Fresh from taking out Regional Artist of the Year at the 2026 Queensland Music Awards, acclaimed First Nations artist Djawarray has been announced as the latest addition to the Cooktown Discovery Festival line-up, as organisers release the full program for this year’s event.
A proud Djabugay and Western Yalanji songman, Djawarray has captivated audiences across Queensland with his powerful blend of traditional language, storytelling and contemporary music. His recent Queensland Music Award win has further cemented his reputation as one of the state’s most exciting and authentic musical voices.
Djawarray joins an already impressive entertainment line-up that includes ARIA-nominated Australian rock band Kingswood, who will headline a free Saturday night concert at Festival Village.
With the official program now available, festivalgoers can start planning their weekend ahead of the three-day celebration from 19–21 June 2026.
This year’s Cooktown Discovery Festival features an exciting mix of live music, cultural performances, historical re-enactments, markets, family entertainment, community events and much more, celebrating the rich history, culture and spirit of Cooktown and Cape York.
Festival highlights include:
- Kingswood live in concert
- Djawarray
- Jeremy Fletcher Band
- Burger Joint and Junior Burger
- Heaps of LIVE, LOCAL music, including Art Soul and High Tide
- The Cooktown Discovery Festival Street Parade
- The Big Run for Little Athletics
- Fireworks over the Endeavour River
- Historical re-enactments and cultural performances
- Festival markets and street entertainment
- Cook Shire’s Got Talent winners
- The Busking Competition
- Cape York Automotive Muster
- Family-friendly activities throughout the weekend
With accommodation bookings already strong and thousands expected to attend, visitors are encouraged to download the program and begin planning their festival experience.
Whether you’re travelling from across the region, road-tripping through Cape York or joining in as a local, the 2026 Cooktown Discovery Festival promises an unforgettable weekend of music, culture, history and community celebration.
The full festival program is now available online.
👉 Visit www.cooktowndiscovery.com.au/whats-on to download the program, explore events and start planning your festival weekend.
Cooktown Discovery Festival
19–21 June 2026
