More than 7,500 people. Three days. Fire pits, packed dance floors, mountain sunsets and more than 350 wines poured beneath the sandstone peaks of Gariwerd.
Grampians Grape Escape returned to Halls Gap across the weekend for its 35th year and 33rd festival edition, and despite a little drizzle on Saturday, nobody was going home early.
Ponchos went on. Glasses stayed full.
A little rain rolled through on Saturday. Nobody cared.
From the first drinks poured at Feel-Good Friday through to the final horns of Orange Whip on Sunday afternoon, the festival grounds pulsed with energy. Friends reunited over cool-climate Shiraz, kids made friendship bracelets between dance floor appearances, and hungry festivalgoers wandered between smoke, spice, sangria and small-batch spirits.
This year’s festival felt noticeably bigger, not just in scale but in atmosphere. People settled in for the entire weekend, moving between masterclasses, live music, grape stomping and “just one quick tasting” that quietly turned into three hours chatting to producers.
Across three days, the program stretched well beyond the glass, with 12 live music acts, more than ten masterclasses and food experiences, and 1,500kg of grapes stomped beneath the autumn sun.
At the centre of it all sat The Coal Pit, one of the festival’s biggest talking points for 2026.
Tom Ballinger from Coal Catering showcasing coal cooking techniques at The Coal Pit.
Smoke drifted across the site all weekend as chefs and fire-cooking specialists gathered around open coals and asado rigs. Crowds packed around the precinct to watch Tom Ballinger from Coal Catering showcase coal cooking techniques, while Black Opal Wagyu drew huge interest with demonstrations celebrating premium regional produce over fire.
The whole place smelled incredible.
Nearby, festivalgoers filled the Masterclass Marquee for sessions with Analiese Gregory, Shanteh Wale, Jessica Moulynox, Cat Clarke and Luke Wakefield, exploring everything from coal cooking and native ingredients to cocktails, clay cooking and regional produce.
And then there was the wine.
From elegant cool-climate Shiraz to Riesling, Grenache and Piquette, curious drinkers discovered new favourites across the weekend.
Curious drinkers sampled elegant Grampians Shiraz alongside Riesling, Grenache, Piquette and emerging Rhône varieties, while the Grampians Winemakers Barrique Auction once again delivered one of the weekend’s biggest crowd moments.
For acclaimed wine communicator Shanteh Wale, the region delivered more than a few surprises.
“I had an expectation of what I was really looking forward to, but I was surprised and delighted along the way,” she said following the festival.
“I have always had an affinity for the spicy, beautiful, elegant floral notes of Shiraz and I saw plenty of those while I was here. But I was really struck by the Riesling.”
And while the wine remained central, it was the atmosphere that stayed with her most.
“It is unlike any other festival,” said Wale.
“The way that it is designed, where you are in Halls Gap and you are looking up at these 400 million year old stone structures, that was just phenomenal. It is the most family friendly festival I have ever seen in my life.”
That family energy was everywhere on Sunday.
Bracelet making, bush foods workshops, animal encounters, face painting, rock climbing and Furals Creative Play kept little adventurers busy while parents settled in with local wines, live music and picnic blankets beneath the mountains.
Music rolled across the valley floor all weekend, from laid-back afternoon sets to packed dance floors. The Yachtski Brothers delivered one of the festival’s biggest crowd moments on Saturday afternoon, while local legends Orange Whip closed the weekend in true Grampians Grape Escape style: joyful, loud and met with a packed dance floor.
Across the festival grounds, more than 100 wineries, food producers, distillers, makers and artisans poured, plated and shared the stories behind their craft, with many exhibitors reporting strong trading and standout sales across the weekend.
And the tourism impact across the region was impossible to ignore.
More than 7,500 people came through the gates across the weekend, with 85% travelling from outside the Grampians region. Accommodation bookings were up 10% year-on-year, while local spending rose 12% compared to the same period last year, reinforcing growing demand for immersive regional experiences and longer stays in the Grampians.
Festival Director Kate Kirkpatrick said the weekend reinforced the growing appetite for destination-led regional events.
“What a fantastic weekend. To see so many people travelling to our region and embracing everything the Grampians has to offer is incredibly special,” she said.
“The support for our winemakers, producers and local businesses has been phenomenal.”
Three days, more than 7,500 people and one very good weekend in the Grampians.
To our exhibitors, chefs, musicians, makers, presenters, volunteers, crew, partners and local community, thank you for bringing the festival to life.
And to the 7,500+ people who packed the grounds, stomped grapes, danced in the rain, discovered new favourites and made the trip to the Grampians, thank you.
You showed up in the very best way.
Grampians Grape Escape returns to Halls Gap from Friday 30 April to Sunday 2 May, 2027.
First release tickets are expected to go on sale in November. To get first access, subscribe.
Grampians Grape Escape is proudly supported by its 2026 Festival Partners, including Visit Victoria, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism, Northern Grampians Shire, Broadsheet, Merry People, Harmony Agriculture, Gawk and local event partners A3 Event Hire, Pure Vibe, Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park, Grampians Wine, G.J. Gardner Homes Ararat, Stawell Gold Mines, Tivey & Holland, Nevett Lawyers, David O. Jones, Mitre 10, Unicraft Joinery, GWM Water and Fenn’s Haulage. Their support makes the event possible each year.
