Well… this wasn’t on our 2026 bingo card.
A brand new heavy festival called Meltdown has officially emerged from the depths, with organisers today unveiling a stacked debut lineup led by Chicago punk heavyweights Rise Against alongside Celtic punk legends Dropkick Murphys, Aussie icons The Living End, Jebediah, RedHook and more.
“Australia’s newest high-voltage rock and metal event for true heavy music fans”
And maybe the most chaotic part of all? It’s happening in Gosford.
Yep. The Central Coast is officially entering its punk rock era.
Set to take over The Entertainment Grounds on Saturday November 28, Meltdown is billing itself as “Australia’s newest high-voltage rock and metal event for true heavy music fans” – and honestly, for a first lineup? They’re not mucking around.
Rise Against topping a festival in Gossy feels slightly surreal in the best possible way. One minute you’re grabbing Boost Juice at Erina Fair, the next you’re scream-singing Savior in a sea of patched denim vests while someone crowdsurfs past wearing a Central Coast Mariners jersey.
The festival also marks part of Rise Against’s newly announced Australian and New Zealand headline tour with Dropkick Murphys, which will see the two punk heavyweights hit Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth later this year.
For Rise Against, the run continues the rollout of their upcoming album Ricochet, while Dropkick Murphys arrive armed with their latest record For The People – another rabble-rousing blast of pub-ready punk energy and anti-divisive fury.
And honestly, Meltdown already feels like a pretty fitting name for what Gosford is about to experience.
For now, the Central Coast is about to get very loud, and tickets are likely to disappear faster thaan Ploddy the dinosaur’s latest paint job.
Suss the details down below.
Meltdown Festival 2026 Lineup
- Rise Against
- Dropkick Murphys
- The Living End
- Jebediah
- RedHook
- Through Being Cool
Saturday, 28th November – The Entertainment Grounds, Gosford, NSW
Mastercard Presale: Wed 27 May, 12pm AEST
Presale: Thu 28 May, 12pm AEST
General On Sale: Fri 29 May, 1pm AEST
Sign up now for presale: bit.ly/M26-rgstr
Further Reading
Hellbound II Lineup: Parkway Drive, Thy Art Is Murder + MORE
Rise Against 2026 North American Tour Setlist
Love Letter To A Record: Rise Against On Fugazi’s ’13 Songs’
