Todd McKenney to headline 2026 Peter Allen Festival in Tenterfield
Announcement posted by Rebuilding Australia 08 Sep 2026
Immediate Release
8 September 2026:
TENTERFIELD, NSW - Excitement is building ahead of the 2026 Peter Allen Festival, with one of Australia's most celebrated entertainers, Todd McKenney, set to headline a huge three-day celebration in Tenterfield from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026.
The festival will celebrate the extraordinary life, music and legacy of Tenterfield's most famous musical son, Peter Allen, bringing locals and visitors together for a weekend filled with music, colour, entertainment and community spirit.
At the centre of the weekend will be a special headline performance by Todd McKenney on Saturday, 3 October, celebrating the songs and story of Peter Allen.
McKenney has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning musical theatre, television and live performance and has a long association with Peter Allen's music, having famously portrayed him in the Australian stage production of The Boy from Oz.
But the Peter Allen Festival will be much more than one performance.
Across the three days, Tenterfield will come alive with mass community sing-alongs, street parades, live entertainment, dress-ups, community activities and a special long lunch celebrating Peter Allen and the songs that became part of the Australian soundtrack.
Festival organisers are encouraging visitors to embrace Peter's colourful personality - whether that means Hawaiian shirts, maracas, sequins, flamboyant costumes or simply coming along ready to sing and have fun.
Peter Allen Festival organiser Charles Alder said the aim was to create a weekend that reflected Peter's enormous sense of fun while establishing Tenterfield as the natural home for an annual celebration of his legacy.
"Peter Allen was larger than life. He was colourful, energetic, funny and enormously proud of where he came from, and we want this festival to have exactly that same spirit," Mr Alder said.
"Todd McKenney headlining the festival gives people a wonderful reason to come to Tenterfield, but once they arrive we want them to discover an entire town celebrating Peter.
"This is a weekend where people can sing Peter's songs together, shake their maracas, dress up, join a parade, enjoy great food, meet other Peter Allen fans and simply have fun.
"Peter gave Australia some extraordinary music, and our ambition is to build a festival in his hometown that keeps that music, his story and his incredible personality alive for generations to come."
Tenterfield Mayor Bronwyn Petrie said the community was looking forward to welcoming visitors from across Australia for the October long weekend.
"We're incredibly excited to welcome visitors to Tenterfield for the Peter Allen Festival this October long weekend. Peter Allen holds such a special place in the story of our town, and through Tenterfield Saddler he helped put Tenterfield on the map around the world.
"This festival is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Peter's music, his life and his connection to Tenterfield, while also giving visitors the chance to experience everything our region has to offer. From the Spring Food and Wine Experience to our heritage, beautiful natural landscapes, boutique shopping and local hospitality, there will be plenty to enjoy across the weekend.
"We're looking forward to seeing the town come alive and welcoming people from near and far to share in what promises to be a very special weekend in Tenterfield."
The festival will also shine a spotlight on Tenterfield itself, encouraging visitors from across New South Wales, Queensland and further afield to spend the weekend exploring the historic town and surrounding region.
Peter Allen was born Peter Richard Woolnough in Tenterfield and went on to become an internationally recognised singer, songwriter and entertainer, writing and performing songs including Tenterfield Saddler, I Go to Rio, I Honestly Love You, Everything Old Is New Again and I Still Call Australia Home.
His career took him from regional Australia to some of the world's great stages, but Tenterfield remained forever intertwined with his story.
This October, that story comes home.
2026 PETER ALLEN FESTIVAL
When: Friday 2, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026
Where: Tenterfield, Northern New South Wales
Headline performer: Todd McKenney, Saturday 3 October 2026
Festival highlights include:
- Todd McKenney celebrating the music of Peter Allen
- Mass Peter Allen sing-alongs
- Street parade and community celebrations
- Peter Allen long lunch
- Spring Food and Wine Experience
- Live entertainment and performances
- Dress-ups, Hawaiian shirts, maracas and plenty of colour
- Community activities throughout Tenterfield
- A weekend celebrating Peter Allen's music, life and legacy
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Charles Alder
Peter Allen Festival
0410714379
contact@peterallenfestival.com.au
www.peterallenfestival.com.au