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Addison Rae’s first-ever festival performance, Kid Cudi’s long-awaited return and Dom Dolla’s New Year’s Eve countdown mark a historic year for Australia’s biggest multi-day festival
Australia’s largest multi-day festival, Beyond The Valley, has officially wrapped its landmark 10th anniversary edition, Presented by Untitled Group & triple j, and supported by Visit Victoria, the festival sold out instantly and welcomed 40,000 people to Barunah Plains across four days from December 28 to January 1.
The milestone edition was defined by a run of headline moments, including Dom Dolla counting in the new year, Addison Rae making festival history with her first-ever festival appearance, Kid Cudi’s first Australian performance in over a decade and Turnstile’s unmistakable live presence.
JoJo’s delivered a hit-filled set featuring fan favourites Leave (Get Out) and Too Little Too Late while The Temper Trap took to the Valley Stage at golden hour, with thousands singing along to Sweet Disposition – a performance that quickly spread across social media and became a defining moment of the celebrations. Surprise also remained central to the festival experience, with secret sets including XCLUB., STÜM & many more delivering the festival’s signature you-had-to-be-there moments.
The festival opened on December 28 with the Dance Dome, Dr Dan’s and the festival’s discovery stages kicking off the festivities, setting the tone for the days ahead.
Momentum surged on December 29 as the Valley Stage hosted a stacked run including Miss Kaninna, Mallrat, 070 Shake and JoJo, before Addison Rae took the coveted late-night slot – marking her first-ever festival appearance and one of the biggest crowd moments of the weekend. Addressing the audience mid-set, Rae shared, “This is the first festival I’ve ever done.”
Over at the Dance Dome, day two ran deep with sets from Chris Stussy and KETTAMA before DJ HEARTSTRING closed the night. Surprise remained central to the celebrations, with Orkestrated delivering the festival’s first secret set inside the Dance Dome.
Day three delivered a powerful mix of international and homegrown talent across the site, with Ben Böhmer, Channel Tres and Spacey Jane taking to the Valley Stage, while XCLUB. drew a huge crowd for a secret set at the Dance Dome, which later hosted Jazzy, VTSS and Patrick Mason, followed by I Hate Models, who closed the night.
New Year’s Eve delivered a defining close to the anniversary celebrations. The Valley Stage built through standout performances from The Temper Trap and Turnstile, before Kid Cudi returned to Australia for the first time in over a decade. The crowd erupted as Cudi closed with Pursuit of Happiness, with thousands singing every word. Reflecting on the moment, Cudi shared on his personal Instagram: “Man, bringing in the New Year at BTV was the most epic shit ever!!! I had the best time w u all!!! So much love, bouncing back from me to u. Such a beautiful experience.”
The night culminated with Dom Dolla delivering the official New Year’s Eve countdown set, ringing in 2026 in front of one of the largest crowds in Beyond The Valley history. The festival concluded at the Dance Dome, with SWIM delivering the final set of Beyond The Valley 2025/26
Reflecting on the milestone edition, Untitled Group Co-Founder and Managing Partner Nicholas Greco said:
“Reaching ten years of Beyond The Valley is something we’re incredibly proud of. Moments like Addison Rae’s debut festival performance, Kid Cudi’s return to Australia, Dom Dolla counting down the new year and the response to our surprise sets really capture what BTV is all about – discovery, connection and shared experiences.”
Beyond The Valley’s 10th anniversary reinforced that the festival is more than just a lineup, with the experience across the site levelling up year on year. From immersive environments to unexpected moments of discovery, including Smirnoff’s Schmall Klub, where festival-goers were treated to free ice cream from a shopfront styled as a classic ice creamery, Jack Daniel’s House Party, transformed into a fully realised 1970s house party; and Red Bull’s Unforeseen Party, hidden inside a reimagined gas station.
The 10th anniversary also saw huge success across Beyond The Valley’s experiential offerings, with The Sanctuary presented by QV Ceramides providing a wellness hub of ice baths, yoga, pilates and meditation, The Lounge Room hosting a full program of podcasts presented by The Daily Aus, and The Palms Pool House emerging as a standout destination across the weekend.
With its signature stages, immersive activations and a lineup spanning global icons and emerging talent, Beyond The Valley’s 10th anniversary has delivered its boldest chapter yet.
As festival-goers depart Barunah Plains, Beyond The Valley once again proves why it remains a rite of passage for Australian music lovers and a benchmark for music festivals in Australia.
Untitled Group is Australia’s leading independent music and events collective and the team behind globally recognised festivals including Beyond The Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Wildlands. Untitled Group’s holistic ecosystem supports artists, engages audiences, and connects brands with the pulse of contemporary music culture through events, talent management, content, and creative strategy. This extends into ventures including leading agencies Proxy and Underscore, youth media platform The Daily Aus, and independent spirits label UGLY Vodka.
