Plan Your Festival
What’s On
Explore the full weekend lineup including KINGSWOOD LIVE!
Full Program
Day-by-day schedule
Busking CompetitionÂ
Register or support local talent
Cook Shire’s
Got Talent
Show us what you’ve got
Where to Stay
Find your perfect base
Our Story
Celebrating culture & connection
Take a detour and head for Adventure
Every June, Cooktown comes alive for a weekend of connection, celebration and culture. Set against the backdrop of the Waalmbal Birri – Endeavour River, the Discovery Festival is your invitation to slow down and soak up something special in one of Queensland’s most historic and scenic towns.
Culture & Connection
Experience stories of the Guugu Yimithirr people and frontier history.
Scenic Adventure
Set against the Endeavour River and the breath-taking Cape York Peninsula.
Festival Energy
Markets, live music, workshops and celebration for all ages.
Step into Story & Celebration
Located north of Cairns, travelling to Cooktown is an adventure all on its own. A breathtakingly beautiful and still relatively unspoilt region of the Cape York Peninsula. Cooktown is accessible via plane or road, both travel options promise adventure and spectacular views.
Held from 19th – 21st June, the festival blends riverfront markets, free live music, and hands-on workshops with deep cultural experiences and a touch of frontier history. Hear the stories of the Guugu Yimithirr people, watch traditional dance performances, and retrace Captain Cook’s historic landing – all in the one place.
Stay Updated with the Latest!
You’ll hear it before you see it!
Charlotte Street Comes Alive with Music at the Cooktown Post Office Busking Competition. Guitars echoing down the street. Crowd applause rolling between shopfronts. A soulful acoustic set stopping festivalgoers in their tracks. The Cooktown Post Office Busking...
Big Run for Little Athletics returns to Cooktown Discovery Festival Weekend 2026!
Lace up your runners, Cooktown's most scenic run is back! Hosted by Cooktown and District Little Athletics, this event is all about getting outdoors, moving your body and enjoying a great morning with the community during one of the Cooktown's biggest weekends of the...
Become the first ever Junior Judge at Cook Shire’s Got Talent 2026!
Applications are now open for the new Cook Shire’s Got Talent Junior Judge as part of the 2026 Cooktown Discovery Festival. One passionate young person from the Cook Shire region will have the opportunity to join the official judging panel at Cook Shire’s Got Talent...
Countdown begins: New Cooktown Discovery Festival website launches as excitement builds for 2026
The countdown is officially on. The seven-week countdown to the Cooktown Discovery Festival kicks off tomorrow, Friday 1 May, with the launch of a refreshed festival website—setting the stage for one of Cape York’s most iconic events.Designed to be more vibrant,...
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