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Darwin turned up the volume as BASSINTHEGRASS 2026, the Northern Territory\u2019s biggest and longest\u2011running music festival, took over the iconic Mindil Beach on Saturday, 16 May for another massive day of live music, sunshine and Top End energy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Close to 12,000 festivalgoers streamed through the gates as a stacked lineup of global heavy hitters, Aussie icons and rising stars lit up three stages across ten hours of non\u2011stop music. American hip hop powerhouse Denzel Curry and Swedish electronic superstars Galantis were part of a huge bill that also featured homegrown favourites The Living End, Peking Duk, The Teskey Brothers, G Flip, Ball Park Music, Kita Alexander, and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Galantis DJ Christian Karlsson, said: \u201cIt\u2019s an absolutely mind-blowing experience. I didn\u2019t know anything, but I knew that Australia always, always deliver. I couldn\u2019t even imagine how mind blowing this would be\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, come to Darwin. Darwin is the number one spot,\u201d Karlsson said.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
International flavour pulsed through the day with sets from AYYBO (USA), Morty (UK), Oktae (KR), Venjent (UK) and JessB (NZ), while crowd\u2011pleasers Mallrat, In Hearts Wake, Anna Lunoe, Nina Las Vegas and Maple\u2019s Pet Dinosaur kept the energy high from afternoon to sunset.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Liam Bell, lead singer of Australian band Playlunch, said: \u201cIt\u2019s been amazing to be on the lineup with all these other amazing acts. I\u2019m not even sure we have stuff like this as good in Victoria\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had some laksa, and it\u2019s changed our lives, but also, obviously the people are amazing, the vibes are amazing,\u201d Bell said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The festival delivered its biggest program of experiences yet, including the launch of BASS Karaoke, new additions featuring a live band, MC\u2011hosted performances and crowd\u2011favourite singalongs. Across the site, returning favourites such as the Clinic34 Chill Out Zone, and the Power & Water Refresh Tent kept crowds moving, hydrated and entertained. A new Glitter and Glo bar, delivered in partnership with Charles Darwin University, proved a standout hit with free hair braiding, colour spraying and hair jewellery created by CDU\u2019s talented team.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was huge weekend for major events in the NT with just over 11,900 locals and visitors turning out for the AFL clash between the Gold Coast SUNS and Port Adelaide at TIO Stadium, adding to the city\u2019s vibrant atmosphere. Players and artists made the most of their time in the Top End, enjoying fishing charters, the Darwin Waterfront wave pool, Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The combined AFL\/BASS weekend delivered a strong boost to local tourism, with Darwin\u2019s hotel forward occupancy rate sitting around 70%, up 10 points on the same period last year \u2014 demonstrating the power of major events to drive visitation and support Territory businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Next on the Territory\u2019s major events calendar is the 2026 betr Darwin Triple Crown Supercars Indigenous Round, returning to Hidden Valley Raceway from 19\u201321 June. Fans can look forward to three full days of championship racing alongside Monster Trucks and SummerNATS shows.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Territory\u2019s colourful events calendar continues with Darwin Cup Carnival, International Test Cricket, Darwin Festival, RedCentreNATS, the adrenaline\u2011fuelled MXGP of Australia, and the Alice Springs Masters Games.<\/p>\n