Park Waves Festival will bring a circus-themed heavy music experience across Australia in 2026, headlined by Parkway Drive.
The ambitious travelling festival represents an Australian first, combining circus performers, carnival rides and sideshow attractions with some of the country’s biggest metalcore acts. Park Waves Festival will visit 11 locations across Australia during February and March 2026, including regional centres alongside major cities.
Parkway Drive will headline alongside The Amity Affliction, Northlane, Alpha Wolf and Story Of The Year. The tour marks the first time Parkway Drive and The Amity Affliction have toured Australia together in their collective history, creating a significant moment for Australian heavy music fans.
Park Waves Festival lineup
- Parkway Drive
- The Amity Affliction
- Northlane
- Alpha Wolf
- Story Of The Year
- …and more TBA
Park Waves tour dates
- Saturday 14 February 2026 – Langley Park, Perth, WA 16+
- Friday 20 February 2026 – Adelaide Showground, SA 16+
- Sunday 22 February 2026 – Geelong Showground, VIC 16+
- Saturday 28 February 2026 – Caribbean Gardens, Scoresby, VIC 16+
- Sunday 1 March 2026 – Bendigo Jockey Club, VIC 16+
- Thursday 5 March 2026 – Thomas Dalton Park, Wollongong, NSW 16+
- Saturday 7 March 2026 – Sydney Dragway, Eastern Creek, NSW 16+
- Sunday 8 March 2026 – Maitland Showground, NSW 16+
- Thursday 12 March 2026 – Queens Park, Toowoomba, QLD 16+
- Saturday 14 March 2026 – Cavanbah Centre, Byron Bay, NSW* 16+
- Sunday 15 March 2026 – Sandstone Point Hotel, QLD 16+
*Subject to final council approval
Check out our gig guide here.
Park Waves brings carnival atmosphere to heavy music
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The festival concept represents one of the more ambitious undertakings by any band in Australian touring history. Park Waves combines traditional festival elements with circus theming, featuring performers, rides and carnival attractions designed to create what organisers describe as a headbanger’s experience like no other.
Byron Bay metalcore veterans Parkway Drive have spent over two decades building their reputation as one of Australia’s most successful musical exports. The band has released eight studio albums, earned multiple ARIA Music Awards and secured top billing at major festivals worldwide. Their recent sold-out Sydney Opera House performance and the instantly sold-out Hellbound cruise demonstrate their continued dominance in Australian heavy music.
Lineup showcases Australian metalcore royalty
The Amity Affliction brings their billion-stream legacy to Park Waves, having achieved four number one records and multiple gold and platinum certifications since their 2008 debut Severed Ties. The band recently entered a new era with clean vocalist and bassist Jonny Reeves, continuing their powerhouse trajectory that has seen them conquer international festivals including Download UK and Reading and Leeds.
Sydney metalcore icons Northlane contribute their fearless evolution and innovation to the lineup. The chart-topping, award-winning act has won three consecutive ARIA Awards for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album, with their 2022 release Obsidian reaching number one on the ARIA Chart. Known for blending brutality with electronic elements including techno, drum and bass and synthesisers, Northlane has toured with Bring Me The Horizon and Sleep Token.
Australian metalcore behemoths Alpha Wolf arrive armed with their 2024 album Half Living Things, following their ARIA Award-nominated sophomore release A Quiet Place To Die. The band secured a number two debut on the ARIA Australian Album Charts and continues building their global reputation through extensive touring across North America and Australia.
Post-hardcore pioneers Story Of The Year complete the lineup, bringing decades of success following their million-selling 2003 debut Page Avenue. The band has toured with Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance and Deftones, recently completing sold-out Australian shows celebrating Page Avenue’s 20th anniversary.
Regional areas abound
The travelling festival format allows Park Waves to reach regional areas often overlooked by major touring acts. Venues span from metropolitan locations like Sydney Dragway and Adelaide Showground to regional centres including Bendigo Jockey Club and Maitland Showground. The tour concludes in Parkway Drive’s hometown Byron Bay before finishing on the Sunshine Coast.
As an all-ages 16+ event, Park Waves aims to make heavy music accessible to younger audiences while maintaining the intensity expected by longtime fans.
The February and March timing positions Park Waves strategically within Australia’s festival calendar, avoiding the summer festival season while capitalising on favourable weather conditions. This scheduling allows the travelling festival to create its own space within the market.
Park Waves Festival ticket information
- Parkway Nation presale: Tuesday 22 July, 9am local time
- Destroy All Lines presale: Tuesday 22 July, 5pm local time
- General sale: Thursday 24 July, 10am local time
- Age restriction: 16+ all ages event
