When it rains, it pours – and in the world of Australian music festivals, that certainly rings true. We are approaching the end of the year when the country's festival season usually kicks into high gear, and the lineup teasers are officially dropping. Don't get us wrong, we love a good cryptic tease – especially since we're pretty great at cracking them. So, let's just say we're feeling pretty confident that we've successfully decoded the Spilt Milk 2026 lineup.
Below, find every single clue we've found that leads us to believe we know exactly who is performing this year...
They've dropped a Pinterest moodboard
@ashtrlmusic SPILT MILK 2026! #tatemcrae #spiltmilkfestival #festival #spiltmilkgoldcoast ♬ Just Keep Watching (From F1® The Movie) - Tate McRae
This is an IYKYK situation. Spilt Milk themselves have dropped a Pinterest moodboard titled 'My 2026 Vision Board', that they have DM'd to a few content creators that hints at which artists are playing at this years festival. The pins are fairly rogue – like the Tayto Crisp cartoon, Benedict Cumberbatch's face on a thumb, a depiction of the Ancient Egyptian pyramids, Lightning McQueen from Cars, and a photo of a drivers licence (which is McLovin's iconic one from Superbad) – just to name a few. There's a lot to unpack... but thanks to the internet, we have thoughts.
Tate McRae might be a headliner
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Judging from the Pinterest moodboard and the video above, it looks like Tate McRae might be a headliner. The first hint is that there is an Irish potato chip brand called Tayto Crisp featured on the moodboard. It's very similar to the name Tate, and as the video above breaks down, Tate McRae's fans call themselves "Tater-tots". Coincidence? We think not. Associated to the potato form. Add to it all the the McLovin drivers licence and a meme photo of Lightening McQueen from Cars that has "MCfreak" on it. A big emphasis on the "Mc" part of a name...
Kettama has also been hinted
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Arguably one of the more likely acts that will (probably) be on the lineup is Kettama. At the end of this video Spilt Milk recently posted on Instagram, a Kettama song is played. This is likely a very obvious hint. It also means the Tayto Crisp clue on the Pinterest moodboard could point directly to him, given that both he and the iconic crisp brand are Irish. Time will tell.
They dropped more hints on TikTok
@breakingthroughpoddy Replying to @jordonan101 @Spilt Milk posted again….more hints to solve!! #tour #triplej #austour #festival #spiltmilk ♬ original sound - The Breaking Through Podcast
On their TikTok account, Spilt Milk posted a carousel titled 'ways to kill time before the lineup drops.' The list itself is interesting – including visiting the theatre, trying a new hobby, watching Off Campus again, keeping up with therapy, and blowing a kiss. However, the accompanying images are just as intriguing as the suggestions.
For instance, the image for 'try a new hobby' features Angelina Ballerina, which we think points to Tate McRae – a former ballerina. Meanwhile, the Off Campus reference shows a picture of Belmont Cameli, which feels like a nod to that viral moment with The Kid LAROI at his concert. This could also be a less obvious connection – like The Beaches, who had a song featured on the show. Lastly, the therapy reference could easily point to Alex Warren, given his album, Cheaper Than Therapy.
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And to be more on the nose. Aussie band DMA's have a freshly released song call Killing Time which makes perfect sense if they are on the lineup as they're back on the road touring their latest self-titled album.
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Who else might be on the lineup?
We have to admit, this moodboard is brilliant – it strikes a perfect balance between incredibly niche clues and broader teasers. Take the driver's license, for example. Could it be a nod to Olivia Rodrigo, or is that a bit too obvious? Meanwhile, the image of the pyramids feels like a direct hint at Frank Ocean. We know, we know – it's a massive stretch considering how rarely he performs live these days, but we can dream.
Then there is the image of Bibble from Barbie Fairytopia. In this specific edit, he has wings and a halo, looking exactly like an angel. Could this be a clever wordplay hint for French pop star Angèle?
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We also have an image from the movie Life of Pi, where the main character's on the boat with both hands in the air when rain starts to come down – a very joyous image. The only person we can think of in relation that clue is Natasha Bedingfield with her song Unwritten.
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The festival is moving to Geelong in 2026
While the lineup is under wraps, what we do know is that Spilt Milk is leaving its home in Ballarat (where it's been since 2019) for Geelong. It will be there for at least the next five years, thanks to support from both Visit Victoria and City of Greater Geelong, with Director and Co-Founder of Kicks Entertainment, Ryan Sabet saying, "their support means we can keep proving that a world-class festival doesn't need a capital city and keep bringing tens of thousands of young people to regional Victoria every December."
