The 2026 Gympie Music Muster has wrapped up after another celebration of music, camping and community, with around 60,000 visitations recorded across the festival.
Gympie Music Muster CEO Greg Cavanagh said it was a really solid result for the annual event, which continues to bring people from across Australia to Amamoor Creek State Forest.
“It has been another really strong Muster, and we are very proud of what our team, volunteers, artists, campers and supporters have created together,” Mr Cavanagh said.
“The music is obviously a huge part of it, but the Muster is also about the people. It is a place where families come together, friends catch up, new friendships are made and everyone can enjoy our festival in the forest.”
With Australian Ambassador Amber Lawrence and International Ambassadors the Davisson Brothers Band leading a program featuring James Johnston, Lee Kernaghan, Kevin Borich, Steph Strings, Sara Berki, Max Jackson, James Blundell, The Wolfe Brothers, Lyn Bowtell and many more, the Muster once again showcased the range of music on offer.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the Gympie Music Muster continued to showcase the best of Queensland.
“For more than 40 years, the Gympie Music Muster has brought people together and put regional Queensland on centre stage,” Minister Powell said.
“Events like this help cement Queensland as the events capital of Australia while delivering real benefits for local businesses, jobs and tourism operators.
“That’s why the Crisafulli Government has backed this iconic event through to 2029, giving organisers certainty to keep growing and delivering for the Gympie region.”
Country music remains at the heart of the festival, alongside bluegrass, folk, rock, blues and roots, with music spread across the festival’s stages and camping areas.
The Muster also continued its commitment to emerging talent, with Amberley Maryellen from South-West Western Australia winning the Mothertone Talent Search Open category and Tia Hannah from the NSW Central Coast taking out the Junior category.
“It is important to us that emerging artists get a genuine opportunity to perform in front of a big audience,” Mr Cavanagh said.
“You never know where that first opportunity can lead, and we are proud to be part of that journey.”
The Muster’s special sense of community was summed up by Clinton Gee and Rothelie Walsh, who chose to get married at the festival surrounded by their Muster friends.
The couple, who have been attending the Muster for years, said their friends at the festival had become like family and they could not think of a better place to celebrate their wedding.
“We couldn’t think of a better place to get married because the Muster friends are our family,” Clinton said.
“It is all about mateship.”
The community spirit extended across the festival, with BlazeAid volunteers marking out 6,500 campsites, while the Queensland Country Women’s Association sold more than 1,700 scones across the weekend plus their famous toasties.
The annual Campsite Competition was won by Lights On The Hill Muster Bar.
The 2026 Muster also raised funds and awareness for charity partner Get Yourself Checked, which promotes men’s health and the importance of early detection, particularly in relation to prostate cancer.
The Pratley guitar auction raised $24,000, with winning bidder and Get Yourself Checked co-founder Mark Tobin donating his winning bid straight back to the charity.
The festival’s final fundraising figure will be announced once all funds have been tallied.
“The Muster is a huge undertaking, and it simply would not happen without the vital contribution of our volunteers, community groups, artists and campers,” Mr Cavanagh said.
“That spirit of mateship and looking after each other is something we are incredibly proud of.”
