Rainbow Spirit festival returns after six-year hiatus

One of Australia's most beloved and historic festivals is set to return in 2026, after a six-year hiatus influenced by both the 2020 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rainbow Spirit, formerly known as Rainbow Serpent, returns on 6–9 March, 2026, for 'Gathering Light,' described as "not just a return, but a renewal."

Rainbow started in 1998, has long stood as one of its home's most trustworthy events, garnering attention the world over for its commitment to psychedelic trance, minimal techno and other more 'fringe' styles of electronic music. In 2023, the festival decided to change its name. Originally called Rainbow Serpent, the change aimed to move away from the cultural appropriation of an important Dreamtime story for First Nations people.

With approximately 12,000 people attending year after year, Rainbow developed a reputation for camaraderie and community, inspiring many other festivals with similar intentions.

Yesterday, Rainbow's return announcement re-established the importance of such an ethos both in its legacy and its future. "Rainbow is awakening. Small and more connected. Alive with the same spirit that's always carried us forward," the festival shared in a post to its social channels.

"Rainbow isn't just something we attend - it's something we hold within us. Together, we reveal what can only exist when we unite," the post continued.

Outside of this sentiment, however, quite a bit is set to change for the 2026 event. Most notably, Rainbow will not be returning to its home on Dja Dja Wurrung Land/Lexton, instead moving to Taungurung Land/Tallarook, just north of Naarm/Melbourne.

'Gathering Light' will also see a reduced capacity, in line with this change of venue. As a result, Rainbow is encouraging fans, whether new or old, to register via its sign-up, which closes at 7 PM on Wednesday, October 15.

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