‘Follow the Sun’ to the Airlie Beach Festival of Music

Follow the Sun’ to the Airlie Beach Festival of Music

Xavier Rudd, Mental as Anything, The Whitlams and more on first lineup announcement for November 2026

The call is out for fans of Xavier Rudd to ‘Follow the Sun’ to the 2026 Airlie Beach Festival of Music from November 6-8.

Set to arrive straight from a European festival tour, the popular Australian singer-songwriter says in addition to his much-loved catalogue of hits, a few surprises are in store for the Whitsunday audience, hinting: “There will be some new music at this show, which will be played for the first time in Australia”.

Having visited Airlie Beach briefly on previous Australian tours, Rudd is already familiar with the region’s scenic beauty, but this will be his first time playing its signature event, dubbed a ‘party in paradise’ and the ‘ultimate music holiday’.

“From the photos I’ve seen, the festival setting is amazing,” he said.

“My music is definitely a celebration of our natural world, so a place like Airlie feels especially aligned with songs like ‘Follow the Sun’.

“These are the kinds of shows I love, and hopefully, weather permitting, we can actually pull down the tent and play under the stars!”

Equally as famous for his unwavering commitment to social and environmental activism as he is for his extraordinary gifts as a musician, the significance of playing at a destination known as the ‘Heart of the Great Barrier Reef’ isn’t lost on Rudd.

“I’ve been lucky to witness some of the good work that people are doing in the world of reef regeneration and that’s inspiring,” he said.

“Hopefully we can continue down that path.”

Also urging festivalgoers to ‘Live it Up’ in Airlie Beach is beloved Australian band Mental As Anything, whose performance will form part of a historic 50^th anniversary tour, comprising a limited number of exclusive festival appearances and select metropolitan headline shows.

Original member and iconic pop artist, Reg Mombassa, is promising fans a rare and unforgettable opportunity to experience the band’s timeless hits live once more, and celebrate their unique blend of songwriting, artistry, and performance flair.

“We’re known for being a party band, so the Airlie Beach Festival of Music is a perfect fit,” he said.

In total agreeance that there’s ‘No Aphrodisiac’ quite like it are The Whitlams, whose frontman Tim Freedman says the band is thrilled to be one of the festival’s headliners for 2026.

“I’ve been wanting to return to the Whitsundays for decades and now we have the chance,” he said, adding: “it’s a great line-up, music lifts the soul, and we rock!”

Other additions to the first line-up release include The Radiators, Adam Harvey, 19-Twenty, Skinny Living (UK), Little Quirks, The Mason Rack Band, The Wayward Suns, Loonaloop, Salt & Steel and the Airlie Beach Festival of Music’s 2025 Passport to Airlie competition winners Monroe.

Tickets are on sale now at www.airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au costing $325 for a three-day pass, or $1100 for a VIP package, both including entry to the opening and after parties that bookend the main event.

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Media Enquiries: media@airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au / 0402 126 461

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