Twenty-five years is a significant milestone for any festival, but Blues on Broadbeach's achievement feels particularly noteworthy given how thoroughly it has embedded itself into both Australia's music calendar and the Gold Coast's cultural identity. From modest beginnings in 2002 with 5,000 attendees across two stages, the festival has evolved into a four-day celebration that has featured 600 artists and attracted music lovers from around the world.
The 2026 edition, running May 14-17, arrives with fresh validation: Gold award in the Major Festivals and Events category at the Queensland Tourism Awards, and a first-announcement lineup that demonstrates the festival's continued ability to attract international heavyweights alongside Australia's finest blues and roots artists.
The Teskey Brothers' inclusion as Sunday Ticket headliners addresses what has become something of a curious omission, given that one of Australia's most acclaimed contemporary soul-blues bands has never previously appeared at this blues festival. They were in fact booked to appear ten years ago, but unfortunately postponed due to a conflict with their European touring schedule. Now, their long-awaited debut promises to be one of the weekend's highlights, particularly given the band's reputation for emotionally charged live performances that have earned them ARIA awards and international touring success.
The festival's international bookings demonstrate serious curatorial ambition. Charlie Musselwhite, at 80 years old with six decades of performing behind him, represents a living connection to blues' foundational era. His Grammy Award-winning harmonica work has influenced generations of musicians, making his first-ever Blues on Broadbeach appearance feel like overdue recognition of the festival's maturity. Musselwhite's presence alongside recently crowned Grammy winner Ruthie Foster, whose 2024 album Mileage took Best Contemporary Blues Album, creates intergenerational dialogue between blues' past and present.
Robert Finley's inclusion adds gritty Louisiana soul to proceedings, while Judith Hill brings crossover credentials from collaborations with Prince, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder. Hill's powerhouse vocals and genre-spanning approach could provide interesting tension with more traditional blues programming, potentially expanding the festival's sonic palette.
The Australian contingent balances festival favourites with emerging talent. Ash Grunwald's return brings the fiery live energy that has made him fixture on international blues circuits, while The Lachy Doley Trio's organ-driven performances promise the kind of explosive musicianship that translates particularly well to outdoor festival settings. Kevin Borich Express represents Australian blues history, the guitarist has been fixture on the scene since the 1970s, while Karen Lee Andrews' powerful vocals should provide standout moments across the weekend.
The largely free four-day program remains the festival's democratic heart, ensuring accessibility while generating revenue through ticketed premium experiences. This model has proven sustainable across 25 years, allowing the festival to grow without pricing out the local community that has supported it since inception.
The Twelve Bar Society's return for 2026 offers deeper engagement for serious blues enthusiasts. In Conversation sessions with Musselwhite and Foster provide rare access to artists whose careers span decades and continents, while the exclusive Secret Show and VIP viewing areas create premium experiences without fundamentally altering the festival's egalitarian character.
The festival's evolution from 5,000 attendees to one of Australia's largest music events demonstrates both the enduring appeal of blues music and the organisers' ability to adapt programming while maintaining artistic integrity. The challenge for any 25-year-old festival is avoiding complacency while honouring what made it successful.
For 2026, Blues on Broadbeach appears to have struck an appropriate balance, honouring tradition through artists like Musselwhite while embracing contemporary voices like Judith Hill and WILSN. The beachside setting, Pacific Ocean backdrop, and Broadbeach's infrastructure provide natural advantages, but sustaining quality across 25 years requires more than geography.
Whether this anniversary edition proves genuinely special or merely marks time will depend on programming choices still to be announced and how well the expanded venue footprint serves both artists and audiences.
Blues on Broadbeach runs May 14-17, 2026 across multiple Broadbeach venues. Sunday Ticket presale begins November 25. More info and tickets: https://bluesonbroadbeach.com/
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