Description
Essence is Canberra's premier transgressive music event and is back on 2-4 October 2026 - bigger and bolder than ever! The festival format once again begins with Friday night's Essentia Vermis pre-fest, curated by underground label Gutter Prince Cabal, and continues through Saturday and Sunday. (Monday 5 Oct is a public holiday in ACT, NSW, Qld and SA.) Fri 2 Oct Doors 7pm 7:30-8:15 Gralloch 8:15-9:00 Reekmind 9:00-9:45 Stellar Remains 9:45-10:30 Graveir 10:30-close Horrisonous Sat 3 Oct Doors 2:30pm 3:30-4:00 Udeis 4:00-4:30 Thought Cabinet 4:30-5:00 Making Out 5:00-5:30 Your Mothers Disgusting Window 5:30-6:00 Anocht 6:00-6:30 Saleeha & TVISB 6:30-7:00 Blood in the Champagne 7:00-7:30 Shipyard 7:30-8:00 INTERMISSION 8:00-8:30 Bentham's Head 8:30-9:00 Yanomamo 9:00-9:30 Fuxache 9:30-10:00 Most Ominous Mystic 10:00-10:40 Suldusk 10:40-11:15 Burial Pit 11:15-close The Amenta Sun 4 Oct Doors 3:30pm 4:30-5:00 Rodenticide 5:00-5:30 Chief Whip 5:30-6:00 Emaren 6:00-6:30 Abre Ojos 6:30-7:00 Realname 7:00-7:30 Isomer/Chrysalis 7:30-8:00 INTERMISSION 8:00-8:30 Nyctalor 8:30-9:00 Migret 9:00-9:40 Darkhorse 9:40-10:10 Lucas 'Granpa' Abela 10:10-close Halo of Teeth Under 18s welcome with parent or guardian Under 12s free! Noting cost-of-living pressures, we have kept our ticket prices consistent with last year. Essence takes place on the unceded lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.