Brisbane iconic heavy music and dark arts festival, Dead of Winter, will return on Saturday 27 June 2026 at the Mansfield Tavern, marking its first edition since 2019.
Founded in 2009, Dead of Winter began as a home for heavy music, dark art and alternative culture, built for a community that lived outside the mainstream.
The festival continued to gain momentum over 10 years of dominance, with Dead of Winter 2019 (the festival’s last edition) becoming the largest ever assembled, with 61 bands and 4 sideshow acts across six stages, including the Tivoli main stage and outdoor truck stages. Bands such Cog, Disentomb, Mammal, Bodyjar, 28 Days, Aversions Crown, Voyager, Svetlanas, The Go Set, Beastwars, Hits, Blowhard, Kyuss Dies! (with Nick Oliveri) assembled, following on from DOW 2018’s megabill with the likes of Polaris, Ocean Grove, Frenzal Rhomb, Radio Moscow (USA), Alien Weaponry (NZ) and many more.
“Queensland’s longest-running heavy and alternative festival”
After its last edition in 2019, the festival entered a long silence. The world changed. Scenes shifted. Venues closed, reopened, and reshaped themselves. Yet the spirit of Dead of Winter never disappeared. It was simply waiting in the shadows..
It is now 2026 and Dead of Winter rises once again!
After years of silence, the return of Dead of Winter signals a new era. In 2026, the festival re-emerges as the Phoenix rising – resurrecting it’s legacy whilst opening the door to what comes next.
Over the years, Dead of Winter has become more than a music event. It has evolved into a full-scale celebration of alternative culture, uniting heavy music across multiple stages with performance art, horror cosplay, dark markets, visual installations and immersive experiences. Always loud. Always theatrical. Always welcoming and above all, always super fun and super safe.
“Dead Of Winter lives up to its reputation as Brisbane’s
premier heavy festival” Scenestr
The 2026 event will be held at the Mansfield Tavern, establishing a return home for the festival as it enters its next chapter. While this announcement confirms only the date and location, what follows will define the future of Dead of Winter.
Tickets go onsale 8.00am AEST on Friday 16 January and lineup announcements begin on Tuesday 03 February.
Fans are encouraged to save the date, spread the word and prepare for the resurrection. Dead of Winter 2026 will sell out.
The Phoenix rises on Saturday 27 June 2026 at the Mansfield Tavern.
