2025 Braddon Busking Festival under 18’s winner Ruby Holden performs at the launch of the 2026 festival. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
The streets of Braddon will be alive with the sound of music in March as the Braddon Busking Festival returns for its seventh year.
Run by not-for-profit the Braddon Collective, the festival offers a chance for local musicians of all ages and experience to put their talents on display and make the streets sing.
Susan Davidson is a spokesperson for the Braddon Collective. She said the festival was an opportunity to “turn our streets into stages”.
“Our streets will come alive with music, performance, good vibes and colour. We envision people wandering through Braddon and discovering country singers, rock musicians, classical musicians and a wide variety of performers.”
The winners of the 2025 Braddon Busking Festival encouraged other local musicians to perform this year. Photo: Supplied, Braddon Collective.
The festival also acts as a regional heat for the Australian National Busking Championships (ANBC), held annually in Cooma.
Ruby Holden was the Braddon winner of the under 18 category in 2025. She told Region the festival was not only a performance opportunity, but an important learning opportunity in how to grab the attention of an audience.
“It gives you the ability to connect with your crowd and also read your crowd,” she said.
ANBC Ambassador and performer Gabi Forman agreed.
“You’ve got to capture your audience. You need to build your audience as you play,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity to promote yourself, too. You might sell a hundred tickets to a gig, but you get thousands of people walking past at a festival like Canberra.”
Gabi first performed in an online busking festival in 2021 and keeps coming back for more.
She travels to music festivals around the country to encourage artists to participate in the festival.
Sibling duo Kids These Days perform at Bentspoke in Braddon. Photo: Supplied, Braddon Collective.
Susan said the festival was an opportunity to make art accessible.
“This festival is about the discovery and the magic that happens when art meets public space. Street performance has a unique power; it breaks down barriers and invites everyone in. You don’t need a ticket, you don’t need a dress code, you just show up,” she said.
“It reminds us that art belongs to everyone and talent thrives in every corner of our community.”
Performer registrations are now open for the 2026 festival and organisers are hoping to encourage a diverse range of performers.
Ruby Holden’s advice for new performers is to just give it a go and enjoy yourself.
“Nerves mean you care. And doing scary things can lead to exciting things!”
The Braddon Busking Festival will be held on Sunday, 15 March. Registrations are open, find more details and sign up on the Braddon Collective website. Find out more about the Australian National Busking Championships.
