Tussock Country Music Festival is set to return to Eastern Southland this May and the action packed 2026 line up has just been released.

Now in its fifth year, the festival has grown again, with more than 80 events taking place across ten days from May 22nd, its biggest calendar yet.

Next year’s festival welcomes a wave of new events, iconic names and fresh faces. Kiwi legends The Warratahs join the celebrations as guest artists at the Country Music Honours, with frontman Barry Saunders also performing an intimate house concert.

Trad Night Tuesday, a walk-up, join-in Celtic music session, makes its debut alongside an expanded offering for younger audiences including a book reading, a songwriting workshop for teenagers, and a Singalongercise kids concert, all led by musician and author Jeremy Redmore.

Adding to the festival’s growing cultural mix, one of New Zealand’s most recognisable comedians, Tom Sainsbury, is bringing his show to Gore. Sainsbury says he has performed all across the South Island and noticed wherever he goes, people from Gore travel far and wide to see him. In 2026, he is returning the favour.

One of New Zealand’s most recognisable comedians, Tom Sainsbury, is bringing his show to Gore as par. Photo: Supplied

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The expanded programme builds on the success of recent years. In 2025, Tussock Country injected an estimated $2.5million into the Eastern Southland economy, and 2026 is forecast to surpass that with strong patronage interest coming from across New Zealand and Australia.

Long standing favourite events also return including the MLT NZ Gold Guitar Awards, the Freeze Ya Bits Off Busking Competition, the Gore Truck Show, the Old Hokonui whiskey and food pairing evening, and The Celtic Unleashed, a major fundraiser for the Hokonui Celtic Pipe Band.

Tussock Country encompasses events coordinated by the Gore Country Music Club, the NZ Songwriters Trust, the NZ Gold Guitar Committee, Gore District Council and many independent artists and community groups.

After turning all four chairs on The Voice Australia in 2025, Kiwi-now-Queensland-based Jaydin Shingleton is After turning all four chairs on The Voice Australia in 2025, Kiwi-now-Queensland-based Jaydin Shingleton is returning to Gore to perform at Tussock Country - NZ's Country Music Festival. Photo: Michaela Jamesonreturning to Gore to perform at Tussock Country - NZ's Country Music Festival. Photo: Michaela Jameson

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“We are incredibly proud of how the festival continues to grow”, says festival chair Jeff Rea. “With more than 80 events, a wider range of genres and experiences, and artists travelling from across New Zealand and Australia, we cannot wait for patrons to take in the full sights and sounds of Tussock Country right here in Gore.”

Tickets for all events go on sale at 9am on December 11th, giving patrons time to explore the full festival calendar and plan their visit to Eastern Southland.

Full event details are available at www.tussockcountry.nz