Australian rock festival Wanstock is returning for its largest year to date in 2026.

Locking in a line-up of local and international talent, the events will take place at the Shoppingtown Hotel in Doncaster, Melbourne, and Selina’s in Sydney. Melbourne punters can be part of the fun across two nights – Friday, 20 March, and Saturday, 21 March, and Selina’s on Friday, 20 March.

Canadian Hall of Famers Loverboy will play their first-ever Australian shows next March. They’ll be joined by New Zealand rock icons Dragon, and Aussie heroes 1927, Choirboys, Pseudo Echo, Bachelor Girl, Taxiride featuring Jason Singh, Ventura, and more. You can find the line-up per date and city below.

Tickets for Wanstock 2026 are available now via the festival website for Melbourne and the Selina’s website for Sydney.

“We are excited to be coming to Australia for the first time in the band’s history next year,” Loverboy said. “It is a dream come true; we are honoured to join the fantastic line-up for Wanstock in Melbourne and play in the beautiful city of Sydney! Get your tickets now, and we’ll see you down under!”

Dragon added, “We are so excited to be part of Wanstock once again; it’s been too long. It’s always a pleasure to have a spot on such a great line-up with so much Australian talent, and the legendary LOVERBOY from Canada!”

Organiser Geoff Wansbrough launched Wanstock in 2018 after being inspired to ask his favourite bands to play at his birthday. Since its 2018 beginnings, the festival has gradually expanded from its original home, the Burvale Hotel, to its current home, the Shoppingtown Hotel, in 2019. Each year, the event features classic rock bands and emerging acts.

“I grew up in that awesome Aussie pub rock era of the 1980s and 90s. Every pub had bands, and the cream rose to the top, and we gave the world some great acts. As such, I used to see a lot of bands back in the day, and I still do,” Wansbrough explained.

Wansbrough added, “Each year, I try and make it bigger and better. Now, it consists of a few components: to have two or three of the classic acts from back in the day, to give some of the emerging talent a chance to play, and to have a cover band playing all our favourites to get everyone partying and dancing. Basically, I put it on to support our local music talent, and so we can have a bit of fun while we still can.

“I really look forward to putting on Wanstock each year. It gives us all a chance to forget about our worries and enjoy some of that great music of our youth. For this next event, I am particularly proud to be bringing Loverboy to Australian shores for the first time. The line-up for both nights is stacked with talent, including hall of famers 1927, Dragon and Pseudo Echo - it is bound to have you rocking out all night!”

WANSTOCK 2026

FRIDAY 20 MARCH | SELINA’S, COOGEE NSW | 18+

LOVERBOY (CAN)

CHOIRBOYS

TAXIRIDE FEAT. JASON SINGH

VENTURA

FRI 20 MARCH | SHOPPINGTOWN HOTEL, DONCASTER VIC | 18+

1927

DRAGON

BACHELOR GIRL

STONETRIP

STRAIT SHOOTERS

SAT 21 MARCH | SHOPPINGTOWN HOTEL, DONCASTER VIC | 18+

LOVERBOY (CAN)

PSEUDO ECHO

TAXIRIDE FEAT. JASON SINGH

STANDING ROOM ONLY

DAYDREAMERS