Ability Fest is back!!

Australia’s leading accessible and inclusive music festival, Ability Fest, returns to Melbourne on the 11th of April with a brand-new venue and format.

Founded by Paralympic gold medalist and 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott AO, the festival will take over The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne for its 2026 edition, embracing the warehouse venue’s roots with a fully electronic lineup. The venue shift reflects Ability Fest’s ongoing mission to demonstrate that accessibility works in any space. By activating across different formats each year, from outdoor festival sites to industrial warehouses, the event continues to challenge the live music industry to expand its creativity for inclusion in new ways.

Delivered in partnership with Untitled Group and financially supported by Revive Live, and presented in collaboration with triple j, Ability Fest remains at the forefront of inclusive, community-driven live events. Ability Fest is designed with inclusion at every level, featuring elevated viewing platforms, quiet and sensory zones, Auslan interpreters and live captioning. Accessibility infrastructure includes dedicated parking and pick-up/drop-off zones, accessible bathrooms and changing places, a designated assistance dog area and the Bindi Maps navigation app, while companion tickets remain free of charge for carers.

On the main stage, Ability Fest delivers a stacked electronic lineup led by PNAU who will deliver a DJ set, Logic1000, Ollie Lishman, Kito, Surusinghe, Blusher (DJ set), Brent Honey and DJ Cooper Smith, plus live performances from daine and Robert Baxter, while the silent disco will feature Aquenta, Chaotiic Good, Djanaba (DJ set), Jade Zoe, JUPiTA b2b bbsanii, Lakatoi, louli b2b Stev Zar and Noe, collectively reflecting The Timber Yard’s electronic legacy while reinforcing Ability Fest’s mission to prove accessible events can deliver world-class dancefloor experiences.

Longtime supporters including Get Skilled Access, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), Anytime Fitness, The Daily Aus and Nike return in 2026 alongside new partners CeraVe, oOh!media and Megatix, helping bring the festival to life across the venue. Nike will provide custom merchandise, accessible viewing platforms and a wheelchair basketball half court featuring exhibition matches and come-and-try sessions. CeraVe will debut its ‘Hydration Station’, offering free hydrating skincare essentials, prizes and ice-cold popsicles via donations supporting the Dylan Alcott Foundation. The TAC is sponsoring the tactile sensory silent disco, Rove Wheelchairs will give away a custom chair, and Anytime Fitness returns with its vibrant Glitter Bar activation along with secure lockers to support attendee comfort and convenience.

Since launching in 2018, Ability Fest has donated 100% of proceeds to the Dylan Alcott Foundation, funding scholarships, sport initiatives and entrepreneurial programs for young Australians with disability. To date, the festival has raised over $1.5 million, creating meaningful impact beyond the stage while continuing to reshape perceptions and strengthen community through shared cultural experiences.

“Ability Fest has always been about proving that accessibility and incredible experiences aren't mutually exclusive, they're essential. We want to show that accessibility at large-scale festivals isn’t just possible, it's achievable,” - Dylan Alcott

Accessible and Previous Purchaser presale open February 25 at 10:00amAEDT to February 26 at 11:00am AEDT with General presale ticket sales open on February 25 at 12:00pmAEDT to February 26 11:00am AEDT. Sign up for presale here.

General ticket sales open February 26 at 12:00pmAEDT, available at abilityfest.com.au. 

Further information on accessibility features and ticketing details via https://www.abilityfest.com.au/. 

Ability Fest Melbourne

Date: 11th April, 2026

Time: Doors open at 2pmand festival ends at 10pm 

Location: The Timber Yard, 351 Plummer Street, Port Melbourne VIC 3207

ABILITY FEST 2026 LINEUP (in alphabetical order)

Aquenta

Blusher (DJ)

Brent Honey

Chaotiic Good

Cooper Smith

daine

Djanaba (DJ)

Jade Zoe

JUPiTA b2b bbsanii

Kito

Lakatoi

Logic1000

louli b2b Stev Zar

Noe

Ollie Lishman

PNAU (DJ)

Robert Baxter

Surusinghe