Meatstock returns to Gippsland on 17–18 April with a huge lineup of country artists and BBQ competitions at Lardner Park.
BBQ festival Meatstock is heading back to regional Victoria next April, combining international and Australian country acts with competitive cooking, bull riding and all the smoke and meat you’d expect. It’s the kind of weekend where Morgan Evans shares a stage with pitmasters battling over brisket while Professional Bull Riders add chaos between sets.
Morgan Evans headlines the Jack Daniel’s Live Stage alongside US songwriter Bryan Martin and breakout artist Chase Matthew. Evans is bringing his country-pop catalogue home after building a global following, while Martin delivers the kind of heartfelt country that resonates beyond borders. Matthew’s hip-hop-influenced sound adds a modern edge to the weekend’s musical mix at Meatstock 2026.
Friday night features The Wolfe Brothers, Max Jackson, Rachael Fahim and Briana Dinsdale. Saturday shifts gears with Austin Williams from the US, Lane Pittman, Hayley Jensen, Denvah and Abbie Ferris. It’s a lineup that pulls from Nashville and homegrown talent in equal measure, which is exactly what Meatstock does best.
Meatstock Gippsland 2026
- Thursday, 17 April–Friday, 18 April
- Lardner Park, Gippsland
- Tickets on sale Thursday, 30 October at 2pm, here
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Beyond the stage, Meatstock runs its signature BBQ Wars with pitmasters from Australia and overseas battling across every protein category. Butcher Wars returns too, showcasing the kind of knife skills that make you wonder if you’ve been cutting meat wrong your entire life. Beard & Mo Wars, Australia’s Strongest Man and Woman competition, arm-wrestling and the Sausage Sizzle Throwdown all come back for another round.
Professional Bull Riders brings eight seconds of controlled chaos to the festival program. Between events, the BBQ Expo covers everything you need for a proper home setup, while the on-site tattoo station operates for anyone feeling spontaneous.
Meatstock also hits Toowoomba on 10–11 April before rolling into Gippsland. Director Jay Beaumont describes it as a community built around barbecue craft and the culture that comes with it; families camping, mates reuniting over grills, that kind of energy.
Country lineup balances international headliners with Australian acts holding their own across both nights. Evans’ polished pop-country sits alongside Matthew’s genre-blending approach and a solid roster of local talent that proves the scene runs deep.
Two days at Lardner Park combining competition, music and serious amounts of meat. Tickets drop this Thursday for both regional dates.
For more information, head here.
