Leaps and Bounds is back in its 10-day glory

Winter sounds better in the Yarra

City of Yarra’s cherished winter music festival, Leaps and Bounds, returns in 2026 with a full ten-day programme, shining a spotlight on the artists, venues, DJs, promoters and collectives that have made Yarra one of Australia’s most vital live music communities.

From Thursday 16 to Sunday 26 July, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Abbotsford and Richmond will buzz with live performances, pop-ups, record fairs, broadcasts and one-off collaborations. Every event is either free or low-cost, ensuring the festival remains accessible to all.

Leaps and Bounds

When: Thursday 16 – Sunday 26 July

Where: Various venues, City of Yarra

Keep connected to your live music scene here.

 

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“Live music is a fundamental part of Yarra’s identity,” says Yarra City Council Mayor Stephen Jolly. “Leaps and Bounds celebrates that culture, backing the local artists, promoters and venues that have positioned us as one of Australia’s most important music communities. Ten days of events means more people can experience it firsthand.”

Presented in partnership with Yarra’s venues, promoters and communities, the festival continues to champion the people and places that make the city a hub for musical discovery.

This year’s programme brims with highlights. IN MOTION, part of HIGH GROUND, takes over The Night Cat, The Evelyn Hotel and Punters Club, featuring Public Figures, Skeleten and more. Trainscendence, Collingwood’s innovative train carriage venue, hosts Loco Motion, a weekend of music, art and culture for all ages. The Gem welcomes Stone Fest, a free Sunday session featuring Girlatones, Daisy Kilbourne and Hannah Kate, while Liberate Community presents Equaliser: A Disability Pride Party at Richmond’s Leadbeater Hotel.

Global sounds, storytelling and cultural exchange pulse throughout the festival. Highlights include Stani Goma’s To Bina: A Night of Soukous Vibrations Powered by El Gran Mono at Abbots Yard, Diversity Funk at The Horn, and Akwaaba at Old Plates—a celebration of West African music, culture and food headlined by Immy Owusu and Sensible J. The Builders Arms Hotel hosts The Yalinguth Archives, an evocative night of yidaki, songs and stories reflecting Fitzroy’s iconic meeting places and the Aboriginal community that shaped them.

Lower Johnston St comes alive with Lowlight on Lojo, a collaboration between Nighthawks and The Bendigo, while Lulie Tavern throws LittlePalooza, a free, fully accessible all-day party featuring Leroy MacQueen, Platonic Sex and more. The Tote welcomes South Australian Aboriginal hip hop collective DEM MOB.

Elsewhere, The Old Bar hosts a zine fair accompanied by energetic DIY punk, Baxter’s on Brunswick St showcases emerging talent across three nights in Sounds Like Tomorrow, and Glamorama teams up with REELIZE Studio for INFUSE, an immersive AV club night with dozie.

The Leaps and Bounds Record Fair returns to Collingwood Town Hall, and PBS continues its festival tradition with a live broadcast from Yorkshire Stingo Hotel.

There are countless other discoveries to be made across the festival, with special events at Bodriggy Brewpub, Skydiver Records, Smith St Hotel, The Catfish, Railway Hotel, Yah Yahs, The Standard, The Grace Darling and Bar Open—plus a secret venue launch party, to be revealed closer to the festival.

Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is proudly presented by Yarra City Council and supported by PBS.

For the full programme, visit Leaps and Bounds Music Festival here.