Knotfest Australia has been crushing stages across the country since 2023, but whispers suggest 2026 might not see the heavy metal festival return.
We’re nervous, Melbourne; signs point to Slipknot’s heavy metal festival Knotfest Australia potentially calling it quits after three successful years.
According to an analysis by Blunt Magazine, several clues indicate Slipknot’s own festival could be wrapping up its Australian run, which usually hits Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Most notably, post-festival communications have dropped all mention of future events, breaking the pattern established in previous years when organisers confidently promised fans they’d be back.
Competition from Park Waves, Parkway Drive’s new Park Waves festival, presents another hurdle. With 11 dates scheduled across February and March – prime Knotfest territory – the Byron Bay band’s event directly challenges the festival calendar slot that Slipknot’s event has occupied.
What do you think, will Knotfest join the long line of Australian music festivals that are no more?
Knotfest Australia 2026
- Previous dates: 24-26 March 2023, 21-24 March 2024, 28 February, 2 March, 8 March 2025
- Status: Unconfirmed for 2026
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Promoter Destroy All Lines, who previously presented Knotfest Australia, is now working with Parkway Drive on Park Waves. Even more telling, Park Waves received promotion on the Knotfest Australia website, complete with exclusive presales for Knotfest fans.
Social media activity tells another story. While Knotfest Australia’s official pages posted regular updates between the 2024 and 2025 editions, they’ve been unusually quiet since this year’s festival wrapped up. Only 14 posts have appeared in the past two and a half months, mostly recap content and merchandise plugs.
Losing Knotfest Australia would create a significant gap in the country’s metal festival landscape. While Download Festival continues to dominate with its massive international lineups, Knotfest carved out its own niche by focusing specifically on the heavier end of the spectrum. The festival successfully brought acts that rarely tour Australia, giving local metalheads access to bands they’d otherwise need to travel overseas to see.
Australia’s metal scene has flourished in recent years with festivals like Good Things, Download and various smaller events providing platforms for both international and local heavy acts. Knotfest Australia stood apart by maintaining an uncompromisingly heavy lineup, refusing to dilute its sound with mainstream rock acts.
Local metal bands particularly benefited from Knotfest’s platform, with Australian acts regularly featured alongside international headliners. The festival’s departure would remove crucial exposure opportunities for emerging heavy acts trying to break into larger markets.
Festival announcements typically drop around October, so there’s still time for a surprise 2026 reveal. However, with Park Waves potentially filling the heavy festival gap and no official word from Knotfest organisers, Australian metal heads might need to start looking elsewhere for their annual dose of heavy music mayhem.
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