Passport
To Airlie
- Cairns
- Townsville
- Mackay
- Sunshine Coast
- Brisbane
- Gold Coast
- Byron Bay
- Newcastle
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Bells Beach
Australia's largest live original music initiative
Passport to Airlie isn’t a competition – it’s a launchpad for Australia’s next generation of live, original music legends.
From dive bars to festival stages, every headliner started somewhere – hustling, grinding and proving that original music deserves a crowd. This is where that journey begins.
We take over regional stages across the country, giving bands and artists the chance to ignite their hometowns before battling it out for a spot at Airlie Beach Festival of Music. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s where grassroots talent meets the stage and where venues throw their weight behind live, homegrown sound.
No cover songs. No tributes. Just pure originality.
REGIONAL DATES & LOCATIONS
Events run nationally from June to September. Confirmed dates include:
- Cairns Final at Tanks Arts Centre – Sept 13
- Townsville Final at The Warehouse – Aug 23
- Mackay Heat at Metropolitan Hotel – Aug 16 | Final – Aug 23
- Sunshine Coast Heats at Kings Beach Tavern – Aug 6 & 13 | Final – Aug 23
- Brisbane Final at Lefty’s Music Hall – Sept 13
- Gold Coast Heats at The Wallaby Hotel – Aug 22 & 29 | Final – Aug 30
- Byron Bay Final at The Rails Friendly Bar – Sept 5
- Newcastle Heats at The Stag & Hunter – July 19 & 26, Aug 2 & 9 | Semis – Aug 16 & 23 | Final – Aug 30
- Sydney Heat at The Bridge Hotel – Sept 4 | Final – Sept 18
- Melbourne Heat at Kindred Studios – July 3 (RSVP) | Final – July 10 (RSVP)
- Bells Beach Final at Bells Beach Brewing – Aug 22
Prize Information
The Ultimate Live Music Journey
The standout act from each region earns their way to Airlie Beach, where they’ll bring their music to a national stage and dive into an unforgettable festival experience, including:
- Four nights’ accommodation in Airlie Beach for up to five band members
- Three-day VIP Festival Passes including food and beverages (valued at $1,050 per person)
- Tiered prize money based on act size, with $500 for solo artists, $1,000 for duos, $1,500 for trios and $2,000 for full bands
- National PR exposure
- The opportunity to perform in paradise
And for the encore? The ultimate act doesn’t just take home the glory – they score the full rockstar treatment all over again next year. That means another VIP trip to Airlie Beach, another killer festival experience and the biggest prize of all – a spot on the main stage at Airlie Beach Festival of Music 2027.
Entries are open
PASSPORT TO AIRLIE PAST WINNERS
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Get Involved
Event Partners
Unlock the gateway to unforgettable experiences as an Event Partner for Passport to Airlie – Australia’s largest live original music initiative.
Join us in shaping the next wave of talent while aligning your brand with a dynamic national platform that celebrates live music and community.
Gain meaningful exposure, connect with diverse and engaged audiences, and be part of a vibrant cultural movement that brings people together across Australia.
Elevate your brand through our high-energy network and access thousands of dedicated artists and music fans.
Frequenty Asked Questions
Need to know more?
It’s completely free to enter. No fees, just get involved.
Entries are open NOW!
Regional event entries generally close the week prior to each event date – so don’t wait too long… entries may close early if we hit capacity!
Like our parent event, the Airlie Beach Festival of Music, we like to mix things up.
We keep pre-recorded elements to a minimum and back artists who can bring their sound to life on stage (see T&Cs for the details).
That means you’ll experience everything from hip-hop to blues, heavy rock to folk pop – all performed live and original.
Our regional and national teams will review your entry to make sure it meets the criteria outlined in the Terms & Conditions.
If you’re all good to go, you’ll receive a Welcome message from your host. If not, we’ll send through a quick “Why not?” with some feedback.
From there, your regional host will be in touch with all the details – dates, venues, and everything you need to get stage ready.
Got questions in the meantime? Shoot us an email to passport@airliebeachfestivalofmusic.com.au and we’ll help you out.
Original music is what this is all about. Your set needs to be at least 80% original – this is your chance to show us your sound.
Anything essential to your sound – instruments, leads, mics, pedals, the works. Your host will let you know what backline is provided.
A lot of care goes into selecting judges for our events. All judges are involved on a voluntary basis and are respected industry professionals, bringing real experience and perspective.
Our scoring sheets have been developed over years to assess the key qualities we believe make an artist or act stand out.
Every category is clearly outlined and scored to keep the process transparent and consistent across all events.
If you make it through to the finals, you’ll need to be available for the Airlie Beach Festival of Music in November (6-8th).
You’ll represent your region at the Passport to Airlie Showcase at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music 2026, performing alongside – and sharing the stage with – some of the festival’s headline acts.