More than 15,000 music fans are expected to descend on Wollongong over the October long weekend, bringing millions of dollars in spending to the city’s pubs, restaurants, hotels and local businesses.
Over 80 artists will take over Flagstaff Hill and venues across the city, with G Flip, Ball Park Music and PNAU on the bill, alongside an Australian-exclusive appearance from bbno$.
The two-day festival is expected to inject more than $4 million into the local visitor economy.
It’s a huge evolution for an event that started as a small community festival in 2014.
The Minns Labor Government is backing Yours & Owls as it continues that growth, helping turn a home-grown Wollongong festival into an event capable of attracting music fans from across Australia.
Yours & Owls has previously received support through the Destination NSW-managed Regional Event Fund and is now receiving major event funding for the second year, along with support from Sound NSW’s Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund.
The investment is part of the Minns Labor Government’s push to build a strong calendar of major events across NSW, supporting live music while giving people more reasons to visit regional communities and spend with local businesses.
And Wollongong is showing exactly why that investment matters.
The city hosted 26 major events in 2025-26, attracting more than 42,800 visitors and generating $41.4 million in direct economic impact.
Destination NSW-supported events in Wollongong in 2026 include the Women’s NSW Open Championship, Wings Over Shellharbour and the Rugby League World Cup.
Yours & Owls Festival will take place from 3-4 October 2026 at Flagstaff Hill and venues across Wollongong. For more information and to book tickets, go to https://yoursandowlsfestival.com.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast and Member for Keira Ryan Park:
“Yours & Owls is a great example of what can happen when a home-grown festival is given the opportunity to grow. What started as a small community event is now attracting some of Australia’s biggest artists and thousands of visitors from across the country.
“Labor is proud to be backing the festival for a second year and helping put Wollongong on the map as a destination for live music and major events.
“With more than 15,000 people expected to attend and more than $4 million forecast to flow into the local visitor economy, this is about supporting the vibrancy of our city and creating opportunities for local businesses.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper:
“Labor backs live music, and we back events that bring people into our regional cities and put money through the doors of local businesses.
“Yours & Owls is a great Wollongong success story. It started as a small community festival and has grown into a major event attracting thousands of music fans to the Illawarra.
“When 15,000 people come into town for a festival, they’re not just buying a ticket. They’re booking hotel rooms, grabbing dinner, heading to the pub and spending with local businesses.
“That’s why the Minns Labor Government is backing events like Yours & Owls. They create a great weekend for music fans while supporting local jobs and businesses at the same time.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:
”The Yours & Owls Festival has grown from a backyard idea into one of the best weekends on the calendar for our city, and this is something the whole community can be proud of.
“Locals know what this festival means for our city. It fills our pubs, cafes and hotels, it gives our hospitality workers a boost, and it shows off everything that makes Wollongong a great place to live and visit.
“I want to thank Adam, Ben and the Yours & Owls team for everything they do to bring this festival to life, and I encourage everyone in Wollongong to get behind it and show our visitors why this is such a special part of the world – I've already bought my ticket.
Quotes attributable to Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart:
“Yours & Owls has become one of the Illawarra’s biggest entertainment drawcards, bringing thousands of visitors into the region.
The major event funding helps the festival keep growing while boosting the local economy through the increase in visitor spending during the festival.
It’s a major win for the whole Illawarra community, strengthening the region’s reputation as a home for major events, and offering an opportunity for our amazing local Illawarra artists to showcase their talent.
For local artists, Yours & Owls is a springboard to national and international stages, helping them reach new audiences and build their careers.”
Quotes attributable to Adam Smith, Director of Yours & Owls:
“Yours & Owls has always been about bringing great live music to Wollongong and giving people another reason to visit our city.
We’re incredibly grateful for the NSW Government’s continued support in helping us do that.
This year we’re excited to bring together an incredible lineup and welcome music fans from across NSW and Australia to Wollongong for a huge weekend of live music over the October long weekend"
