Well, guess we better get this bad boy out for y’all to keep track of Good Things Festival’s movements, announcements, news and lineup info leading up to the East Coast run in December.
Check back in for the latest up to date happenings ahead of festival season, bitchez!
Dates
December 4 in Melbourne
December 5 in Sydney
December 6 in Brisbane*
*Unclear if it’ll be at the showgrounds or elsewhere (due to Olympic village construction).
Lineup Announcement Date
TBC – usually in August so very soon I would imagine!
Official Socials
These are the OFFICIAL Good Things Fest socials. Avoid all others (including Facebook groups)
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
Website
Unofficially Confirmed
Bilmuri – Shout out to Mitch at @thatdudethatreadthatbook for finding this clue that they’re gonna be on the lineup. These dates coincide with the band’s social teaser from earlier in the year which had the AU/NZ dates blurred out.
Our Predictions
Nine Inch Nails // Nine Inch Noize – Didn’t end up on last year’s lineup and haven’t been down under in yonks! They could pop up on this one, unless they hate Australia. Released their album in April soooo they’re Top of the List!
Sleep Token – Would assume an arena headliner first but they could play anywhere near the top of this lineup alongside NIN these days.
Spiritbox – Last in Australia for Knotfest 2023. They’ve since dropped an EP and a second album and STILL no visits. If they’re not doing their own tour, they’re 100% on this lineup.
Bullet For My Valentine – Frontman Matt Tuck told fans they’ll be back at the end of 2026… you do the math!
Simple Plan – touring Asia just before, its a no brainer they’ll be on it!
LØLØ – Also touring with Simple Plan in Asia, so count ’em in.
Alice Cooper or RUSH – Thinking they could be the afternoon legacy band akin to Violent Femmes, TISM and Devo etc. Both bands wrap up their own tours in November with nothing after!
Hayley Williams – Doing solo tours with special guests, wrapping up in South America on November 27th… hmmm timing could suggest a potential festy spot after?
Tom Morello – Much like Hayley, the RATM icon could do a solo show (akin to Corey Taylor in 2023) and bring a bunch of guests… only if he’s not playing elsewhere during the dates!
AFI – Last here supporting Green Day but Brisbane & Gold Coast fans missed out due to Cyclone Alfred.
Steel Panther – Can’t tell you the last time they played a festival in Australia (Soundwave 2015 maybe!?) but a frontman Michael Starr alluded to them coming back soon on a TikTok live
Angels & Airwaves – blink aren’t touring for the rest of 2026 – but that doesn’t rule out other side projects! AvA haven’t been in Aus since Soundwave 2012…
Alexisonfire – Nothing lined up after Warped Tour in November…
Sex Pistols & Frank Carter – Doing the festival circuit currently so could be a revisit for them after their last Australian run in 2025
Sevendust – Last here for a headliner, bout time they circle back for a festival.
Devin Townsend – is touring new album Moth up until October with nothing after the 10th…
Black Veil Brides – Last here supporting Falling In Reverse. New album and a return to heavier elements would make them a great addition.
House Of Protection – Steevis and Aric are no strangers to Australian festivals, but HoP haven’t played one yet.
The Red Shore – Hype is starting to build on their social pages again… I wonder why!?
The Amity Affliction – They’re doing their ONLY AU Headline show at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on December 12th. Doesn’t rule out at festival run up the East Coast, right?
Big Noter – Proved their worth at Froth & Fury and would dominate with their debut album out Sept 18th
Amira Elfeky – Cancelled her debut Aus tour supporting Thornhill, maybe a rectified festival slot will make up for the cancellation?
Thrice – Also had to cancel their Australian tour but said they’ll come back “when the time is right”.
Three Days Grace – One of the most requested bands to play. In Australia. Since the mid-2000s.
Brand New – Featured in last year’s prediction list… they’re back in as they announced new shows for their 7 years + 13 of The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me celebrations which ends on November 14.
Alkaline Trio – New album is recorded with Travis Barker on drums… hmmm I wonder…
Slaughter To Prevail – I know they played already but Alex Terrible has had a child and is doing one final swing of Australia before pausing touring. No dates confirmed yet, so he could be yelling into the abyss on this…
The Plot In You – After that killer headline run in January, surely a December revisit could work?
Zuko – Froth & Fury gave them their first big festival main stage slot… will GTF up the ante?
Ecca Vandal – after wowing crowds at Coachella and supporting Deftones, the ball will be dropped dramatically if they don’t get this rising outfit back on the GTF lineup for the first time since 2018!
Headwreck – They played in Brisbane last year and have blown the fuck up since, including stopping in at Download Festival UK – they’ll be primed and ready for a full run this year!
Area 7 – Chuck ’em in for nostalgia purposes and that old school Aussie flavour.
Knosis – You just know Ryo will cause so much destruction if they are announced for it…
I Killed The Prom Queen – they’re playing a bunch of Euro festivals which could be the perfect warm up for GTF and then Hellbound II
Volatile Ways – It’s time to get some fresh new generation Aussie heavy bands a shot at a big festival.
Left to Suffer – Taylor Barber told us they’ve been planning to come down for years, and still nothing yet. Hopeful for a GTF appearance.
SPEED – They’ve not played one yet.
Arch Enemy – They didn’t make it over to Australia after announcing new Aussie frontwoman Lauren Hart, but could they be holding out for a festival appearance?
Four Year Strong – They also well overdue for a comeback. Guitarist Dan O’Connor was playing with New Found Glory last year, so fingers crossed.
Dead Letter Circus – could an Aussie prog comeback be on the cards?
Psycho Frame – who could be the token deathcore band since Suicide Silence are ruled out?
156/silence – hot tipped to come down under but no dates announced yet.
Bloodywood – I can definitely see them coming back for a festival run after their debut appearance supporting BABYMETAL earlier this year!
Hatebreed – Last here for Knotfest 2025. Tried to do the Summer Slaughter Tour here but it didn’t eventuate. Could be back on GTF instead with that new album Matt Byrne told us about at Aftershock…
Lash – They made global headlines following the release of Freakier Friday and told us if given the chance they’d step up to play. Would be a great Aussie throwback reunion set that would be to include out of nowhere!
The Story So Far – We need some new-age pop punk flavour!
Melting – With two killer EPs released, the Aussie core kids are well on their way in the scene and should be given a chance to play.
Bad Neighbour – Brissie pop punk/alt rockers would be killer if given the chance to play!
WAAX – Maz is back with a new lineup and new music, they also played the first ever GTF in 2018!
Trophy Eyes – Call it a hunch, but I got a feeling they’re about to come back in a big way.
Hellions – They said “book us” at the end of our interview, so hopefully their comeback tour swings into festival appearances by December…
Probably Not Appearing (Other Fests in Aus)
Keep in mind Knotfest is tipped to return to Australia in 2027, and if they’re taking a year off to come back bigger, we should anticipate a bunch of heavier bands popping up there instead.
Bands that could be on Knotfest include – Slayerrrrrrr, Rammstein, Falling In Reverse, Meshuggah, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Architects, Gojira, The Ghost Inside, Black Label Society, Sanguisugabogg… even BMTH doing a Count Your Blessings set is a probability (albeit a small one).
We also have Froth & Fury back, so don’t expect Clutch, Alpha Wolf, Igorrr, Corrosion Of Conformity, Paleface Swiss, Counterparts, Propaghandi etc
Probably Not Appearing (Tours too close outside of Aus)
All Shall Perish – Playing Japan on October 29th. Might stop into Aus after?!
Shinedown & Bush – doing their own co-headliner tour in September.
Jimmy Eat World – They’re doing their Bleed American tour here instead just after the GTF dates!
My Chemical Romance – Now that Jimmy Eat World are out, I’m thinking My Chem won’t be headlining as they’re usually a tour package down under and their current tour should be in big rooms/stadiums with all that production.
Avenged Sevenfold, Coheed And Cambria and Thornhill – touring October (plus Thorny played last year)
Trivium – Touring in October with Lamb Of God and Bleed From Within instead!
Killswitch Engage – touring October as well.
Converge – They’re due for a visit, but the weekend after Good Things they are playing their own festival in the US alongside Cave In and Baroness… not sure that’s enough time for them to get back, beat jetlag and do those performances.
Citizen – Touring Australia in Feb 2027
I Prevail, Imminence, Invent Animate – will be surprised if they pop back again so soon after the June tour. But it is 6 months between shows sooo….
Wage War – I don’t see them coming back so soon after their headliner. Prove me wrong.
Iron Maiden and Megadeth – don’t see them coming back so soon after their own trek here.
30 Seconds To Mars – Now that Tomo is back in the band, they’re worth talking about… But also, they’re playing a bunch of Euro shows in April 2027 honouring A Beautiful Lie and This Is War. I don’t see them here before that first run + with all this Jared Leto stuff going on… it might actually be worth taking them off any lists but y’never know…
Also, say it with me…
Ruled Out
Any previous headliners or second headliners e.g. Limp Bizkit, BMTH, Deftones, KoRn, Electric Callboy, A Day To Remember, Tool, Fall Out Boy, Weezer etc
Good Things have said they won’t repeat headliners and if these Limp Bizkit rumours come true, I’ll be disappointed to see a previous headliner back so soon.
System Of A Down and Faith No More – touring in Jan/Feb
Bad Omens, Lamb of God, Poppy, The Ghost Inside, Sylosis, Blood Incantation – all at Knotfest Mexico on December 5th.
Evanescence – Touring Australia in March 2027 instead.
Violent Soho – They boys are playing Rolling Sets Fest in Newcastle on December 5th and no they won’t do two festivals in one day.
CREED – The REAL fans want them but Alter Bridge (made up of members of Creed) have a show in America during the dates.
Terror, Bane, Start Today and Peace of Mind – in Germany on dec 6
Queens Of The Stone Age, Primus and Tropical Fuck Storm – doing their own tour during the dates
A Perfect Circle & Puscifer – touring Aus during the dates… and before you ask, NO, they won’t be on it.
Rise Against – touring with Dropkick Murphys around the dates instead and a festival on the Central Coast.
Breaking Benjamin – Keith Wallen told us in 2024: “Unless there is a cruise ship that goes from America to Australia, I don’t know if we’re going to get there…” on the subject of Ben Burnley’s severe fear of flying.
Muse – They’re in Europe.
Suicide Silence, Emmure, Angelmaker – touring the United States during the dates (this also rules out All Shall Perish).
In Flames, Orbit Culture, Fit For An Autopsy and Frozen Soul – touring America during the dates with Trivium
Papa Roach, Landmvrks and Sleep Theory – will be in France and Spain during the dates…
Imminence, Dying Wish and Gaerea – touring North America during the dates.
Polyphia – in Europe with Perturbator
Don Broco and Windwaker – in the US
Tigers Jaw – Touring Aus in November
Story Of The Year, Silverstein and Stand Atlantic – Also in the US
The Pretty Reckless – They wrap up their US tour on December 3. No chance they’ll make it in time.
Chelsea Grin, Whitechapel and The Acacia Strain – touring America (let’s also include Lorna Shore because they played last year)
Dragonforce – Unless they can get to Australia from Canada in 2 days, they’re not on it. Also rules out Blue Medusa since Alissa White-Gluz fronts both bands now.
Underoath – Playing shows in the US with August Burns Red and Atreyu.
Placebo – They’re in the UK during the dates
Chelsea Wolfe – touring Europe
thrown, Counterparts, No Cure and Heavensgate – touring Europe
Zebrahead and Punk Rock Factory – in Europe
State Champs – In the US during the dates
Sabaton and Pop Evil – touring North America
Chiodos – Touring Australia with Rain City Drive and The Beautiful Monument in November
Senses Fail – Touring America with Koyo and Initiate during the dates
Turnover – touring America
High On Fire – playing a show in Germany on Dec 5th
Napalm Death – Will be in Europe on Dec 1st…
Accept – in Hungary on Dec 6th
Guns ‘N Roses – doing their own tour, is anyone going to see them though?
Beartooth – doing an Aus tour in January with FFAK and Volumes
Bury Tomorrow & Gideon – Yep, doing their own thing beforehand.
Half Me – Will be here in October!
dayseeker & Northlane – touring Europe during the dates
Atomic Rule – aka Andy Williams (ex-ETID) new band will be on tour with GWAR.
Better Lovers – they’re finding a new front person
Magic Dirt – Adalita has a solo show in Perth on December 5th
Hoodoo Gurus – Playing a Melb gig on the same day as the Brisbane festival date
Flangipanis – The Brissie punks are calling it quits with their last shows in September
That’s it for now, check back in for all the latest news and developments leading up to the big weekend in December.