Community / Music
Brunswick Music Festival returns with a new curator
Festival begins this Sunday with Sydney Road Street Party
Poppy Searle
Friday, February 27, 2026
THE Brunswick Music Festival is back for its 38th year from this Sunday, curated by Lebanese-Australian DJ and broadcaster MzRizk.
Running until March 8, the festival kicks off with the iconic Sydney Road Street Party.
BMF is one of Melbourne’s largest and longest-running music festivals.
MzRizk (real name Danielle Rizk), who was appointed programmer this year, highlights that the festival’s theme, A Sound Celebration, is about honouring the diverse sounds that shape Brunswick’s musical identity.
“As the suburb has shifted culturally and musically, the program has reflected those changes,” she said.
“Different programmers over the years have brought their own perspectives and influences to the lineup, which keeps the festival fresh and responsive.
“Speaking as both a participant and an attendee over the years, the festival has always evolved alongside the changing nature of Brunswick.”
The host of Boogie Beat Suite on community radio station 3PBS for the past seven years, MzRizk is a much in demand DJ and sound curator.
She has been part of the Brunswick community for many years. In 2024, her Habibi Hafla she turned the iconic A1 Bakery into a makeshift dance floor, with live music, DJ sets, and belly dance performances.
“[That was a] special moment,” she said.
“It wasn’t a traditional venue, and that’s what made it memorable. It captured the spirit of Brunswick, everyday spaces becoming cultural spaces. I have spent many years at A1 Bakery, so it was an amazing space to turn into a party.
“Experiences like [A1] have influenced how I approach programming.
“Being on the artist side gives you a real understanding of what makes a show work — the relationship between space, audience and energy.
“It also reinforces how important context is. A performance isn’t just about the artist, it’s about where it happens and who it’s for.”
For Sunday’s street party, four stages will be erected with performances including Cook Island dancers. DJ sets, a youth Pasifika choir and South African jazz. There will also be pop-up acoustic sets, roving acts and performances inside local venues.
Over 150 market stalls will span the length of Sydney Road from Victoria Street to Brunswick Road, with local stores selling food, fashion, homewares and accessories. There will be child-friendly performances and storytelling at theCounihan Gallery and the Mechanics Institute.
Highlights of this year’s festival include DJ Krush and Christine Anu.
This year’s festival features a number of international artists, including French DJ François K, Italian folk trio Alfio Antico & Go Dugong, Berlin-based Syrian musician Khaled Kurbeh and DJ Krush from Japan.
Homegrown talent includes Melbourne cover band The Tarantinos, local punk band FRENZEE and ARIA nominated singer-songwriter Christine Anu.
Mz Rizk highlights that local artists “are not just part of the lineup; they’re part of the fabric of Brunswick.
“They rehearse here, perform here year-round, collaborate with each other and steadily build audiences over time. When local artists appear on the same program as touring acts, it reinforces that Brunswick isn’t just a host city; it’s an active cultural hub with its own creative force.”
The popular Venues 3056 program also returns, featuring a series of free, curated, and independent gigs at local Brunswick venues such as the Brunswick Ballroom, The Bergy Seltzer, The Retreat, Jazzlab, Stay Gold and Howler.
The ‘Neighbourhood Noise’ program is also making a return, with live performances and exhibitions at spaces such as The Brunswick Mechanics Institute, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick Library and Balam Balam Place.
The festival will close with a free Gilpin Park concert, headlined by award-winning Aboriginal multidisciplinary artist Fred Leone with Butchulla songman Leigh Roy Ryan from Radio For Ghosts. Other performers include Allysha Joy, Cool Out Sun, Jace Clayton and Pirritu.
“The program moves across different types of spaces and experiences,” MzRizk said.
“There are moments that feel high-energy and communal, and others that are more intimate.
“There are a few cross-genre pairings and venue activations that I think audiences will appreciate.
“The surprise is often in the discovery. When people attend one event and end up staying for another, stumble into something they didn’t plan for, or arrive early at a venue and discover an act they haven’t seen before — that’s where the festival really reveals itself.”
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