Party In The Paddock has been locked in for 2027 after drawing a record 14,000 people to Quercus Park over the weekend.
The Tasmanian music festival saw a 1,000-person increase in attendance from last year, with organisers celebrating a major demographic shift that brought more families and older audiences.
Festival director Ryan Limb said the milestone attendance figure hit their exact target.
“We’ve already started planning for 2027, so it’s looking like we’ll just keep on growing,” he said.
The event attracted significantly more interstate visitors and southern Tasmanians this year, with camping numbers continuing their upward trend alongside a massive uplift in non-camping ticket sales.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced government funding to secure the festival’s future.
“While festivals across the country are struggling, Party in the Paddock continues to grow,” Rockliff told Pulse.
“We are investing in events like Party in the Paddock, Festivale, the Foo Fighters concert, the Taste of Summer because we are backing our economy, jobs, and our regions.”
The state government committed $1.5 million at the July state election to support the 2026 and 2027 festivals, along with $500,000 for safety upgrades at Quercus Park.
Limb said the government support creates stability and confidence to expand.
“It’s a great investment from the government. I think it’s worth every cent for them,” he told Pulse.
This year marked significant operational improvements after 12 months of rebuilding every area of the site.
Limb said customer experience remained the top priority, with contractors and security helping manage larger crowds more efficiently.
The festival featured headline acts including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ocean Alley, Peking Duk, The Veronicas and Sofi Tukker across the weekend.
New additions like Play Time in the Paddock, a dedicated kids area, contributed to the family-friendly atmosphere.
Limb said families stood out throughout the main arenas, sitting on banks and watching performances.
“Lots of new plans coming through,” he said. “It’s time for some new additions to the paddock for next year.”
The festival’s location at Quercus Park, just 15 minutes from Launceston, creates a unique immersive experience that even international performers noticed.
“It really does feel like you’re transported into another world. [You can] let your normal worries go free and celebrate and have a great weekend,” Limb said.
Limb said the festival’s is hugely important for young Tasmanians in a state experiencing a youth exodus.
“It’s honestly everything. We know we have an obligation here to keep doing this,” he said.
“Events like this are super important to continue the culture and continue community in Tassie.”
“We owed it to Tasmania to bring it back.”
