Groovin The Moo will make its return in 2026 after cancelling events the past two years.

The music festival’s organisers announced on Wednesday a one-off show will be played at the Oakes Oval in Lismore, in NSW’s Northern Rivers region, on May 9.

The move departs from the previous model of touring the festival across regional Australian cities, which proved unsustainable and led to the festival being cancelled in 2024 and 2025.

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“We are extremely disappointed to announce that the Groovin the Moo 2024 tour has been forced to cancel,” the festival organisers said in a statement in 2024.

The following year was cancelled as a more economically viable solution had yet to be found.

“Last year we made a promise to find the most sustainable way to bring back Australia’s most-loved regional festival,” organisers said on Wednesday.

“In 2026, we’re taking the first step in Lismore.”

They added the change is “marking the first step of a long-term sustainable model”.

“Starting with a single stage and single-day show allows the festival to rebuild with care, while staying true to its regional foundations,” organisers said.

CEO of event company Fuzzy, Adelle Robinson, said Groovin The Moo “belongs to regional Australia”.

Groovin The Moo will return after a two-year hiatus, albeit on a smaller scale. Credit: Facebook

“Returning with a one-off show allows us to focus on doing it with the care and responsibility it deserves while the festival industry continues to navigate rising costs and increased pressure,” the festival’s promoter said.

“We are so thrilled to come to Lismore, a place that reflects the spirit and resilience of the communities that Groovin The Moo has supported from the beginning.”

Organisers have committed to donating $2 from every ticket sold to Our Kids, a local charity aimed at improving paediatric equipment in hospitals in the region.

Groovin The Moo’s return could signal a resurgence for music festivals forced to cancel in recent years due to cost blowouts and weak ticket sales.

What was one of Australia’s premier music festivals, Splendour In The Grass, was also forced to cancel the past two years, with no sign of returning in 2026.

“The rest of the festival team have still been busy cooking up some awesome new things for music lovers in Australia, but Splendour needs a little more time to recharge and we won’t be back this year,” Splendour In The Grass organisers said in 2025.

“Think of it as a breather so we can come back even bigger and better when the time is right.”