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2026–27 Calendar

Best Events & Festivals for Campervan Road Trips 2026 & 2027

From Burning Man to Dark Mofo — plan your campervan or RV road trip around the best music festivals, arts events, and outdoor adventures in Australia, the USA & Canada.

Showing 28 events — 15 upcoming, 13 past

Arts

🇦🇺

Perth Festival

Feb – Mar 2027 Perth, WA

Western Australia's largest cultural festival brings weeks of music, theatre, film and outdoor art to Perth and the Swan River foreshore through late summer.

Suggested Route

Perth → Margaret River → South West wine country (5–7 days)

Camping Tip

Combine the festival with a South West road trip — pick up in Perth and loop through Margaret River.

Arts

🇦🇺

Adelaide Fringe

Feb – Mar 2027 Adelaide, SA

The southern hemisphere's biggest open-access arts festival returns for its 2027 season — hundreds of shows across pop-up venues, gardens and laneways right through late summer.

Suggested Route

Adelaide → Barossa Valley → Fleurieu Peninsula (4–6 days)

Camping Tip

Adelaide is compact and campervan-friendly — stay at a nearby park and walk or ride into the East End Fringe hub.

Arts

NSW

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Sydney Festival

Jan 2027 Sydney, NSW

Sydney's flagship summer arts festival takes over the city each January with theatre, music, dance and large-scale outdoor installations — much of it free and open-air.

Suggested Route

Sydney → Royal National Park → Blue Mountains (4–6 days)

Camping Tip

Base yourself at a park with good transport links and dip in and out of the free outdoor events across the city.

Sport

VIC

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Australian Open

Jan 2027 Melbourne Park, VIC

The first tennis Grand Slam of the year lights up Melbourne every January. Two weeks of top-level tennis, food and live entertainment in the heart of the city.

Suggested Route

Melbourne → Mornington Peninsula → Phillip Island (4–6 days)

Camping Tip

Summer is peak season in Victoria — lock in a Melbourne campground early and take the tram into Melbourne Park.

Sydney New Year's Eve — Sydney Harbour, NSW

Cultural

NSW

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Sydney New Year's Eve

31 Dec 2026 Sydney Harbour, NSW

One of the first major cities on earth to ring in the new year, with a world-famous fireworks display over the harbour. Pair it with a coastal campervan trip to see in 2027 in style.

Suggested Route

Sydney → Central Coast → Hunter Valley, or south to Jervis Bay (4–6 days)

Camping Tip

Harbourside campgrounds fill months ahead for NYE. Book early and use public transport into the city on the night.

Music

QLD

🇦🇺

Woodford Folk Festival

27 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 Woodford, QLD

Six days and nights of music, arts, workshops, and community at one of Australia's most loved cultural festivals. Over 400 acts across 25 stages.

Suggested Route

Brisbane → Woodford (1h) – extend to Sunshine Coast and Noosa

Camping Tip

Camping on-site is the way to go — powered and unpowered sites book out early.

Melbourne Cup Carnival — Flemington, Melbourne, VIC

Sport

VIC

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Melbourne Cup Carnival

31 Oct – 7 Nov 2026 Flemington, Melbourne, VIC

The race that stops a nation. Four days of world-class racing, spring fashion and festivities at Flemington, headlined by the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 3 November. A brilliant excuse for a spring road trip through Victoria.

Suggested Route

Melbourne → Great Ocean Road → Grampians (5–7 days)

Camping Tip

City campgrounds book out over Cup week — reserve early and consider a park on Melbourne's fringe with an easy train into Flemington.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — Albuquerque, NM

Adventure

🇺🇸

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

3–11 Oct 2026 Albuquerque, NM

The world's largest hot air balloon festival — over 500 balloons fill the New Mexico sky at dawn. Mass ascensions, special shapes, and evening balloon glows.

Suggested Route

Albuquerque → Santa Fe → Taos → Mesa Verde → Monument Valley (7–10 days)

RV Tip

Wake up early for the dawn mass ascension — it's unforgettable. RV parks near Balloon Fiesta Park fill up months ahead.

Music

🇺🇸

Austin City Limits Music Festival

2–4 & 9–11 Oct 2026 Zilker Park, Austin, TX

Two weekends of world-class music in the Live Music Capital of the World. Headliners include Charli XCX, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, and The xx.

Suggested Route

Austin → San Antonio → Big Bend NP → Carlsbad Caverns (7–10 days)

RV Tip

Austin is incredible for foodies — combine the festival with a Texas BBQ road trip.

Food

🇺🇸

State Fair of Texas

25 Sep – 18 Oct 2026 Dallas, TX

The largest and longest-running state fair in the USA — 24 days of live music, Big Tex, fried everything, and Texas-sized fun. RV camping on-site and nearby fills fast.

Suggested Route

Dallas → Austin → San Antonio → Big Bend NP (7–10 days)

RV Tip

Pair the fair with a Texas Hill Country loop. Book RV sites near Fair Park well in advance.

Hershey — America's Largest RV Show — Hershey, PA

Adventure

🇺🇸

Hershey — America's Largest RV Show

9–13 Sep 2026 Hershey, PA

The biggest RV show in America — over 1,400 motorhomes and campervans on display. The best place to see what is new before planning your own RV rental adventure.

Suggested Route

Philadelphia → Hershey → Gettysburg → Shenandoah NP (5–7 days)

RV Tip

Combine the show with a fall-foliage road trip through Pennsylvania and Virginia — late September colours are spectacular.

Arts

QLD

🇦🇺

Brisbane Festival

Sep – Oct 2026 Brisbane, QLD

Major arts festival with theatre, music, dance, and the spectacular Riverfire fireworks finale.

Suggested Route

Brisbane → Gold Coast → Byron Bay coastal loop

Camping Tip

The Riverfire closing night is worth planning your trip around.

Arts

🇺🇸

Burning Man

30 Aug – 7 Sep 2026 Black Rock Desert, NV

The ultimate desert gathering — a temporary city of art, self-expression, and radical community. Theme for 2026: "Axis Mundi". An RV is the most practical way to survive the playa.

Suggested Route

San Francisco → Reno → Black Rock City (extend to Lake Tahoe & Yosemite)

RV Tip

An RV is essential for Burning Man — there are no services on the playa. Stock up in Reno. Bring dust-proofing gear for your vehicle.

Past Event

Music

QLD

🇦🇺

Gympie Music Muster

27–30 Aug 2026 Amamoor State Forest, QLD

Legendary country music festival in the bush with camping, campfire sessions, and a true community atmosphere.

Suggested Route

Brisbane → Gympie (2.5h) – extend to Noosa and Fraser Coast

Camping Tip

Bush camping at the festival site is part of the experience — book your campsite separately.

Past Event

Adventure

🇺🇸

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

7–16 Aug 2026 Sturgis, SD

The 86th annual Sturgis Rally — the world's largest motorcycle gathering. 500,000+ riders descend on the Black Hills for 10 days of rides, music, and freedom.

Suggested Route

Denver → Mount Rushmore → Sturgis → Badlands NP → Yellowstone (10–14 days)

RV Tip

RV camping is the Sturgis way. The Buffalo Chip campground is legendary — book early!

Past Event

Cultural

🇦🇺

Darwin Festival

6–23 Aug 2026 Darwin, NT

18 days of arts, music, food, and culture in Australia's tropical capital. Outdoor concerts under the stars.

Suggested Route

Darwin → Katherine → Kakadu loop (7 days)

Camping Tip

Peak dry season = perfect driving conditions and lower campervan prices.

Past Event

Cultural

🇨🇦

Calgary Stampede

3–12 Jul 2026 Calgary, AB

The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth — 10 days of rodeo, chuckwagon races, concerts, and cowboy culture in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.

Suggested Route

Calgary → Banff → Lake Louise → Jasper (Icefields Parkway, 5–7 days)

RV Tip

Combine the Stampede with the Canadian Rockies for the ultimate RV road trip. Book Banff campgrounds months in advance.

Glacier National Park Season — Glacier NP, MT

Nature

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Glacier National Park Season

Jul – Sep 2026 Glacier NP, MT

Drive the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road through one of America's most spectacular landscapes. Alpine meadows, glacial lakes, and grizzly bears.

Suggested Route

Seattle → Glacier NP → Yellowstone → Grand Teton (10–14 days)

RV Tip

New for 2026: ticketed shuttle to Logan Pass, 3-hour parking limit. Plan your visit around early morning or late afternoon for the best light and fewer crowds.

Past Event

Arts

TAS

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Dark Mofo

11–22 Jun 2026 Hobart, TAS

Tasmania's darkly spectacular mid-winter festival — immersive art, live music, the Winter Feast, and the infamous Nude Solstice Swim.

Suggested Route

Hobart → Bruny Island → Cradle Mountain → East Coast (10–14 days)

Camping Tip

Tasmania in winter is magical. Bring warm layers and enjoy cozy campfire nights.

Past Event

Arts

NSW

🇦🇺

Vivid Sydney

22 May – 13 Jun 2026 Sydney, NSW

Spectacular light installations and projections transform Sydney's icons — the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Circular Quay.

Suggested Route

Sydney → Blue Mountains → Hunter Valley day trips

Camping Tip

Park your campervan at a holiday park in the Northern Beaches and take the ferry into the city.

BASSINTHEGRASS — Mindil Beach, Darwin, NT

Past Event

Music

🇦🇺

BASSINTHEGRASS

16 May 2026 Mindil Beach, Darwin, NT

Darwin's biggest music festival on the beach with national and international acts. One day of pure music in the tropical north.

Suggested Route

Darwin → Kakadu → Litchfield NP loop (7–10 days)

Camping Tip

Time your trip for the dry season start — perfect weather, waterfalls still flowing.

Past Event

Food

🇦🇺

Tasting Australia

8–17 May 2026 Adelaide, SA

South Australia's premier food and wine festival featuring exclusive dining experiences, masterclasses, and regional tours through the Barossa, McLaren Vale, and Adelaide Hills.

Suggested Route

Adelaide → Barossa Valley → McLaren Vale → Adelaide Hills loop

Camping Tip

Perfect excuse to combine a wine road trip with the festival.

Parrtjima — A Festival in Light — Alice Springs, NT

Past Event

Cultural

🇦🇺

Parrtjima — A Festival in Light

10–19 Apr 2026 Alice Springs, NT

Stunning Aboriginal light festival with projections against the MacDonnell Ranges — celebrating 65,000 years of Indigenous culture.

Suggested Route

Alice Springs → Uluru → Kings Canyon loop (5–7 days)

Camping Tip

Free event! Combine with a Red Centre road trip for maximum impact.

Past Event

Music

NSW

🇦🇺

Byron Bay Bluesfest

2–5 Apr 2026 Byron Bay, NSW

Australia's premier blues, roots, and world music festival with international headliners in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Suggested Route

Brisbane → Byron Bay (2h) – extend south to Sydney via Coffs Harbour

Camping Tip

Grab a campervan from Brisbane and enjoy the Gold Coast hinterland on the way down.

Past Event

Music

🇦🇺

WOMADelaide

Mar 2026 Adelaide Botanic Park, SA

World-class festival of world music, dance, and arts set in the beautiful Adelaide Botanic Park.

Suggested Route

Adelaide → Barossa Valley → Flinders Ranges loop

Camping Tip

Stay at Adelaide Shores Holiday Park — 15 min from the city.

Past Event

Arts

🇦🇺

Adelaide Fringe

20 Feb – 22 Mar 2026 Adelaide, SA

Southern Hemisphere's largest open-access arts festival with thousands of shows — comedy, theatre, circus, music, and more.

Suggested Route

Melbourne → Adelaide via Great Ocean Road (3–5 days)

Camping Tip

Combine with WOMADelaide and Tasting Australia for the ultimate SA triple.

Past Event

Music

NSW

🇦🇺

Tamworth Country Music Festival

16–25 Jan 2026 Tamworth, NSW

Australia's biggest country music event with 2,000+ shows, street performances, and the Golden Guitar Awards.

Suggested Route

Sydney → Tamworth (4.5h drive, extend to New England tablelands)

Camping Tip

Book campsites early — Tamworth fills up fast. Try Riverside Caravan Park.

Cultural

Route 66

🇺🇸

Route 66 Centennial

Throughout 2026 Chicago, IL → Santa Monica, CA

2026 marks 100 years of the Mother Road. Centennial celebrations, festivals and events run all year along all 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica — the ultimate excuse for a great American RV road trip.

Suggested Route

Chicago → St Louis → Tulsa → Amarillo → Albuquerque → Flagstaff → Los Angeles (14–21 days)

RV Tip

Do the full route one-way and drop the RV in LA. Book a one-way rental early — Centennial year demand is high.

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