The Romantics Added To Wanstock 2026 Line-up

The Romantics will perform alongside Dragon, 1927, Pseudo Echo, Bachelor Girl, and others next month.

American new wave icons The Romantics have been added to the already stacked Wanstock 2026 festival bill.

Recognised for electrifying hits such as What I Like About You, Rock You Up, When I Look In Your Eyes, Talking In Your Sleep, and more, The Romantics – comprising Wally Palmar, Coz Canler, Bruce Witkin, Joey Malone, and Mike Rizzi – will bring their inimitable catalogue to Melbourne and Sydney next month.

The band will headline two dates: Friday, 20 March, at Selina’s in Coogee, NSW on Friday, 20 March, and at the Shoppingtown Hotel in Doncaster, VIC, on Saturday, 21 March. The Romantics have replaced Canadian pop act Loverboy, who were reportedly forced to depart the line-up earlier this month due to a member being hospitalised.

2026 marks the biggest year to date for the Wanstock team. The Romantics will be accompanied by New Zealand rockers Dragon, Aussie heroes 1927, Pseudo Echo, Bachelor Girl, and others, while in Sydney, they’ll perform alongside Choirboys, Ventura, and others—Taxiride featuring Jason Singh will perform in both cities.

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

Festival 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.”