Here is the most comprehensive guide to the festive happenings on the NSW Far North Coast and the Northern Rivers. On this page you can find festivals and cultural events in and around the Byron Shire, up the coast to the Tweed region, inland to Lismore and Nimbin, and down to Ballina.
Most events wait a while before locking in next year’s dates, in which case we will leave the previous dates listed as a guide to when they run.
Jump to: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
If you want us to include your festival or cultural event, please get in touch. It’s a lot of info to collect and maintain, so if things have changed and we need to update something please let us know!
For the regular markets, please check out our other handy guide here.
Photos by The Echo‘s veteran festival chronicler, Jeff Dawson
January
McGregors Family Carnival – Brunswick Heads, mid-Dec to late Jan
Starlight Festival – Bangalow – 7–10 Jan 2027
Fish ‘n Chips Festival / Woodchop Carnival – Brunswick Heads
February
V-Day Byron Bay – 14 Feb
North Coast Show and Shine – Ballina, last ran Sun 22 Feb, 2026
Flickerfest – Mullumbimby, last ran Thu 27 Feb to Sat 1 Mar, 2025
March
World Naked Bike Ride Byron Bay – last ran Sun 8 Mar 2026
Mullum Autumn Plant Fair – last ran Sun 16 Mar 2025
April
Future Blue Fest – Byron Bay, last ran Sun 6 Apr 2025
Murbah Youth Fest – last ran Sat 19 Apr 2026
Byron Bay Bluesfest – permanently cancelled in 2026! – Tyagarah, Easter long weekend
Byron Triathlon – last ran 26 Apr 2026
May
Nimbin MardiGrass – first weekend in May
Byron Comedy Festival – last ran 2–3 May 2025
Harvest Food Trail – last ran May 3–25, 2025
Byron Bay Ocean Swim Classic: Winter Whales – first Sunday in May
Byron Harmony Day Festival – last ran Sun 12 May 2024
Blues on Broadbeach – Gold Coast, last ran 14–17 May 2026
Caper Byron Bay – last ran 17–26 May 2024
Bangalow Billycart Derby – 16 May 2027
Casino Beef Week – last ran 23–31 May 2026
Mullum to Bruns Paddle – (returning 2027)
June
Bangalow Film Festival – last ran 1–11 June 2026
Cooly Rocks On – last ran 3–7 Jun 2026
Brunswick Heads Old and Gold Festival – last ran Sat 6 Jun 2026
Festival Of The Stone – Byron Bay, last ran Sat 20 Jun 2026
Love Lennox Festival – last ran Sat 13 Jun 2026
Byron Music Festival – last ran Sat 17 Jun 2024
Lismore Lantern Parade – Winter Solstice
July
Oz Grom Open – Lennox Head, last ran 3–8 Jul 2025
Back to Bruns Hot Rod Event – Brunswick Heads
Mullum Roots Festival – 11–12 Jul 2026
Winter Food Festival – Alstonville, Last ran Sat 12 Jul 2025
Splendour in the Grass (2025 cancelled, doubtful that it will return)
August
Byron Writers Festival – Bangalow, last ran 8–10 Aug 2025
Byron Bay Surf Festival – Aug 2026
North Coast Mud Trail – last ran 16–17 Aug 2025
Kaledio Festival “Colours of Mullum” – Aug 2026
September
Tweed Regional Museum Street Party – last ran Sat 6 Sep 2025
Sample Food Festival – Bangalow, last ran Sat 6 Sep 2025
Nimbin Performance Poetry World Cup – 6–7 Sep 2027
New Earth Expo – Murwillumbah, last ran 14 Sep 2024
Chinny Charge – Mullumbimby, Sat 19 Sep 2026
Lismore Cup – 25 Sep 2026
National Circus Festival – Mullumbimby, Sun 26 – Thurs 30 Sep 2026
Woodburn Riverside Festival – last ran 27 Sep 202
Riverfest – across the Northern Rivers, last ran 28 Sep – 26 Oct 2025
October
Iluka Mermaid Festival – previously ran 5 Oct 2025
Dingo Festival – Bangalow, 9–11 Oct 2026
Mullum Spring Plant Fair – previously ran Sat 12 Oct 2024
Byron Bay International Film Festival – 16–25 Oct 2026
Matsuri Japan Festival Byron Bay – last ran Sat 18 Oct 2025
Nimbin Roots Festival (no longer running) – last ran 24–26 Oct 2025
Grafton Jacaranda Festival – 30 Oct – 8 Nov 2026
Savour The Tweed – 21–25 Oct 2026
Alstonville Agricultural Show – last ran 24–25 Oct 2025
Byron Latin Fiesta – 29 Oct – 1 Nov 2026
Murwillumbah Show – 30–31 Oct 2026
November
Mullumbimby Show – last ran 7–9 Nov 2025
Bangalow Show – last ran 14–15 Nov 2025
Kingscliff Triathlon – Sun 22 Nov 2026
Dis-Co Ball (SPRUNG!!) – Bangalow, 28 Nov 2026
Byron Wellness Festival – Fri 27 Nov – Sun 29 Nov
December
Shearwater WAVE Wearable Arts – Mullumbimby, last ran 10–13 Dec 2025
Soul Street family-friendly New Year’s Eve – Byron Bay, Dec 31
Alstonville New Year’s Eve Family Festival – Dec 31
McGregors Family Carnival – Brunswick Heads, mid-Dec to late Jan
Falls Festival (cancelled until further notice)
