FAQs

Yes. The 2027 Birdsville Big Red Bash, 6–8 July 2027, is the final edition. After 13 years, the Donovan family has made the decision to bring the event to a close and give it a proper farewell.

After battling site inundation from a huge outback rain event in early 2026, rising costs, recent weather challenges and the extraordinary logistical demands of staging a festival at the world’s most remote festival site, the Donovan family have made the difficult decision to call time on the Big Red Bash. Read the full story, or watch Greg explain the decision.

6–8 July 2027, at the same location: near the Big Red dune on the edge of the Simpson Desert, 35km west of Birdsville, Queensland.

Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Living End, Birds of Tokyo and many more. See the full lineup

Bureau of Meteorology evaporation data and scientific modelling forecast the site to be dry by late February 2027, leaving months for the ground to dry out and firm up. We update our Evaporation Watch every month.

The desert takes back far more than it receives. Birdsville averages around 160mm of rain a year, while the average annual open water evaporation rate is around 3,500mm. October to February are the peak evaporation months, with a long term average of 2,003mm across those five months, against an estimated 1,860mm left in the deepest sections of the site. Locals who know the land are confident too. As Greg puts it: “What I keep being told by locals who know the land is ‘she’ll be right mate’. We’ll even pump it out if we have to!”

On our Evaporation Watch. It tracks the modelled water depth and monthly evaporation at the festival site, and we update it every month. You can also drag through the months to watch the water go down.

Full refunds will be made if the event cannot proceed.

10am AEDT, Thursday 12 November 2026. You’ll be able to pay in full, or secure your tickets with a deposit and pay further instalments from March 2027. Register your interest to hear first. See all the prices on Tickets and passes.

Yes. Tickets that weren’t refunded or transferred by 19 June 2026 were automatically transferred to the 2027 Big Red Bash. You don’t need to do anything.

The Mundi Mundi Bash in Broken Hill continues and becomes the sole focus of the Outback Music Festival Group after 2027. More at mundimundibash.com.au.

Yes. Volunteer applications for 2027 will open in due course. Details will go to our mailing list and to everyone on the Bash Volunteers database.

Check out the First Timers Guide.

The Big Red Bash is in the Aussie outback. See the First Timers Guide and Camping for tips on what to pack (and what to leave at home).

Yes, the Big Red Bash is a family-friendly event with a range of activities for kids. Each child needs a ticket: Youth (5–17 years) or Child (0–4 years). See Tickets and passes.

Yes, the Big Red Bash is dog friendly. Display a Dog Friendly Campsite sticker on your windscreen when you roll into Bashville. The sticker is free. You can collect it at the Ticket Office when you exchange your e-tickets (see Ticket collection). No further dog registration is needed. See Dog Attendance Rules.

Our festival merchandise is available from the Merchandise Tent at the Big Red Bash. EFTPOS and cash are accepted. Some items sell fast, so get in early!

Usually mild, averaging between 6–21°C. Temperatures can range from near zero at night to 30°C during the day, so come prepared for both. See Weather and the Camping page for what to pack.

Birdsville has very limited internet connectivity. Download your e-tickets to your phone, or print a copy, before you arrive.

Every person needs a General Admission ticket: Adult (18+) $845, Youth (5–17) $69 or Child (0–4) $39. It includes all three days and camping at Bashville. Every vehicle also needs a vehicle pass. See Vehicle passes.

Optional extras are the Early Exit Pass ($15), activity tickets (on sale 10am AEDT, Thursday 19 November), Rent a Tent and the Rock n Roll Bus Package. Every ticket is available at the Standard price or with Protection Plan. See all prices on Tickets and passes.

Yes, every vehicle entering the Big Red Bash needs one, in addition to everyone’s General Admission ticket. It’s bought per vehicle, not per person, and covers everyone in it and anything you’re towing.

Campers choose a camping vehicle pass: Camping from Saturday $200, Sunday $165, Monday $140 or Tuesday $59. If you’re staying in Birdsville, you need a Day Parking pass ($29). See Vehicle passes.

Camping vehicle passes set the first day you can roll in: Saturday 3, Sunday 4, Monday 5 or Tuesday 6 July 2027. Roll in on that day or any day after. Everyone camps through to roll out, so Saturday gives you up to three extra nights before the music starts. See Vehicle passes.

No. Camping passes work from a date, not on a date. With Camping from Saturday you can roll in on Saturday 3 July or any day after. See Vehicle passes.

No. If you have a camping sticker, Day Parking is included and you don’t need to buy an additional Day Parking sticker. The Day Parking pass is for people staying in Birdsville town. See Vehicle passes.

An add-on that lets you pack up and leave the campground a day early, on Thursday 8 July between 2pm and 5pm. It costs $15 and 100% goes to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. See Vehicle passes.

Yes. When tickets go on sale you’ll be able to pay in full, or secure your tickets with a deposit and pay further instalments from March 2027. See Tickets and passes.

Capacity is limited and this is the final Big Red Bash, so we’re expecting very high demand. Register your interest and have your details ready before 12 November. See Tickets and passes.

Your wristband allows unlimited entry and exit from the concert area and Bashville site, so passouts aren’t needed. Strict restrictions apply to vehicle movements inside the campground: your car stays at your campsite until roll-out.

No, groups can book in separate orders. This has no bearing on camping together. To camp as a group, arrive in convoy so you’re allocated sites next to each other. See Camping.

Exchange your e-ticket for your vehicle pass and wristbands at the Ticketing Office in Birdsville town, outside the Visitor Information Centre, before you head out to Bashville. Collection runs 9am to 5pm, Sunday 4 to Wednesday 7 July 2027. Your e-ticket arrives about six weeks before the festival. See Ticket collection.

Yes, anyone can exchange a valid e-ticket for a wristband on your behalf. E-tickets can only be scanned once, and wristbands can’t be replaced if lost or stolen, so only pass your e-ticket to someone you trust.

No. We’re unable to reissue or replace wristbands, so treat yours like cash.

Standard tickets are non-refundable unless otherwise outlined in the standard terms and conditions. Protection Plan tickets enable a refund if you can’t attend due to certain unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances. Protection Plan adds 10% to the Standard price. See Tickets and passes.

As per the terms and conditions, tickets may not be resold unless at the point of sell-out via an official resale facility.

Oztix is the only authorised ticket seller. Tickets bought from any other source aren’t guaranteed to be genuine.

Yes. Contact us to arrange this. You’ll need to show proof of your Companion Card before being sent a private link to the complimentary ticket.

35km west of Birdsville, Queensland, on the edge of the Simpson Desert. We call the festival site “Bashville”.

See Getting there and Transport Options for getting to Birdsville, or take the bus from Brisbane. From Birdsville, head west on Adelaide Street and continue for 35km to Bashville. See Directions to Bashville.

No, you can reach Birdsville and the Big Red Bash by 2WD. If you’d like to explore the desert on the way, you’ll get further with a 4WD. See our Travel Guides and Outback Driving tips.

No, please don’t. There’s no need to queue early. Campsites are filled based on efficiency, with several rows filled at once, so arriving right when the gates open doesn’t get you a front-row spot. Early queues just create long traffic jams for everyone. Roll in any time during gate hours and you’ll get a great campsite.

Roll in runs 7am to 5pm every day, from the date on your vehicle pass. The gates close at 5pm sharp. Collect your vehicle pass and wristbands in Birdsville first, then drive out to Bashville. Roll out runs from 7am Friday 9 July to midday Saturday 10 July. With an Early Exit Pass you can leave on Thursday 8 July, 2pm to 5pm. See Camping and Vehicle passes.

Yes, you can stay in Birdsville and come out each day (35km). You’ll need to purchase a Day Parking pass, which lets you use Day Parking from Monday 5 July. See Vehicle passes, Accommodation and the transfer bus.

Birdsville has basic facilities including fuel, groceries, the pub, a bakery, post office, police, medical clinic and tourist information. See Birdsville Facilities.

Yes, a privately operated transfer bus runs between Birdsville and Bashville on concert days. The 2027 timetable will be published closer to the event. See Transfer bus.

Yes. The Rock n Roll Road Trip, hosted by outback specialists Kangaroo Bus Lines, takes you from Brisbane to Birdsville and back on a 65-seat coach, with your tent already set up. It’s from $1,495 per person (twin share tent), and your festival ticket is bought separately. See Bus packages. More options on Tour operators.

Your vehicle pass sets the first day you can roll in: Saturday 3, Sunday 4, Monday 5 or Tuesday 6 July 2027. Everyone camps through to roll out, which runs from 7am Friday 9 July to midday Saturday 10 July. An Early Exit Pass lets you leave on Thursday 8 July, 2pm to 5pm. See Vehicle passes.

All campsites are at least 100m², larger than your average caravan park site. We expect 99% of setups will fit, and a few larger sites are available for big rigs. See Camping at Bashville.

Yes, but you need to arrive at Bashville together. You can’t save a spot for a later arrival, so meet in Birdsville and drive in convoy.

Campsites are allocated on arrival. They’re filled based on efficiency rather than strictly front to back, with several rows filled at once to keep traffic moving. Arriving right when the gates open doesn’t guarantee a front-row spot, so there’s no need to queue early.

No. Once you’re parked, vehicles can’t move until roll out begins at 7am Friday. If you’re staying in Birdsville, Day Parking lets you come and go from 8am to 10pm. See Camping.

Yes, campfires are permitted. Bring your own firewood, as collecting it from the surrounding private property is prohibited. Keep fires to a reasonable size, never leave a fire unattended, and put it out with water, not sand. See Camping.

No, all sites at the Big Red Bash are unpowered. See Camping.

Yes, but only between 8am and 8pm. If you need to run medical equipment overnight, make sure it runs off a battery that can be charged during the day. See Camping.

Drones and UAVs, kites, fireworks, chainsaws and power tools, weapons (including firearms and whips), unauthorised selling of goods and services, and unregistered vehicles. Please don’t bring glass: the only glass at Bashville should be condiment jars in your camp kitchen. See Bashville Camp Rules.

Yes. Rent a Tent is a great option: arrive at Bashville with a pre-erected tent, from $605. Coming by coach? The bus package includes a tent too.

The 2027 lineup is out now. The performance schedule will be announced closer to the event.

As well as a jam-packed lineup of iconic Aussie artists, there’s plenty of other entertainment. See Activities.

Yes. Please drink responsibly. No BBQs, and eskies of a reasonable size only.

Water and non-alcoholic drinks, cans or casks of alcohol (no glass), snacks, an esky of reasonable size (off-road wheels recommended), a chair no taller than 110cm when seated, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and warm clothes and a blanket for night time.

Glass, metal cutlery, umbrellas, aerosols, and tables, sunshades, tents or anything that blocks views of the stage. No animals, except dogs in the allocated area. Bags are checked on entry and prohibited items will be confiscated.

No. There’s no smoking or vaping anywhere in the concert area. Go outside and at least 10m from the boundary fence to smoke.

Yes, there are bins in the plaza and concert area for rubbish, cans and PET plastic bottles. They’re for pedestrian use only, so no campsite rubbish. See Facilities.

We welcome patrons with a disability and accessibility requirements. The Big Red Bash is held in a remote area, but we do our best to provide facilities and assist in any way possible. Special assistance is available to patrons with a government-issued disability parking permit. See Patrons with a Disability to register.

To register online you’ll need to upload a government-issued mobility permit. If you don’t have one, get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.

Yes, get in touch and we can organise a free Companion Card ticket for you.

More details coming soon. We’re confirming the details for 2027 and will update this answer before tickets go on sale. Register your interest and we’ll let you know.

No, it’s a BYO event and no alcohol is sold on site. The Birdsville Pub is the closest place to buy takeaway alcohol, so call in on the way to Bashville.

No, please bring your own. Birdsville town has drinking water available from various locations.

Yes. Can and PET plastic bottle recycling bins are in the Plaza and Concert Area, and we also recycle pizza boxes and collect food scraps for compost. Please separate your cans, bottles, cardboard and food scraps. There’s no glass recycling, so please don’t bring glass. See Facilities.

No. There’s no glass recycling at the Big Red Bash, so please leave glass at home. The only glass you should have on site is condiment jars in your camp kitchen. Bring drinks in cans, casks or plastic instead.

Yes. Almost all our food vendors take EFTPOS, and the Merchandise Stand has EFTPOS with cash out. That said, cash is gold in the outback, so we always recommend bringing some as a back-up.

Yes. Queensland Ambulance provides a comprehensive medical facility at Bashville, integrated with RFDS and the Birdsville Primary Health Centre. See Emergency.

No, so bring all the medication you’ll need for the whole trip.

Staying Friday night costs nothing extra. Toilets run until midday Saturday. Food vendors, the medical centre, firewood and ice all close after Friday morning, so bring enough food and water. See Facilities.

At the Info Tent at Bashville or in Birdsville. After the event, unclaimed lost property is handed to the Birdsville Police Station.

Unfortunately, we can’t refund ticket holders who choose to sign on to volunteer.

More details coming soon. We’re confirming the details for 2027 and will update this answer before tickets go on sale. Register your interest and we’ll let you know.

More details coming soon. We’re confirming the details for 2027 and will update this answer before tickets go on sale. Register your interest and we’ll let you know.

More details coming soon. We’re confirming the details for 2027 and will update this answer before tickets go on sale. Register your interest and we’ll let you know.

More details coming soon. We’re confirming the details for 2027 and will update this answer before tickets go on sale. Register your interest and we’ll let you know.

More details coming soon. We’re confirming the details for 2027 and will update this answer before tickets go on sale. Register your interest and we’ll let you know.

More details coming soon. We’re confirming the details for 2027 and will update this answer before tickets go on sale. Register your interest and we’ll let you know.

No. If you want to camp next to a friend, meet in Birdsville and roll into the campground together.

Volunteers and anyone travelling in a volunteer’s vehicle. Friends or relatives who aren’t volunteering and aren’t in a volunteer’s vehicle camp in the regular campsite.

In the dog camping area. You must follow the dog attendance rules.

Every volunteer must sign on and off for each shift at Event Control, unless your shift manager says otherwise.

Water (2L minimum per day), sun protection, personal medication, your crew handbook, a head torch and spare batteries, snacks, and a warm jacket, rain jacket, beanie and layers. Check with your team manager for any extra gear for your shift.

Following unprecedented rainfall and flooding across the region in late February and early March 2026, the festival site was inundated and could not dry in time for the event to be held safely. Options for relocating the festival within the Birdsville region were carefully explored but found to be infeasible.

If you didn’t request a refund or transfer by 19 June 2026, your tickets were automatically transferred to the 2027 Big Red Bash (6–8 July 2027). You don’t need to do anything.

The refund and transfer window closed on 19 June 2026. Standard Terms & Conditions now apply.

Your remaining instalments were paused and rescheduled for 2027. The three remaining instalments will be charged on 23 March, 20 April and 18 May 2027, and you’ll get an email reminder before each one.

Volunteers could roll their shifts over to the 2027 Big Red Bash or cancel. All volunteers were emailed by Bash Volunteers with instructions. If you need to get in touch, contact us.

Koolaz offered the same options as ticket holders: a refund, or a transfer to the 2027 Big Red Bash or the 2026 Mundi Mundi Bash. For anything about your order, contact Koolaz via koolazice.com.au.