Rock The Backyard 3 at Panthers Penrith 2026: Gates 1:30pm Saturday 28 November, First Act 3pm, No Soft Drink or Tents Allowed In (Penrith, NSW)

Rock The Backyard 3 opens its gates at 1:30pm on Saturday 28 November 2026, and the first act is due on stage at 3pm. Panthers Penrith runs the festival in The Backyard, an open-air venue inside the Panthers Penrith Leagues Club grounds, and it describes the day as eight acts and 60 massive hits of Australian rock and pop. The club’s event page said on 26 October that 75% of tickets had sold, so this guide covers what to know before you go, based on that page and the official Rules & FAQs sheet.

Who is playing at Rock The Backyard 3?

Panthers lists eight acts on its Rock The Backyard 3 event page:

• Mental As Anything
• Richard Clapton
• 1927
• The Radiators
• Eurogliders featuring Grace Knight
• V Spy V Spy
• The Chantoozies
• Mick Thomas from Weddings Parties Anything

Panthers calls the day one huge outdoor festival that spans more than four decades of Australian music. It has not published a running order, so we cannot say when any one act plays. The only fixed times are gates at 1:30pm and the first act at 3pm, and the Rules & FAQs sheet says all times are approximate and may change at any time.

What time does it start and finish?

Item	What is published
Date	Saturday 28 November 2026
Gates open	1:30pm
First act	3pm
Finish	Not published by Panthers
Venue	The Backyard at Panthers

The Penrith City Council tourism site, Visit Penrith, lists the event as 2pm to 10pm. That differs from the 1:30pm gates and 3pm first act on the Panthers page, and Panthers is the organiser, so plan around its times. Visit Penrith also gives the address as 123 Mulgoa Road, while the Panthers rules sheet and its contact page give 83 Mulgoa Road. Use 83 Mulgoa Road for the festival and check the entry signs when you arrive.

How do I buy tickets, and can I get a refund?

Ticketek is the official ticketing agency, according to the Rules & FAQs sheet. The sheet says the event takes no responsibility for tickets bought elsewhere, and names Viagogo, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and eBay as examples of third-party sources that buyers use at their own risk. It says fraudulent tickets will not be honoured. Once a purchase is complete there are no refunds or exchanges, and that includes not being able to attend because of illness or personal circumstances.

The Panthers pages we read on 26 October do not list ticket prices, so we cannot give you a price; check Ticketek. Have your ticket printed or the barcode ready on your phone for scanning at the gates. If something goes wrong, the Box Office is at Panthers Main Reception and stays open until the headline artist starts.

Where do I park, and is there a train or bus?

The rules sheet says parking is available on site, a short walk from the main Panthers entry. Panthers also warns that traffic congestion is expected, so it asks you to allow extra time for both arrival and departure. It does not give a car park price or a number of spaces.

We found no Transport for NSW event page or festival bus plan for Rock The Backyard 3 when we checked, and Panthers has not published a train route. Use the Transport for NSW trip planner with the venue address and the time you want to arrive. Panthers does run a separate free courtesy bus that its general FAQ page describes:

Courtesy bus detail	What Panthers says
Days	7 days a week, except public holidays
Saturday window	Bookings for pick-up and drop-off, last pick-up and drop-off at 2am; the window starts at 5pm
How to book	Call 02 4720 5539, on the hour, on the day
Who can ride	Ages 18 and over; no wheelchair access; subject to availability
Areas	Jamisontown, Regentville, Penrith, South Penrith, Kingswood, Glenmore Park, Cranebrook, Jordan Springs, Cambridge Park, Cambridge Gardens, Lapstone, Leonay, Emu Plains, Emu Heights

The FAQ page does not mention Rock The Backyard, and the Saturday window starts at 5pm, after the 1:30pm gates, so do not count on the courtesy bus to get you to the early part of the day.

What can I bring in, and what is banned?

All bags and belongings are inspected by security at the entry, and anyone found with contraband such as alcohol is refused entry without a refund. The rules sheet splits the list in two.

Allowed	Not allowed
Rain poncho	Alcohol, and soft drink and other non-alcoholic beverages
Non-professional camera (no professional lenses or video cameras)	Large umbrellas
Small camp chairs	Glass and glass jars, cheese knives, metal cutlery
Picnic blankets	Shade structures, tents and canopies
Small personal umbrellas	Pets, bicycles, scooters, trolleys, offensive clothing, MC club attire

External food is also prohibited and cannot be brought in. Inside, the sheet says there is a large selection of food and drink outlets and a public bar with beer, wine, cider, spirits and non-alcoholic options. All vendors accept Tap & Go and cash, and official merchandise is on sale, including artist items and event-branded gear.

What if it rains?

It is an open-air concert and it goes ahead in rain, hail or shine. Panthers will cancel only if Event Management, Venue Management and Emergency Services judge it unsafe, and if that happens ticket holders will be told by SMS, email and social media. The sheet suggests suitable footwear, a hat, sunscreen and a rain poncho. A rain poncho and a small personal umbrella are on the allowed list, but large umbrellas, tents and canopies are not, so do not bring a gazebo for shade.

Is it all ages, and is it accessible?

Yes to all ages. The sheet says Rock The Backyard 3 is an all-ages event. The Panthers FAQ page adds a general club rule that children under 18 may stay on the premises until 11pm, and that minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. That is a rule for the club as a whole, and the festival sheet does not repeat it, so check with Panthers if you plan to bring children for the full day.

For access, the sheet says unreserved accessible parking is available in the Panthers car park, the viewing area is at ground level, and there is an accessible bathroom on site. It also warns that the venue has uneven ground and is exposed to the weather. If you need help on the day, speak to a staff member. Panthers’ phone number is 1800 061 991.

What should I do before the day?

• Buy through Ticketek only, and save the barcode to your phone.
• Pick up your pack list from the allowed table above; leave drinks, glass, tents and trolleys at home.
• Arrive early: gates open at 1:30pm, and Panthers expects congestion.
• Check the Panthers event page again in the week before for set times, a finish time and any transport notice.

Sources

• Panthers Penrith — Rock The Backyard 3 Music Festival (lineup, gates, 75% sold; checked 26 October 2026)
• Panthers Penrith — RTB Rules & FAQs (PDF) (venue, ticketing, parking, permitted and prohibited items, weather, access)
• Panthers Penrith — FAQ (courtesy bus, under-18 rule)
• Panthers Penrith — Contact us (address, 1800 061 991)
• Visit Penrith — Rock the Backyard (council tourism listing; differs on times and address)
• Ticketek — Rock The Backyard (official ticketing agency, named in the Rules & FAQs sheet)

Featured image: Penrith Stadium during the 2023 World Club Challenge, a different venue from The Backyard (photo: Avatar5991 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Panthers Penrith, Ticketek, Penrith City Council or Transport for NSW. Event details can change; check the Panthers event page before you go.