Savannah Sounds has revealed a massive music line-up for its 2026 program, bringing rock, pop, and country music heroes to a stunning location across an autumn weekend.

Taking over Rex Smeal Park in the far north Queensland town of Port Douglas from Friday, 22 May, to Sunday, 24 May, the event is presented by the Douglas Shire Council and Newsport.

The line-up stars rock icons Jon Stevens and Dragon, pop sensation Vanessa Amorosi, and dance-pop outfit Sneaky Sound System, who will perform alongside Kingswood, Sara Berki, Austin Mackay, and a selection of local performers.

In exciting news for fans, Stevens will perform hits from the Noiseworks and INXS catalogues, bringing beloved hits from the 80s and 90s to the Port Douglas Carnivale stage. 

As well as the music line-up, the Carnivale event features plenty of other hot-ticket attractions to keep the party going. The Longest Lunch returns on Friday, 22 May, while the Macrossan Street Parade will fill the town centre in the evening.

Saturday will host the Family Beach Day, where Four Mile Beach will be transformed into a giant playground for children and adults alike. Sunday wraps things up with the aim of relaxation, hosting the Port Douglas Markets Spectacular, the Carnivale Coastal Shine and Show and the Carnivale Classic Golf Tournament.

For tickets and more information about next year’s Port Douglas Carnivale event, head to the Carnivale website. A limited number of early bird tickets for Savannah Sounds is now available.

James Dein, Festival Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sound Australia, said of the 2026 program: “Savannah Sounds was one of the highlights of Carnivale earlier this year, and we are excited to bring it back bigger for 2026. 

Dein continued, “Jon Stevens is the kind of artist who gets everyone on their feet. His Noiseworks and INXS collection is full of songs people know by heart, and paired with Vanessa Amorosi’s chart-topping hits, Saturday night is going to be massive. 

“Add in the hits of the 70s with Dragon and the smooth beats of Sneaky Sound System, and we have a festival program with broad appeal across all ages.”

Last year’s Port Douglas Carnivale event attracted over 10,500 attendees, with accommodation filling up within the Douglas Shire. 

Lisa Scomazzon, Mayor of the Douglas Shire, added, “Having Savannah Sounds as part of the program brings an incredible boost to the overall event.

“Port Douglas has never hosted a music weekend of this scale, and it is fantastic to have an event curated by the same organisers behind the hugely successful Savannah in the Round. It adds real value to the region and gives people another strong reason to visit and stay.”