About The Festival
Important Information
The Peter Allen Festival will be held on the weekend of October 2, 3 and 4 2026 in Tenterfield NSW
The Peter Allen Festival exists to honour a man whose music, story and spirit reached far beyond the stage and began right here in Tenterfield.
Born and raised in this town, Peter Allen went on to become one of Australia’s most celebrated performers, dazzling international audiences with his songs, energy and unmistakable flair. Yet no matter how far he travelled, Tenterfield remained at the heart of his story.
This festival is about bringing that story home.
It’s a celebration of creativity, courage and self-expression values Peter lived by and shared through his music. By filling the town with song, performance, colour and community, the festival reconnects Tenterfield with one of its most famous sons while creating something vibrant and forward-looking for today.
The Peter Allen Festival is also about people:
- Giving young performers a stage and inspiration to dream bigger
- Inviting local musicians, choirs and creatives to reinterpret Peter’s work
- Bringing generations together through shared music and memories
- Creating an annual cultural event that boosts pride, tourism and local business
Most importantly, this festival isn’t about nostalgia alone. It’s about legacy keeping Peter Allen’s music alive, relevant and joyful, while building something that belongs to the community and grows with it year after year.
In true Peter Allen style, it’s bold, inclusive, a little bit fabulous and powered by heart.
Because some stories deserve more than a plaque on a wall.
Led by People Who Care Deeply About Place
The Peter Allen Festival is a joint project between Charles and Tracy Alder and the town and community of Tenterfield built in partnership, shaped by local voices, and grounded in a shared love for place.
Led by Charles Alder and Tracy Alder, the festival draws on their deep personal and professional connections to rural Australia, and a genuine respect for communities like Tenterfield.
During the devastating 2018–2020 drought, Charles and Tracy worked closely with rural and regional communities across Australia, including Tenterfield and the surrounding region. That period shaped their understanding of the resilience, generosity and quiet strength of country towns and reinforced a belief that regional communities deserve celebration, investment and long-term opportunity, not just crisis support.
This festival is a reflection of that belief.
Run as a social enterprise, the Peter Allen Festival ensures its success is shared. A portion of festival profits is reinvested directly into Tenterfield community enhancement projects, supporting initiatives identified with the community from cultural and creative programs to projects that strengthen local pride, amenity and connection.
Community-led and purpose-driven, the festival is designed to deliver lasting cultural, social and economic benefit not as a one-off event, but as an annual celebration Tenterfield can proudly call its own, built together with care, collaboration and a long-term vision for the future.