Countrytown's CMC Rocks 2026 Line Up Predictions

When it comes to country music in Australia, CMC Rocks is in a league of its own. 

Every March, thousands of country music fans descend on Willowbank Raceway for the ultimate three-day celebration of all things country. With past lineups boasting everyone from Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs to Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson and HARDY, CMC Rocks has cemented its place as the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest and boldest country music festival. It’s not just a weekend; it’s a lifestyle and a rite of passage for diehard fans and curious newcomers alike.

The countdown to CMC Rocks 2026 is officially on, and as the rumour mill heats up, we’ve pulled out our crystal ball (and Instagram detective skills) to predict who might be hitting the stage next year. Some are seasoned favourites, others are fresh faces making waves, but these are just some of the artists we think could (and won’t) hit the CMC stage next year.

So buckle up! Let’s dive into our bold, probably-a-bit-too-invested, and hopefully accurate predictions for CMC Rocks 2026. Yeehaw.

Countrytown’s Artist Predictions

Jordan Davis - Prediction: Highly Likely

We know Davis is heading back to Australia in 2026, though dates are still underwraps. After playing CMC Rocks in 2023, followed by a national stadium tour with Luke Combs earlier this year, it makes sense that Davis’ next move in Australia would be a headline set at CMC Rocks. With his brand new album Learn The Hard Way dropping last week, the timing couldn’t be better to lock him in for the lineup

Ella Langley: Prediction: Low

As much as we’re all dying for Langley to make her long-awaited Australian debut, we don’t think it will be at CMC Rocks in 2026. There have been no indications or clues that hint towards a visit in March but we’ve got a feeling her first trip down under isn’t too far off. 

Max McNown - Prediction: Likely

McNown has been setting himself up as a serious player in the global country music scene. With two trips already under his belt to Australia in 2025, the first a national headline tour in May, then a co-headline set at Countryfest, it’s clear he’s building serious momentum down under. Playing at CMC Rocks definitely feels apt to be the next milestone for McNown in Aus.

Brad Cox - Prediction: Highly Likely

With his new studio album Endemic Intelligence In Multiple Dimensions set to drop later this year, Cox is clearly gearing up for a huge 2026. Recent international booking deals across the US, UK and Europe suggest big things on the horizon and a CMC Rocks set would be the cherry on top. New music, global ambitions and a home crowd? Sounds like the stars are aligning. 

Morgan Wallen - Prediction: Low

Wallen last lit up stages in Australia in 2023 as the headliner for CMC Rocks, although we know he is returning to Australia in 2026, we’re betting it won’t be for a festival set. With Luke Combs smashing Australian records and filling stadiums on his headline tour earlier this year, our guess is Wallen is gearing up to follow suit with a massive run of his own.

Riley Green: Prediction: Likely

Green headlined the 2024 Ridin’ Hearts festival - CMC Rocks’ sister festival - and it’s safe to say Aussie fans couldn’t get enough. His Brisbane side show sold out in just minutes, and when a second date was added those tickets vanished just as fast. With that kind of demand, it only makes sense for his return to be at the biggest country stage in Australia. We’re betting there’s a good chance you’ll see Riley Green’s name on that bill.

Tyler Braden - Prediction: Likely

We first saw Braden take the stage at CMC Rocks in March 2024, and since then, he’s been steadily gaining ground with Aussie audiences. His debut album Devil and a Prayer is out now, and he’s been a regular fixture on the Countrytown Hot 50 Country Airplay Chart clear signs that his momentum in Australia is building. We’ve also noticed there are no tour dates past October this year.

Tyla Rodrigues - Prediction: Highly Likely

Rodrigues is fast becoming the name on everybody’s lips in country music. Beyond her undeniable talent, her resume is seriously impressive. She supported Dylan Gossett on his Back 40 Australian Tour, signed with ABC Music, performed at CMA Fest in Nashville, and was recently added to BIGSOUND and Howlin’ Country lineups. With her meteoric rise, now feels like the perfect time for her to land a spot at CMC Rocks.

Bailey Zimmerman - Prediction: Likely

Zimmerman just dropped his new album Different Night Same Rodeo, and you’ve no doubt seen it splashed all over your social media, including giveaways with iHeartCountry Australia and KIX Country. Zimmerman also teamed up with Aussie superstar The Kid Laroi for his new single Lost, which is a loose but nonetheless, still a cord that tethers to Australia. Having already played Australia twice in 2024 at CMC Rocks and Ridin’ Hearts, a return to the very stage where it all began seems like a full circle moment.

Post Malone - Prediction: Low

We’d love to see Posty bring his F-1 Trillion album and tour to Australia, but honestly, CMC Rocks 2026 probably isn’t on the cards this time around.

Carly Pearce: Prediction: Likely 

Pearce dropped her latest album hummingbird in 2024 and is definitely overdue for an Aussie appearance. With Grammy, CMA and ACM wins under her belt, she’s absolutely at the peak of her game right now. Pearce has played in Europe/the UK in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 so we think 2026 has to be Australia’s year, plus currently there are no tour dates listed for March on her website.

Lane Pittman - Probability: Low

After playing the last two festivals, we’re thinking Pittman might sit out the 2026 lineup. Plus, this soon to be first-time dad has a little baby due in February next year, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he takes some well-deserved time off to be at home.

Morgan Evans and Laci Kaye Booth - Prediction: Likely

Evans is already locked in for Howlin’ Country in February, so why not hang around and hit up CMC Rocks too? Booth made her CMC Rocks debut back in September 2022; she’s due for new music and a return down under… so although the “evidence” is a bit light, we definitely think this could work and we’re hoping to see this loved up couple back at CMC Rocks!

Dasha - Prediction: Highly Likely

Dasha’s been lighting up festivals across the US, Canada, Europe, and the UK, so Australia’s gotta be next, right? With her infectious energy and warm stage presence, Aussie crowds are bound to fall for her. She travelled to Australia in 2024 on a promotional media tour and did perform an intimate club show in Sydney. Seeing as she wasn’t on this year’s lineup, it has to be 2026 we finally see Dasha on the big stage in Australia.

Wade Forster - Prediction: Likely

Forster hasn’t hit the CMC Rocks stage yet, but with his rapid rise both in Australia and the US, it feels like only a matter of time. Recently signing with UNIFIED and snagging the Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Countrytown Awards (voted by the fans, no less), he’s got serious momentum right now. The rest of his 2025 calendar is packed with global tour dates but after January 19, 2026 things clear up, which makes him another strong contender for the line up.

Gavin Adcock - Prediction: Likely

Fans caught wind of Adcock dropping a hint during a TikTok Live that he’ll be in Australia come March. While we can’t confirm or deny, it definitely adds up. With no tour dates announced for 2026 and a fresh album, Own Worst Enemy, just out, now’s the perfect moment for him to break into a new market and make his Aussie debut.

The Wolfe Brothers - Prediction: Highly Likely

Wolfies last lit up the CMC Rocks stage in 2023, well overdue for a comeback. Their new album Australian Made drops on August 29, the exact same day as the 2026 lineup is revealed. Coincidence? Maybe. But it feels like an odd move if they weren’t a part of the party, but we could be wrong! No tour dates revealed past Tamworth Country Music Festival so there’s definitely room (and reason) for a Wolfe Brothers return to Willowbank.

Sara Berki - Prediction: Likely

Berki is going from strength to strength right now, the rest of her 2025 is packed full of festival performances including Savannah In The Round, Groundwater CMF, Ridin’ Hearts, Queanbeyan Music Muster, RegFest so to see her add CMC Rocks in 2026 would be a no-brainer. She dropped her first EP In The Neon through Warner Music Australia on July 4th this year so she would also have plenty of new music to bring to the festival next year.

Brett Kissel - Prediction: Moderate

We love our Canadian artists here in Australia and Kissel has already proven his international appeal in the USA and Canada so bringing him to Australia feels like the right next move for both him and CMC fans. In the last 12 months he’s also been servicing songs to Australian country radio and had single charting on the Countrytown Hot 50, so maybe Australia is in his sights?

Claudia Tripp - Prediction: Moderate

Tripp is an Aussie artist from Western Australia. With vocals for days that’s built for a festival stage, she brings a fiery edge to pop country and would be a fab fit for the CMC Rocks line up. She showcased at BIGSOUND in 2024 so making a CMC Rocks debut in 2026 would be a natural next move to expand her profile.

James Johnston - Prediction: Highly Likely

Johnston’s sophomore album WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME is set for release October 24. As one of Australia’s most sought after and highest-streamed country stars and soon with a whole new album to play live, the timing works. On top of that, we haven’t seen Johnston play his own set at CMC Rocks since 2022 (which seems criminal to be honest) so the 2026 festival absolutely seems like the time to get him back.

What do you think? Did we hit the nail on the head or completely miss? Time will tell. The full CMC Rocks 2026 lineup will be revealed on August 29th so stay tuned to Countrytown and we will bring you all the updates when they happen!