North of Perth Music Festival: What You Need to Know in 2026
The North of Perth Music Festival is a community performing arts eisteddfod held in the City of Bayswater, open to participants of all ages across greater Perth. With more than 69 years of heritage, $11,000 in prizes, gold medallions and trophies, it offers structured competition, professional adjudicator feedback and performance experience in piano, strings, singing, speech and drama. Auditions run in September and Winners Concerts follow in October.
What performing arts competitions can my child enter in Perth's northern suburbs?
The North of Perth Music Festival is one of the longest-running performing arts eisteddfods available to children and adults across Perth's northern suburbs and greater metro area, covering piano, strings, singing, speech and drama across all age groups and skill levels.
Whether your child is a beginner taking their first steps on stage or an advanced student aiming for a major prize, the festival has sections suited to their level. Entries are open to individuals and groups, and participants range from young children through to adults competing in open categories.
What disciplines and categories does the festival include?
The festival covers five core performing arts disciplines: piano, strings, singing, speech and drama, with categories organised by age and experience level so participants compete against peers at a similar stage.
- Piano: classical and contemporary repertoire sections
- Strings: individual and ensemble options
- Singing: classical, musical theatre and contemporary styles
- Speech and drama: solo verse, prose, prepared speech and dramatic performance
- Open and championship sections for advanced competitors
Teachers and studio coordinators can enter multiple students across several disciplines, making the festival a practical annual milestone for Perth performing arts studios and school music programmes.
How do I enter the North of Perth Music Festival?
You enter by submitting an entry form through the festival before the published closing date, selecting your discipline, age category and chosen repertoire according to the syllabus guidelines.
Entry details, syllabus requirements and form submission instructions are available on the North of Perth performing arts eisteddfod website. Teachers often handle bulk entries on behalf of their students, so check with your music teacher or school coordinator early in the year to confirm deadlines.
What prizes and awards are on offer?
The festival distributes more than $11,000 in prizes across its sections, alongside gold medallions and trophies awarded to section winners and champions.
Prize money, medallions and trophies are presented at the Winners Concerts held in October, giving successful participants a formal performance occasion in front of family, peers and the broader community. Adjudicators also provide written or verbal feedback to every entrant, which many teachers and students consider as valuable as the prizes themselves.
Who has come through the North of Perth Music Festival?
The festival counts Heath Ledger and Lisa McCune among its notable alumni, reflecting the depth of performing talent that has passed through this community competition over its 69-plus years of continuous operation.
While most participants are community members pursuing performance as an enriching activity, the festival's history demonstrates that a well-structured eisteddfod environment can play a meaningful early role in a performer's development. For current participants, the alumni legacy adds significance to taking part in the same competition.
Is the festival run by a reputable organisation?
Yes. The North of Perth Music Festival is run in association with the City of Bayswater, lending it the institutional backing and community accountability of a local government partnership.
This association means the festival operates with transparent governance and a genuine community mandate. For parents choosing between performance opportunities for their children, or for teachers recommending a festival to families, the City of Bayswater connection is a meaningful indicator of stability and credibility. You can read a full overview of how the festival operates in the City of Bayswater's North of Perth Music Festival Guide.
When are auditions and concerts held in 2026?
Auditions (competitive sessions) take place during September 2026, with Winners Concerts scheduled for October 2026, both held in person within the City of Bayswater area in Perth, Western Australia.
Because all sessions require in-person attendance, participants and their families should plan travel within the Perth metropolitan area. Check the festival website or contact organisers directly for venue details, session schedules and any updates to the 2026 calendar as the year progresses.
Quick checklist: is the North of Perth Music Festival right for your student?
- Your student performs in piano, strings, singing, speech or drama
- You are based in Perth or the greater Perth metropolitan area and can attend in person
- Your student is ready for structured, adjudicated competition with written feedback
- You want a prize, medallion or trophy as a tangible milestone marker
- Your student's teacher or studio can support repertoire preparation to syllabus requirements
- You value a festival with more than 69 years of community heritage and local government association