Busking rules for Country Music Festival
New Busking Process Strengthens the Heartbeat of the Festival
Busking registrations are now open for the Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music Festival, which will take place from 15-24 January, 2027. Busking is an iconic aspect of the Festival, with up to 400 buskers performing on Tamworth's "Boulevard of Dreams" in Peel Street and surrounding areas.
Every artist, no matter their age or experience converge on Tamworth’s streets every January, making it one of the most anticipated parts of the Festival. It is free to busk.
As the tradition continues to grow, The Festival is now introducing a new, centrally coordinated busking allocation system for 2027, designed to create a fairer, more consistent experience for performers, businesses and festival-goers.
Developed following extensive feedback from the community and 2026 buskers, the new process will see all busking locations and schedules managed by the Festival's Busking Coordinator, through an online system, ensuring performance opportunities are shared more equitably across the event.
Under the new system, buskers will perform only at official designated busking locations, which will be clearly marked throughout the CBD. While businesses will no longer allocate busking sites directly, they can still nominate preferred performers or request an exclusive approved busker where an existing relationship exists.
Festival Executive Producer Peter Ross says the changes have been carefully considered following extensive feedback and consultation with stakeholders and are aimed at improving the experience for everyone involved.
“By managing locations and schedules centrally, we can provide a more organised and equitable process while still recognising the strong relationships many performers have built with local businesses over the years." Mr Ross says.
Buskers will also need to comply with new sound requirements. While amplification is still permitted, performers will be encouraged to keep equipment to a minimum, with a maximum sound level of 70 decibels and some locations operating as acoustic-only zones at certain times.
Acoustic instruments, compact battery-powered amplification and light percussion remain welcome, while excessively loud equipment such as subwoofers, full drum kits, large PA systems and non-musical entertainment acts will not be permitted.
"Busking is the heartbeat of the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and we are excited to create a more transparent system that gives every registered performer the best possible opportunity to be seen and heard," Mr Ross says.
The Toyota Best of the Buskers Championships will return in 2027, celebrating the Festival's outstanding street performers. Buskers who nominate to compete will be assessed by a panel of secret judges throughout the Festival, while fans can once again vote for their favourite performer via a QR code displayed on each registered busker's official poster.
The public's choice will receive the Festival Fan Favourite award and automatically earn a place in the prestigious Toyota Best of the Buskers Top 10, with finalists competing for cash, performance opportunities and valuable industry prizes.
For more information and to register to busk, visit www.tcmf.com.au/busking
Tamworth Country Music Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Stay up-to-date on the Toyota 55th Tamworth Country Music website. TCMF Facebook and TCMF Instagram