Sydney, Australia: A new coastal festival is coming to Manly this spring, with the inaugural Surf + Sound

launching across three consecutive weekends from Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.

The festival will transform Manly Wharf through a national live music program, free public art trail, food and dining experiences and community programming, before culminating in the Surf + Sound Boardrider Battle at Manly Beach on the final weekend.

Surf + Sound was dreamt up by five mates, led by Creative Director James ‘Jamo’ Willis alongside Adam Flaskas, Joel Parkinson, Paul Henry and Lachie Given. Willis brings more than 25 years of international experience across hospitality, surf and entertainment, including co-founding California’s Palm Springs Surf Club, New York City nightclub Southside, partnering in sustainable, ocean-friendly sushi concept Fiish, and becoming the first Australian to build a wave pool in the United States.

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Conceived as a celebration of Manly and the Northern Beaches, Surf + Sound is presented by DEFENDER and Felons, who share a vision for a festival that reflects the surf, music, art and culture that have long shaped the area.

Artemus Group Founder, Director and Surf + Sound Co-Founder, Adam Flaskas, whose portfolio includes Felons Manly, Hugo’s and Stanley at Manly Wharf, said “Manly has always had a unique energy and cultural vibrancy, and Surf + Sound is about building on that. We’re a group of friends who wanted to create something that brings people together through art, surfing and live music, adding to the life of the area and giving people of all ages a reason to come down, connect and be part of it.

For us, it’s about contributing to the culture of Manly and creating a festival that feels authentic to the place, the people and the community that make it so special.”

Live music sits at the heart of the inaugural program, bringing together some of Australia’s most recognised and influential acts alongside a new generation of artists. Skegss, The Whitlams,

Skunkhour, The Beautiful Girls, GANGgajang, Winston Surfshirt and Mudhoney are among the first acts announced, with the full music line-up still to come.

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For The Whitlam’s Tim Freedman, Surf + Sound marks a return to the Northern Beaches more than four decades after his first local show. “It’s been a long time between my first ever show at the Time and Tide Hotel in Dee Why in 1981 and this one. Just seven kilometres, and 45 years later. It’ll be great to be playing back in the hood, at Felons for Surf + Sound.”

GANGgajang’s Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup also has a long history with the Northern Beaches, having surfed and played venues across the area since arriving in Sydney in 1976.

“The Northern Beaches have been a very important place for me over the 50 years I’ve been living in Sydney. I’ve spent many hours surfing here, while legendary venues like The Flix Theatre at Manly, The Royal Antler in Narrabeen and the Manly Vale Hotel have been like a second home to me. Now Surf + Sound steps up to make its mark, and the GANG are really excited to be one of the first to grace its stage.”

At Manly Wharf, Jeremyville will lead the festival’s art program, transforming the precinct into a free immersive exhibition over three weeks. The Sydney-raised, New York-based artist has been appointed Surf + Sound’s inaugural Art Curator, overseeing an art trail of sculptures, inflatables, projections and large-scale installations for the community to explore.

Presenting Partner DEFENDER built for exploration, capability, and pushing beyond the expected, will bring its ‘Adventures in Sound’ outpost to Surf + Sound, connecting its spirit of adventure with music and creativity. As part of the collaboration, Arts-Matter will bring together five leading Australian artists, Karlee Mackie, Steve Ormandy, Funskull, Daimon Downey and Ozzy Wright, to transform five Classic Defenders into an interactive outdoor art trail, painted live at Manly Cove.

Manly Wharf’s dining scene will form the backdrop to the festival’s food program, with a dedicated food village, guest appearances from some of Australia’s leading chefs, curated vendors and market stalls, alongside a series of special dining experiences. The full food program will be announced in the coming weeks.

The final weekend will bring the inaugural Surf + Sound Boardrider Battle to Manly Beach on Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November, spearheaded by World Champion Joel Parkinson. The teams challenge will bring together boardrider clubs from across Australia, competing across men’s, women’s and under-18 divisions, with a major prize supporting grassroots surfing.

A special Legends Heat on Saturday, 31 October will feature some of Australian surfing’s biggest names, including world champions Mark Occhilupo, Layne Beachley and Joel Parkinson, with further surfing talent still to be announced. The celebrations will continue at Felons Manly, with after parties and an awards presentation following the competition.

Seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley has a deep connection to Manly, having grown up surfing there and built her career from the beach.

“Manly is so much more than where I learned to surf. It’s where I forged my career, found my community and ultimately, my purpose. Surf + Sound feels like a celebration of everything that makes this place so special, and to be part of the first one, on the beach that raised me, means a lot.”

The festival also has a deeply personal origin for Willis. After more than 25 years overseas building a career across hospitality, surf and entertainment, Willis lost his home in the devastating Malibu fires before returning to Australia with the support of his long-time friends, who would ultimately help bring the festival to life.

Surf + Sound Creative Director James ‘Jamo’ Willis said “Surf + Sound came out of a pretty difficult period in my life. After losing my home in the Malibu fires, my friends rallied around me and gave me a reason to come home after more than 25 years overseas and create something positive.

“What started as an idea for a surf competition became something much bigger. Surfing, music and art have always been a huge part of my life, and bringing those worlds together in Manly is really about friendship, community and celebrating what makes this part of Australia so special.

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Surf + Sound is presented by DEFENDER and Felons Brewing Co., and proudly sponsored by

Commonwealth Bank, Villa Massa, Passoã, Aperol, PATRÓN Tequila and URM.

The full Surf + Sound program, including further music, art, surf, food and community programming, will be announced in the coming weeks. For the latest announcements and festival information, visit surfandsoundfestival.com.au and follow @surfandsoundfestival on Instagram.

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