Australia’s regional music community is heading to Mount Gambier in 2026 for the third edition of the National Regional and Remote Music Summit. The event, which brings together voices from across Australia’s regional and remote areas, will take place on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, continuing a conversation that began with the 2024 gathering and is set to continue this week in Byron Bay.
Mount Gambier’s hosting of the 2026 summit follows a growing interest in fostering creativity and cooperation within regional music scenes. The event is expected to draw artists, industry figures, policymakers and community leaders, with a program of panels, workshops, live performances and discussions aimed at supporting and growing regional music’s place in the wider national industry.
The 2026 edition will be delivered by MusicSA, the South Australian not-for-profit dedicated to supporting contemporary music, in partnership with local and national organisations. Funding support has been confirmed from both the Albanese and Malinauskas Governments, via Music Australia.
Mount Gambier’s selection reflects its evolving status as a hub for live music in South Australia’s southeast. According to Christine Schloithe, Chief Executive of MusicSA, the organisation has spent years laying the groundwork in the area.
“Over the past several years, MusicSA has invested in building Mount Gambier as a regional touring hub—supporting local talent, connecting artists with venues, and building sustainable live music infrastructure,” Schloithe said. “Hosting the Summit here is a natural next step and we can’t wait to share the region’s creative and music spirit with the rest of the country.”
The upcoming summit is being framed as a platform for exploring practical ways to support regional musicians and industry workers, especially in places where distance and infrastructure continue to present challenges. Details of the 2026 program, including speakers and artist showcases, are expected to be revealed closer to the date.
South Australian Minister for Arts, Andrea Michaels, said Mount Gambier is well placed to host the next national gathering.
“We want South Australia to be home to a thriving music culture including in our regions and Mount Gambier is the perfect place to host the Regional and Remote Music Conference,” Michaels said. “This event will help build upon the previous support and investment we have made to support local artists on the Limestone Coast and bring together musicians and industry professionals for important conversations about how we can best champion regional music right across the country.”
With the Byron Bay summit underway this week, attention will soon shift to what Mount Gambier can offer as the next national meeting point. For now, the 2026 summit shapes up as an opportunity to continue amplifying regional voices in the music industry—both literally and strategically—while showcasing the unique culture of South Australia’s southeast.
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