Festival Brief
It’s been over 47 years since Elvis Presley left the building, yet 25,000+ Elvis fans still gather in the Central NSW town of Parkes annually to celebrate The King each January.
Record crowds are expected for the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival, which will take place from Wednesday 07 January to Sunday 11 January 2026. This year’s Festival theme is the 1956 Elvis film Love Me Tender.
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The Festival Brief – Parkes Elvis Festival 2026
The 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival returns with open arms and a warm Southern breeze as it marks its 33rd year from 7 to 11 January 2026. With a deepened sense of nostalgia and romance, this year’s theme Love Me Tender draws from Elvis Presley’s 1956 film debut and iconic ballad of the same name, offering audiences a heartfelt celebration of devotion, joy and timeless charm.
The town of Parkes will once again welcome thousands of visitors, uniting local pride with international passion for the King.
In a creative shift inspired by audience demand and internal consultation, the Festival team embraced the emotionally rich narrative of Love Me Tender, capturing the essence of the American South through rustic visuals, vintage flair and soulful programming.
Visitors can expect five days of immersive experiences, with events scheduled across a wide variety of venues. The 2026 program will include premium ticketed shows, intimate community performances, family friendly activities and spontaneous moments that together form the beating heart of Parkes’ summer.
The official Parkes Elvis Festival App will once again serve as a digital pocket guide, enabling real time updates, an interactive map, artist bios and personalised schedules.
The Festival Story – Why Elvis in Parkes?
Thirty three years since its inception, the Parkes Elvis Festival has evolved from a small town idea into a nationally iconic event. But one question still lingers in the minds of newcomers: Why Elvis, and why Parkes?
The story begins in 1981, when Parkes locals Bob and Anne Steel OAM opened Gracelands, a tribute style reception venue inspired by the King himself. But it was a birthday party held at the venue in 1993 that sparked something more. That intimate gathering with costumes, performances and a screening of Jailhouse Rock proved how universal Elvis’s appeal could be. A few glasses of wine later, the seed for a dedicated Elvis Festival was planted.
From humble beginnings with 195 attendees at the first edition, the Festival has become a cornerstone of the region’s visitor economy and cultural identity. With steadfast backing from Parkes Shire Council, community volunteers and loyal fans, the Festival weathered the early years and went on to capture national attention by the mid 2000s.
In 2009, attendance broke 9500. By 2024, that number had more than doubled, with an estimated 20000 plus people descending on Parkes for the Festival. It now boasts a global media reach of over 600 million, positioning Parkes as a must visit destination on the international Elvis calendar.
At its core, the Parkes Elvis Festival is about more than sequins and songs. It is a story of persistence, place and pride, a regional success story underpinned by community spirit and the enduring magic of the King of Rock and Roll.
For images, interviews or further information please contact:
Matt Fraser
Original Spin
0401 326 007
matt@originalspin.com.au
Brendan Shipley
Parkes Elvis Festival Producer
Parkes Shire Council
02 6861 2333
brendan.shipley@parkes.nsw.gov.au
