A trial closure of the northern end of Peel Street during January’s Tamworth Country Music Festival aims to increase foot traffic, boost evening trade and better connect festivalgoers with the city’s food retailers.
Tamworth Regional Council Festival Manager Barry Harley said the temporary closure marks the first time for about a decade that Peel Street has been closed between Brisbane and Bourke streets during the festival, made possible through targeted funding to expand the event.
“The funding came with caveats around increasing the existing festival footprint, and the logical conclusion was to look at that end of Peel Street,” Mr Harley said.
The closure between Brisbane and Bourke streets will be for the final five days of the 2026 Tamworth Country Music Festival, from January 21. The trial designed to boost business for that end of Tamworth’s main street during the busiest tourism period of the year in Australia’s Country Music Capital.
“With nine food outlets in that area, it allows and encourages fans and visitors to cross Brisbane St and enjoy the hospitality,” Mr Harley said.
The decision followed consultation with retailers, and Mr Harley said the response had been largely positive, particularly around the potential for increased evening trade.
“Most are really happy with the additional foot traffic and the opportunity to expand business into the evening, and to be included and considered part of the festival,” he said.
The Peel Street activation will include a programmed stage with quiet periods to allow space for buskers and other performers to be heard. Fringe-style bands and performers will feature during the early evening dinner period from 6pm to 8pm, supported by additional shade, seating and amenities.
Street entertainment will also be a feature, with stilt walkers, fire twirlers, whip cracking and line dancing covering both learners and seasoned dancers, creating more atmosphere in the northern end of Peel St.
Mr Harley said the closure formed part of a broader focus on strengthening Tamworth’s night-time economy and encouraging movement between Festival precincts.
“There will be some activity in the other end of Peel St that will start at 9pm,” he said.
“So, people might come from entertainment between Brisbane to Bourke streets between 6pm and 8pm and then meander down the street and build the numbers down the other end. It also gives buskers more chances to be heard later into the evening.”
While closing the road is costly, Mr Harley said the trial provided an opportunity to test a model that could continue into the future.
“It’s not something we would’ve done had we not had the funding,” he said.
“With a couple of years of building, we can continue the concept without additional funding.”
Cold Rock Tamworth owner Anu Sharma welcomed the trial, saying it had the potential to be a positive move for Peel Street businesses.
“It’s going to be a good thing,” she said.
“We don’t usually get buskers, so we might get buskers.”
Council will assess the success of the trial following the 2026 Festival and plan to close the Brisbane St to Bourke St section for the whole of the 2027 festival, in line with the closure of Peel St between White and Brisbane streets that normally takes place.
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