Strawberry Fields announces its 2026 return

With 2025’s festival season only just dipping below the horizon, the 2026 summer’s official launch has been announced this morning, with Strawberry Fields finally breaking its silence.

After yet another sell-out year in 2025, the iconic festival is set to return to the banks of the Dhungala/Murray River from November 20-22 of this year, with another installation set to truly define what an Australian festival can authentically look, feel and sound like.

This morning, Strawberry announced the reopening of its ballot system, a crucial element in ensuring fairness for an event so clearly yearned after by so many. Registrations for Strawberry Fields’ ballot are now open until Tuesday, June 30, 12 PM AEST, with the ballot’s draw taking place on Thursday, July 2. With last year’s event having sold 95% of its tickets even before the lineup was announced, the ballot guarantees fairness for those looking to experience a festival for more than simply its lineup.

The feeling surrounding Strawberry was also something the festival sought to celebrate this morning, sharing its much-loved after-movie, produced by Naarm/Melbourne-based creative agency Enamoured Iris.

Focused on Strawberry’s site, its people, activities and art in equal measure alongside its music, Strawberry Fields 2026 is clearly already focusing its attention on the human and natural exchange of festivals, rather than their oftentimes ‘tekky’ facade.

A commitment to people sees Strawberry continuing its fundraising efforts in 2026, also hoping to match the $100,000 raised for charity last year, and now donating a portion of every ticket sold to Yorta Yorta-led projects.

In an era of high-profile, trend-driven bookings, Strawberry has continued to defy trends and entice punters with an experience that's more than just big names.

Register for Tickets at strawberry-fields.com.au.

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