The opening day of the 2026 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash was never going to let a little thing like dreadful weather spoil the party. Admittedly, Mother Nature gave it a fair crack.
Thursday began beneath flat grey skies, with a light drizzle settling over the Mundi Mundi Plains and transforming the famous red dirt into something better suited to pottery classes. Gumboots quickly became the festival’s must-have fashion accessory, worn by everyone from small children to seasoned Bashers who looked as though they had packed for every possible emergency—including the sudden disappearance of all civilisation.
Proceedings began around lunchtime with a Welcome to Country and an acknowledgement of the Barkindji, / Paakantji, people as the Traditional Custodians of the land. It was a fitting and respectful beginning, grounding the festival in the history and living culture of the remarkable country upon which thousands had gathered.
Then came the music.
Shane Howard opened the musical program with special guest Troy Cassar-Daley and the Far West Kids Choir, providing an appropriately heartfelt beginning to the day. Against the enormous outback backdrop, their voices carried a sense of place and community that no amount of expensive stage scenery could manufacture.
Mi-Sex followed and gave the crowd its first proper injection of rock energy. Troy Cassar-Daley then returned for his own set, once again demonstrating why he remains one of Australia’s most respected and warmly received performers.
His connection with an audience feels completely natural—more like catching up with an old mate than watching somebody working a festival stage.
Jessica Mauboy brought warmth, charisma and plenty of movement to proceedings, seemingly determined to make everyone forget that their socks were gradually becoming part of the landscape.
Leo Sayer then delivered a masterclass in timeless pop entertainment, proving that great songs and genuine showmanship travel particularly well—even through several centimetres of mud.
The Teskey Brothers arrived as the day began to turn, their soulful sound rolling beautifully across the Plains. It was one of those combinations that simply made sense: powerful voices, open country and a crowd willing to forget the weather for a while.
Furnace and the Fundamentals were handed closing duties and responded by turning the Plains into one enormous, gloriously damp party.
For safety reasons, the main dance-floor area had been closed earlier in the day due to the extraordinary amount of mud. Later in the afternoon it reopened, allowing thousands of determined Bashers to dance the night away—if you’ll pardon the pun. Staying upright occasionally required the balance of a gymnast and the lower-body strength of a professional rugby forward, but nobody seemed interested in standing still.
More than 10,000 people, representing virtually every corner of Australia and every generation, shared the experience. Families, children, grandparents, grey nomads and music lovers stood together smiling beneath raincoats, hats and an ever-increasing number of clothing layers. The drizzle tried its best to dampen their spirits, but it never stood a chance.
This opening day belonged not only to the performers, but to everyone who made it possible. Sincere thanks must go to the Mundi Mundi Bash management team, the workers and volunteers who faced extraordinarily difficult conditions, and Cardinal Spin for providing access to the media tent. Thanks also to the talented photographers working throughout the mud and rain to capture moments that will be treasured long after the gumboots have dried.
Most importantly, thank you to the artists who took the stage and the fans who endured, danced, laughed and shared the moment with us.
The 2026 Mundi Mundi Bash was always going to be memorable. By the end of Thursday, it was already clear this would be the one people talked about for years.
HUGE thank you to Ross and Seth for capturing this first day of the Mundi Mundi Festival