Who Could - And Won't Be - Playing At Good Things Festival 2026

With the dates and venues confirmed, it seems the highly anticipated line-up announcement for Good Things 2026 is imminent. So, while we wait, The Music rounded up who could perform - and who's ruled out - at this year's festival.

Good Things Festival is returning to the East Coast of Australia in December, to the delight of punters who have attended every edition of the event – or never gone before – and anticipation is reaching fever pitch.

This week, the festival team shared the venues for this year’s travelling extravaganza: Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse on Friday, 4 December, Sydney Showground – for the second consecutive year – on Saturday, 5 December, and Brisbane Showgrounds on Sunday, 6 December.

With the dates and venues confirmed, it seems the highly anticipated line-up announcement for Good Things 2026 is imminent.

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It’s been challenging to predict who could be performing at this year’s Good Things Festival, as so many bands who would typically fit the bill have already announced headline tour dates.

But there are always bands touring in countries throughout Asia around the time of Good Things or teasing their return to Australia, so we’ve still managed to come up with a list of who could be – and won’t be – performing at Good Things 2026.

We at The Music like to give things a red-hot crack, so here goes!

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Who Could Be Playing

My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance are touring across Asia in November, and their tour dates for the year wrap up at the Jakarta International Stadium in Indonesia on Sunday, 22 November.

They last played in Australia in March 2023, on their Reunion Tour. If they are heading our way again, they could definitely headline Good Things Festival, especially when they’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Black Parade.

Limp Bizkit

As Wall of Sound notes in their predictions piece, Limp Bizkit were cheeky and commented with a side-eye emoji on Good Things Festival’s Instagram post confirming this year’s dates. They last visited our shores in December 2023, high up on that year’s Good Things bill.

The Smashing Pumpkins

They’re another huge name, but considering that Good Things secured frontman Billy Corgan for appearances a few years ago, The Smashing Pumpkins on the bill – currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of Mellon Collie and their 40th anniversary, simultaneously – isn’t totally out of the picture. Especially when their current tour dates conclude in November.

Bullet For My Valentine

Last October, Bullet For My Valentine frontman Matt Tuck told fans in Sydney that they’d be back in Australia before the end of 2026. That’s approaching now…

Knocked Loose

Knocked Loose have months of free time on their touring schedule, with their 2026 dates wrapping on 8 November and their next shows taking place in April 2027. The band unfortunately had to pull out of last year’s festival due to a family emergency, so fingers crossed they’re back this year.

The All-American Rejects

Like Knocked Loose, The All-American Rejects were forced to withdraw from last year’s Good Things due to an emergency. They have no tour dates scheduled after November, so returning to Australia just might be on the agenda.

Simple Plan

Simple Plan opened for The Offspring in Australia last year, but it’s never too soon to have them back. With a sizeable gap in their touring schedule in December – Hong Kong on 1 December and Niagara Falls on 19 December – they could just squeeze in playing at Good Things Festival.

Spiritbox

Australian Spiritbox fans have been waiting to see the metalcore outfit since they made their debut Down Under in 2023, performing at Knotfest and a one-off headline show. The band’s current tour concludes on 21 November, so scheduling-wise, it works. Fingers crossed.

SPEED

In an unbelievable fact, SPEED have never performed at Good Things (they have appeared at Knotfest, though). They have no tour dates after the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas in October, so Good Things would make a hell of a homecoming.

Steel Panther

Wall of Sound reports that Steel Panther frontman Michael Starr teased the band’s return to Australia in an Instagram live a few months ago, even going as far as to say they’ll be playing at Good Things. Spoiler alert?

Bilmuri

Self-proclaimed “Dethcore/ambient/post-jazz” star Bilmuri announced a world tour back in February, with the Australian/New Zealand dates blurred out. Since those dates haven’t been revealed yet, there’s a good chance that they’re festival appearances.

Alexisonfire

The Canadian post-hardcore group have no tour dates scheduled after November and recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of their seminal album, Crisis. Alexisonfire would RIP at Good Things.

Pig Pen

Alexisonfire’s Wade MacNeil also performs in the hardcore band Pig Pen, led by vocalist Matty Matheson. With no shows coming up and growing in popularity, they could just make their way to Australia in December.

Playlunch

Playlunch last played to fans at home in June, but as they’ve toured with Good Things Festival promoter Destroy All Lines in the past, their current international tour dates conclude in September, and Good Things loves an out-there band, we reckon they’re on the bill – and would pull a massive crowd.

Hayley Williams

Maybe we’re dreaming, but the Paramore singer and acclaimed solo artist would be an awesome fit for Good Things Festival. But Hayley would also be great for Laneway Festival, so who knows. We just think one of the festivals would be clever to secure Hayley for her solo Australian debut.

Her current tour schedule has space between 28 November 2026 and 7 January 2027.

Trophy Eyes

Trophy Eyes have no upcoming tour dates scheduled, and they’re always an engaging live act, so we’d love to watch these Aussie rockers at Good Things.

WAAX

While the Maz DeVita-led project toured Australia in May, those were some intimate shows supporting her new album, ANGEL’S MESS. With no tour dates after October, it would be neat to see WAAX on the Good Things bill.

The Beautiful Monument

The Beautiful Monument played some intimate shows in April, but their highly anticipated new album, Euphoric Thriller, drops this week (7 August). While they’re supporting Chiodos on their upcoming Australian tour dates, they’d also be a perfect fit for Good Things.