Australia’s biggest festival will introduce pill testing for the first time, with Laneway Festival confirmed as the next event to join the NSW Government’s drug‑checking trial.
The Sydney leg — returning to Centennial Park on Sunday, February 8 — will be the 11th festival to take part.
Festival goers will be able to anonymously test substances on site, with health staff providing rapid analysis and harm‑reduction advice.
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NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the service won’t make drug use safe but will help people avoid dangerous substances.
“This trial aims to inform individuals about substances, allowing them to avoid dangerous substances, discard high‑risk drugs, make safer and more informed choices and potentially avoid serious health risks,” she said.
“Our priority is to reduce harm and keep people safe.”
Laneway, which kicks off on Friday in Auckland before hitting all mainland capital cities, is also undergoing one of its biggest national shake‑ups in years.
The festival will return to Centennial Park in Sydney and Flemington Park in Melbourne, while Perth’s event shifts to Arena Joondalup and Adelaide moves to the Adelaide Showgrounds.
But the biggest change is in Queensland.
Laneway is leaving Brisbane for the first time after the Brisbane Showgrounds was earmarked for a major redevelopment ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
Rather than find another inner‑city venue, organisers are opting for a coastal reset — the 2026 Queensland edition will be held at Southport Sharks on the Gold Coast.
Festival director Jessie Parker said safety remains the top priority.
“We are proud to be participating in the NSW drug checking trial at our Sydney event in 2026,” she said.
“This initiative forms part of our broader harm‑reduction efforts by supporting informed decision‑making among festivalgoers.”
The NSW trial will run across up to 12 festivals until the end of February before being independently reviewed.
Laneway’s 2026 rollcall is headlined by pop star Chappell Roan, who will perform her only local shows at the festival. Last year’s event, with Charli XCX topping the bill, was attended by more than 200,000 fans across Australia and New Zealand.
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