Gippsland is set to light up in April as Meatstock – Australia’s largest music and barbecue festival – rolls into Lardner Park at Warragul for a feast of “BBQ, Bands and Bedlam.”
The two–day festival runs from Friday, April 17, to Saturday, April 18, and promises a sensory overload of world–class country music, mouth–watering barbecue, backyard culture and high–octane entertainment.
Meatstock has grown into a must–attend event for barbecue lovers, families and music fans alike, with live–fire cooking, food trucks, craft brews, hot sauce tastings, market stalls and competitions scattered across the site at Lardner Park. Hundreds of pitmasters will smoke everything from brisket and ribs to exotic cuts — all while international and Australian country music stars take to the Jack Daniel’s live stage.
Friday’s lineup features US singer Bryan Martin alongside Australian favourites The Wolfe Brothers, Max Jackson, Rachael Fahim, and Briana Dinsdale. On Saturday, headline acts include Morgan Evans, US artists Chase Matthew and Austin Williams, Lane Pittman, Hayley Jensen, Denvah and Abbie Ferris.
Beyond the music, Meatstock is a carnivore’s playground. The Heat Beads BBQ Wars pits national and international teams against each other in protein competitions, while the Australian Butcher Wars showcases razor–sharp skills from the country’s top meat professionals. There’s also high–energy PBR bull riding, celebrated as the toughest eight seconds in sport, plus crowd favourites like the Better Beer Dad Bod Contest, Beard and Mo Wars, arm battles, and the Sausage Sizzle Throwdown.
An extensive BBQ Expo offers the latest in smokers, grills and barbecue gear, and daring visitors can even get inked at the on–site tattoo station. Camping options — from RV sites to tents — make it easy to make a weekend of the festival, with plenty of food, drink and entertainment on offer into the night.
Meatstock isn’t just about eating — it’s about community, culture and celebration. Organisers describe the vibe as a camaraderie–filled gathering of music and barbecue lovers, with plenty of families camping together, soaking in the atmosphere, and enjoying authentic barbecue and live entertainment in the rolling Gippsland countryside.
Whether you’re chasing smoky brisket, toe–tapping tunes, or outrageous competitions, Meatstock Gippsland 2026 promises to be a weekend that delivers on flavour, fun and festival spirit.
Tickets and full event details are available at the official website, and updates can be found on the festival’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
