country, indie, folk, punk, techno, and the vibes shift from city grit to rural soul to beachfront boogie.

But one thing is constant: after a long day of moving, grooving, sweating, and singing the lyrics to your new or forever favourite band, you’re going to want a bed that’s close, affordable, comfy, and clean. ibis gets you to the music, and back, with zero drama and the right amount of creature comforts.

Here are some of the best music festivals in Australia, with tips on where to crash nearby so you can keep the good times rolling.

Where: Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth

When: February

Laneway Festival is Australia’s underground-to-mainstream music pipeline. It started in a Melbourne alleyway and now pulls thousands across five cities for one of the sharpest-curated indie and alternative lineups on the global circuit.

Expect slick outfits, deep cuts, and nurtured breakouts for some of the world’s most loved acts, from Haim and Mac DeMarco to Florence + the Machine (before she was Florence + the Machine).

Laneway isn’t just about headliners and posing. It’s about discovery. It’s about standing in a sweaty crowd at 3pm thinking I don’t know who this is but I would die for them.

Where to stay: ibis Melbourne Central puts you minutes from the action and even closer to the recovery ramen; ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street gets you into Fortitude Valley without paying Fortitude Valley prices; stay at ibis Sydney World Square for a quick escape from post-gig chaos; ibis Styles East Perth keeps you close to the CBD and gives you waterfront vantage point; when in Adelaide choose ibis Adelaide, right alongside all the dining and attractions of Rundle Mall.

Where: Tamworth, NSW
When: January

The Tamworth Country Music Festival is massive. We’re talking over 300,000 fans across more than 700 shows in pubs, parks, and pop-up stages all over town.

Buskers line Peel Street, the Golden Guitar shines bright, and every pub has live music, cold beer, and the friendliest crowd you’ll meet all year.

Country music royalty and grassroots up-and-comers share the spotlight. Whether you're into boot-stomping classics or brooding alt-country ballads, this is your mecca.

Where to stay: ibis Styles Tamworth keeps you central, comfortable, and close to the action. No tents. No snakes. No worries.

Where: Woodfordia, QLD
When: Late December – early January

The Woodford Folk Festival is less a festival, more a temporary society. Held on a 500-acre parkland lovingly known as Woodfordia, this six-day event is a whirlwind of folk, world music, spoken word, circus, and late-night fireside jam sessions. Every day begins with yoga or meditation and ends with barefoot dancing under the stars.

The vibe is part spiritual, part bohemian, part country fair. Whether you're catching an Indigenous singer-songwriter, Balkan brass band, or political comedy troupe, it's all part of the ride.

Where to stay: ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street is your pre-and-post Woodford sanctuary. Take the festival shuttle from the CBD, ditch the camping gear, and wash off the fairy dust in a real shower.

Where: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
When: December

Good Things Festival is a one-day, three-city music machine built for fans of punk, post-hardcore, and alternative rock. You’ll get high-energy performances from international acts, throwback favourites, and sweaty singalongs that’ll leave you sore and smiling for days.

Whether you’re cheering in a circle pit or sobbing to a 2000s classic by Good Charlotte or Alkaline Trio, Good Things brings catharsis to a whole new level.

Where to stay: ibis budget Sydney Olympic Park gets you stadium-close without gouging your wallet; ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street again - central, easy, and ideal for post-fest late-night eats; ibis Melbourne - Hotel & Apartments gives you space to recover (and maybe scream into a pillow from sheer joy).

Where: Byron Bay, NSW
When: Easter

A five day pilgrimage of peace, rhythm, and legendary acts, Bluesfest Byron Bay is where the over 30s go to refuel their soul. After a near-death experience the festival has confirmed it will be back in 2026 for its 36th year.

With past lineups featuring the likes of Jack Johnson, Patti Smith, and Paul Kelly, this one’s for the lovers of melody and mud under your boots. Camping? Sure, but it’s chaotic. The smart move? Road trip it from Sydney and break up the drive with a beachy stay in Port Macquarie.

Where to stay: ibis Styles Port Macquarie is your halfway hero. Stay a night, surf a wave, then head into the Byron madness refreshed.

Where: Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, VIC
When: Meredith – December, Golden Plains – March

Beloved Meredith Music Festival and her younger sibling Golden Plains aren’t just festivals for some, but sacred rites of passage. Both are held at the iconic Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, a natural bowl in rural Victoria that somehow makes every performance feel like church for music nerds.

Bring a couch, pick a patch of grass, and settle in for a genre-spanning lineup that could include punk, funk, electronica, cosmic jazz, or a ’90s icon you forgot you loved. The vibe? Deeply respectful hedonism.

Where to stay: Stay the night at ibis budget Melbourne CBD before heading to the festival early. You'll skip the notorious traffic jams that plague the rural roads to Meredith, arrive refreshed, and secure your perfect patch of grass before the crowds descend. 

Where: Melbourne
When: March

Ultra Australia turns Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse into an all-out dance battlefield. With international DJs, pounding bass, and stage productions that look like a spaceship just landed, this is where you lose yourself in sound.

Expect high energy, giant drops, and an ocean of people moving in perfect unison to house, techno, and everything in between. It’s euphoric, it’s exhausting and it’s a heck of a time. 

Where to stay: ibis Styles Kingsgate keeps you in the CBD and close to transport options, so you can go hard at Ultra and still make it back to your bed (or shower) in one piece.

Where: Hobart, Tasmania
When: June

Dark Mofo is Tasmania's provocative winter festival that transforms Hobart into a playground of experimental music, confronting art, and ancient rituals. Part music festival, part art installation, part spiritual awakening, it celebrates the Southern Hemisphere's winter solstice with events that blur the line between performance and experience.

Expect everything from heavy metal concerts in historic venues to hundreds of punters singing in public at the Festival of Voices, and avant-garde performances that challenge every comfort zone. 

Dark Mofo is for those seeking something genuinely transformative, it's unlike any other festival experience in Australia.

Where to stay: ibis Styles Hobart keeps you warm and central during Tasmania's chilly winter nights. After experiencing Dark Mofo's intensity, you'll appreciate returning to comfortable accommodation with heating and hot showers – essential.

Where: Brisbane, Fortitude Valley
When: September

Bigsound isn’t your typical festival, it’s a multi-day industry showcase where future stars prove they belong. 

Across dozens of venues in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, you’ll hear showcases featuring everything from future pop icons to the next big rock export.

It’s a who’s who of agents, labels, and fans, all hunting the same thing: the next big talent. If you love being first on a bandwagon, this is your jam.

Where to stay: ibis Styles Brisbane Elizabeth Street. Right in the CBD, perfect for venue-hopping and late-night industry drinks that might just lead to a record deal (or at least a new playlist crush).

Where: Darwin
When: May

The Northern Territory’s biggest music event, Bassinthegrass, punches well above its weight.

Set against the idyllic Darwin waterfront, it’s a sun-drenched blowout where Aussie favourites bring the heat to the Top End. You’ll catch artists like The Jungle Giants, Amy Shark, and Baker Boy bringing the house down.

One stage. One day. One big, sweaty, beautiful party.

Where to stay: ibis Darwin Airport keeps things chill with a pool, airport access, and quick rides to the venue. Ideal for rinsing off the sunscreen and rehydrating with something ice cold.

Where: Various cities across Australia
When: Year-round

Bed By 10pm is a touring series has cracked the code for millennials who want to dance their hearts out to the hits of their youth without sacrificing their sleep schedule or sanity.

The concept is brilliantly simple: start early (usually around 6pm), play all the bangers from the golden era of clubbing, and wrap up by 10pm so everyone can get home at a reasonable hour. It's all the classic house,  R&B, pop, and dance anthems that defined late-night playlists from the late 90s to mid 2000s.

It's designed for people who still love to lose themselves on the dancefloor but also need to function the next day. The crowd is mature, the vibes are positive, and there's something wonderfully liberating about partying without the pressure to stay out until dawn.

Where to stay: Since these events happen in major cities and end early, you'll have plenty of accommodation options. ibis hotels in Australian city centres put you close to venues while giving you time to grab dinner before the party starts – and you'll still be tucked up in comfy bed by a civilised hour.