Entertainment
12 February, 2026
Local events vie for music awards
SAVANNAH in the Round and Tablelands Folk Festival are vying to win the Festival of the Year as part of the 2026 Queensland Music Awards.
The Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns has been nominated for best regional music venue in the awards which will be announced in Brisbane on 22 April.
Mareeba’s Savannah in the Round has gone from strength to strength since it started in 2019 and, last year, they had a record turn-out for the four-day festival, with 32,000 patrons going in and out of the grounds over the course of the event.
Tablelands Folk Festival is another popular annual event which transforms Yungaburra into a lively weekend of music, markets and magic, featuring more than 50 local and national acts across genres, from folk, rock, and blues to swing and jazz.
Housed in World War II–era fuel tanks beneath the rainforest canopy of Mt Whitfield, Tanks Arts Centre has developed a reputation for supporting regional musicians, emerging talent and touring artists in a venue closely connected to the Cairns community.
The 2026 Queensland Music Awards will be held at the Fortitude Music Hall on 22 April, recognising excellence across blues, folk, pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop, country and electronic music as judged by more than 100 Australian and international music industry professionals.
Presented by The Music, the People’s Choice Awards include Festival of the Year, Regional Venue of the Year and Metro Venue of the Year.
