Gateway Festival returns for its second year & announces 2025 lineup

While festival announcements as of late have put the focus mainly on big, multi-day summer marathons, the one-day events, often run by more grassroots and DIY-focused groups, are getting ready to throw their hat in the ring.

Gateway Festival, now back for its second year and with a more eclectic lineup than ever before, is one such event.

The festival has announced its return on Saturday, December 6, at one of Naarm's most stunning locations, Heide Museum of Modern Art's Sculpture Gardens. The gardens, just a short distance from the CBD, last year played host to an inaugural event which saw the meshing of Heide's stunning grounds and sculptural garden with Gateway's ear for curation.

This year, that curation brings a variety of exciting international talent to be paired with Naarm's ever-growing resource of world-class electronic music. Internationally that sees tINI, bringing her brand 'tINI And The Gang' for a takeover of Gateway's main stage which includes Uruguay's Z@p and Brazil's Lucas. Lena Willikens, GE-OLOGY, Bliss Inc., deep creep and Jamback round out an impressive international offering bringing everything from minimal to electro and much in between.

Locally, Gateway has tapped the likes of Séarlait, Poli-Pearl, Solar Suite, Baby G, Dolly, DAWS, Folly Hifi DJs, Kimi, and Radart (live), once again demonstrating the wide variety of sound and movement within Gateway's curatorial palette.

Of this year's event, festival organiser Charlotte Layton shared her excitement in bringing Gateway's second year to life:

“Our goal has always been to create an experience where people feel connected—to music, to art, and to each other,” said Layton. “Heide’s grounds offer something rare: an accessible, open-air space surrounded by nature and culture. It’s the perfect setting for what we’re building, and after positive feedback from punters and performers we’re so excited to be back.”

Gateway Festival will be held on Saturday, December 6 from 2PM to 11PM at Heide MOMA in Bulleen. Tickets are on sale from Monday, August 4.

View the full lineup below:

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Jack Colquhoun is Mixmag ANZ's Managing Editor, find him on Instagram.