This March, one of Regional Victoria’s most beloved arts events, Castlemaine State Festival, returns with a huge line-up of events, marking the events golden milestone with ten days of street parties, creativity, community and connection.
With over 55 events, there is something for everyone: art lovers, live music fans, and those who like to get down and party in some of Australia’s most unique spaces: sweeping churches, Castlemaine’s charming autumn streets and gardens, grungy underground car parks and even Australia’s tiniest art gallery.
Established in 1976 and located on Djaara Country in the central highlands of Victoria, Castlemaine (affectionately known as North Northcote) is home to more creative industries residents than any other local government region in Australia.
For almost 50 years, The Castlemaine State Festival, inspired by the distinctive places and landscapes of the region, has harnessed this local creative energy to present a massive program of adventurous art in its historic and intimate spaces, and 2026 will be no different.
The Castlemaine State Festival is like no other in Australia, and the program also includes a significant number of free and low-cost events that are selling out fast, explains Castlemaine State Festival Artistic Director Linda Sproul. “We are a multi-arts program that brings together authentic cultural experiences for the ultimate weekend getaway for Melburnians.
“We want to enchant audiences with the craft, imagination and depth of the work presented by the local community and visiting artists. Spanning an incredible number of cultural genres of music, art, and design events both in Castlemaine and across the region, including the huge Opening Night Street Party and closing Garden Party.”
“Our program truly is an opportunity to choose your own adventure – if you can’t find something that appeals to you, you don’t have a heart beat!” said Sproul.
Castlemaine State Festival Program Highlights:
OPENING NIGHT – Street Party (Friday 20 March: 6.00 – 9.00pm)
Castlemaine’s main street transforms to mark the Festival’s 50th anniversary. Music, art, food, and dance take over in a joyful, powerful public event that kicks off three days of celebration. The night opens with Welcome to Country by Uncle Rick Nelson, followed by The Nalderun Song Project, Castlemaine Secondary College band, and Castlemaine Circus. Then the energy shifts: Heartical Hi-Powa with Stryka D bring pulsating reggae and dub, Jungle City deliver high-octane dancehall, Cho Karin defy gravity with acrobatics, and Amaru Tribe close with genre-blending Colombian-Australian electronica.
OPENING NIGHT – After Dark, Underground (Friday 20 March: 9.00pm – late)
Opening Night After Dark – the official ticketed after-party of the Street Party. After 9.00pm, the Festival transforms two iconic Castlemaine spaces into parallel clubs, each with its own take on contemporary electronic music. The Maxi IGA underground car park becomes a one-night-only venue, while across the road, Theatre Royale opens its doors. Featuring Harvey Sutherland (DJ Set), Intermood, Pjenné, Millú, and Tom Barker. Choose your path — both lead somewhere worth staying. This isn’t about spectacle; it’s about seeing familiar places meet new ideas and discovering the range this town’s always had.
The Australian Archive of Play Memories (21 – 29 March
Photographer Marylou Verberne began talking with people about play to understand how childhood is changing. Her Australian Archive of Play Memories is an ongoing project comprising photographic portraits of Australians, recorded interviews and play memory maps. The Creative Series is a special festival commission that presents photographic portraits of local creatives displayed alongside their play memory maps.
The Chewton Small (20 – 29 March)
Chewton’s (and possibly the world’s) newest and smallest art gallery. Designed to exhibit one artwork at a time, it simplifies the viewing experience, diminishing the dilemma of where to look, and liberating the exhibited artwork from the perils of comparison. It will facilitate an intimate dialogue between viewer and artwork, free from the distraction of competing alternatives. The exhibition will be renewed daily, with a new work installed, for the 10 days of the Castlemaine State Festival.
Hot Moves No Mercy (Saturday 21 March)
The underground dance battle where locals bring the drama, crank the volume, and settle scores with spandex, sweat, and zero emotional regulation. Expect unhinged characters, improvised chaos, surprise villains, plot twists no one rehearsed, and audience members who become part of the show. It’s gritty. It’s sweaty. It’s unmissable!
Baboshka (21 – 22 March)
Babooshka is a joyous, theatrical homage to one of pop’s most singular voices – Kate Bush. Performed by The KB Band, the show brings Bush’s world of drama, poetry and play to life with fearless energy and lush musicianship. Expect the classics: Running Up That Hill, Wuthering Heights, Cloudbusting – alongside deep cuts and reimagined arrangements. It’s both tribute and interpretation: a celebration of the artist who made art-pop mystical and strange again.
Someone in the Dark (21 & 22 March)
Created by Black Hole Theatre, Someone in the Dark is an immersive adventure for children and families – a gently spooky, wonder-filled performance about facing fears and finding courage. Set in the wild and designed to be experienced as a small group journey, the work combines puppetry, soundscape and visual storytelling. Children step into a mysterious world guided by light, shadow and imagination, where bravery means curiosity rather than confrontation.
Castlemaine the Musical (25 – 27 March)
Commissioned especially for the Festival, Castlemaine: The Musical is a community-driven celebration of the town itself – its characters, contradictions and irrepressible charm. Developed with local artists, musicians and residents, the production blends satire, storytelling and song to create a portrait of Castlemaine that’s as cheeky as it is heartfelt. Expect big voices, local legends and more than a few in-jokes – all wrapped up in a proudly homegrown production that captures the humour and humanity of the place we call home.
Festival Club (21 – 28 March)
The Festival’s after-dark home base. Every night, the Goods Shed transforms into a space for dancing, discovery, and connection, with MAINfm’s finest DJs and special guests spinning wildly eclectic sets. No two nights sound the same. This is where you gather post-show, have a drink, meet new faces, and let the night stretch out. The energy that carries the Festival happens here.
Closing Day Garden Party (Sunday 29 March)
Festival Finale – Sunday at the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. The Festival’s most beloved tradition: a family-friendly afternoon of food stalls, markets, roving performers, and live music. Perfect picnic vibes to close out three days of celebration. Featuring Super Mandé Percussion, Belly Savalas, Gusto Gusto, World Kitchen, Uncle Ron Murray, Dandyman, Castlemaine Hot Rods, Main FM, and Castlemaine Circus.
The Castlemaine State Festival runs from Friday 20 March to Sunday 29 March 2026. For more information, visit: www.castlemainefestival.com.au for details.
Images: The Australian Archive of Play Memories – photo by Marylou Verberne | Someone in the Dark – photo by Michelle McFarlane