If you’re looking for a music festival that blends top-tier Australian talent with family-friendly energy, lively crowds, and the stunning Mandurah waterfront, the 2026 Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest promises an entertainment lineup that hits all the right notes. With its 25th anniversary celebration on March 14 and 15, 2026, this free event will transform the city’s foreshore into a buzzing hub of sound, flavor, and festivity. But what, specifically, can music lovers expect from the Crab Fest 2026 lineup? Short answer: A dynamic mix of major headline acts, rising stars, local musicians, and entertainment across multiple stages—plus the kind of festival atmosphere that draws more than 100,000 visitors each year.
Star Power on the Main Stage
The heartbeat of the music program at Crab Fest 2026 is the Seaside Estate Music Stage, set on the Eastern Foreshore. According to both the City of Mandurah (mandurah.wa.gov.au) and the official festival site (crabfest.com.au), the Saturday night headliner is none other than Havana Brown, “one of Australia’s most successful DJs.” Havana Brown is best known for her triple platinum hit “We Run the Night,” which not only topped Australian charts but also sold over a million units in the US. Her career includes “four #1 U.S. Billboard Dance Chart singles” (crabfest.com.au) and international tours, making her set a high-energy highlight for Saturday, March 14.
Sunday’s main stage will be graced by Thelma Plum, the acclaimed Gamilaraay singer-songwriter from Brisbane. As both mandurah.wa.gov.au and visitmandurah.com confirm, Thelma Plum’s debut album “Better in Blak” was a breakout success, earning a top 10 spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100 and winning the Vanda and Young Song of the Year award. She’s fresh off a “sold out 2025 tour and a Best Pop ARIA Award” (crabfest.com.au), bringing her celebrated sound and poignant storytelling to the Mandurah crowds on March 15.
Rising Stars and Local Talent
Crab Fest isn’t just about big names. Saturday’s lineup also features 17-year-old Perth singer-songwriter Gisella Colletti, who “placed third on Australian Idol 2025” and has already performed with Tina Arena (crabfest.com.au). Colletti’s appearance reflects the festival’s commitment to showcasing Western Australia’s homegrown talent alongside national stars.
And the music doesn’t stop at the headliners. Across the weekend, a “stellar lineup of local artists” (visitmandurah.com) will perform, giving festivalgoers a chance to discover emerging acts and enjoy a wide range of genres. The programming is designed to “wow the crowds on the Seaside Estate Music Stage, with live entertainment throughout the weekend” (crabfest.com.au), ensuring a constant flow of music from morning until evening.
A Festival for All Ages
One of the unique aspects of the Crab Fest music experience is its family-friendly approach. While the main stage draws large crowds with its headline acts, the festival also features a dedicated Children’s Stage in the Alcoa Family Zone. This area, as described by both mandurah.wa.gov.au and crabfest.com.au, offers “free and low-cost activities, including a dedicated children's stage presented by Alcoa Australia with live performances all weekend.” The Kids’ Zone is packed with amusements, action sports, roving entertainers, and even science shows, making the festival an inclusive event for families with children of all ages.
Music Beyond the Main Stage
Live music at Crab Fest isn’t limited to the main stage. Throughout the event footprint—which stretches “from Mandurah’s city centre and along the Eastern and Western Foreshores, through to Mandjar Square and over to the award-winning Mandurah Ocean Marina” (mandurah.wa.gov.au)—attendees will encounter roving performers, buskers, and pop-up performances. These create a lively, immersive atmosphere, with music and entertainment at nearly every turn. The festival’s design encourages exploration, making it easy for visitors to stumble upon new acts while sampling the city’s signature seafood dishes.
Celebrity Guests and Culinary Crossovers
Adding to the festival’s star power are event ambassadors from the world of Australian television. James Stewart and Ada Nicodemou, both well-known for their roles on “Home and Away,” will serve as this year’s Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest event ambassadors (visitmandurah.com, crabfest.com.au). They’ll make appearances on the Spudshed Cooking Stage and at various locations across the festival. This crossover of entertainment and culinary arts is a hallmark of Crab Fest, with celebrities often participating in live cooking demonstrations and meet-and-greets, further blending the boundaries between music, food, and popular culture.
Festival Atmosphere: More Than Just Music
What truly sets Crab Fest apart is the synergy between its music programming and the broader festival experience. As the City of Mandurah emphasizes, the event “regularly draws crowds of more than 100,000 people” with its “buzzing atmosphere, pop-up food stalls, fireworks, workshops, roving performers, and entertainment across the entire event footprint” (mandurah.wa.gov.au). The festival’s waterfront location provides a spectacular backdrop, with live music drifting across Mandjar Bay and the foreshore.
A major highlight is the Saturday night fireworks display, scheduled for 8:45 pm over Mandjar Bay. This show, described as “an absolute crowd favourite” (crabfest.com.au), adds a visual crescendo to the evening’s musical performances and is best viewed from Stingray Point, The Boardwalk, or the Eastern Foreshore (visitmandurah.com).
Diversity and Accessibility
The 2026 event, marking the 25th anniversary of Crab Fest, is explicitly designed to be accessible and welcoming. Entry is free, and the festival offers a “smorgasbord of pop-up food stalls” with everything from seafood to vegetarian and sweet treats (mandurah.wa.gov.au). Music programming is curated to appeal to a broad audience, ensuring that both long-time fans and newcomers find something to enjoy.
The festival’s footprint will see road and water closures from March 14-17, with easy access provided by free shuttle buses from Mandurah Station (visitmandurah.com). The event is also smoke-free and restricts alcohol consumption to licensed bars, promoting a safe and inclusive environment.
What Makes Crab Fest’s Music Lineup Unique?
Crab Fest’s music programming stands out for its balance of national chart-toppers, rising local stars, and accessible family entertainment. The inclusion of artists like Havana Brown, who has “performed on The Voice, X Factor, and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” (crabfest.com.au), and Thelma Plum, whose “acclaimed album Better in Blak” became one of the most successful Australian albums of the last decade (mandurah.wa.gov.au), underscores the festival’s ability to attract talent with national and international recognition.
Meanwhile, the opportunity to see emerging talent like Gisella Colletti—who earned a rare on-the-spot “Golden Ticket from Marcia Hines” on Australian Idol (crabfest.com.au)—adds an element of discovery. The festival’s local artist program ensures that Mandurah’s own creative community is front and center.
The event’s integration of music with culinary and cultural programming, from cooking stages featuring celebrity chefs like Diana Chan and Brendan Pang to the presence of TV personalities and roving street performers, creates a festival experience that is, as visitmandurah.com puts it, “more than just a festival—it’s an experience.”
Final Thoughts: Planning Your Crab Fest Music Adventure
Whether you’re a returning festivalgoer or planning your first visit, the Mandurah Crab Fest 2026 music lineup offers “something for everyone”—from high-energy DJ sets and soulful indie pop to children’s performances and surprise pop-up acts. The festival’s 25th anniversary promises “even more flavour, fun, and festive vibes” (mandurah.wa.gov.au), making it the ultimate way to experience the best of Mandurah’s creative and culinary scene.
To make the most of the music program, festival organizers recommend downloading the official Crab Fest program in advance, which includes detailed stage times, artist profiles, and must-see highlights (visitmandurah.com). With headline acts scheduled for the evening and local performances throughout the day, there’s ample opportunity to enjoy both music and the broader festival offerings.
In summary, attendees at Crab Fest 2026 can expect a music lineup that blends the “energetic, crowd-pleasing sets” of national stars with the creativity and warmth of Western Australia’s own artists, all set against the backdrop of Mandurah’s sparkling waterfront. It’s an event designed to bring the community together for two days of celebration, connection, and unforgettable live entertainment.