Image: Sydney Road Street Party 2026. Image by Simon Fazio.

Sydney Road Street Party 2026

Stallholder Expressions of Interest

The Sydney Road Street Party will take place on Sunday 1 March 2026. This annual event kicks off the Brunswick Music Festival. Tens of thousands gather to enjoy live music, great food, roving performances, and a variety of stalls, celebrating the vibrant culture and diversity of Sydney Road.

Location: Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056 between Victoria Street and Brunswick Road.

Key Dates:

• Expressions of Interest Open: Tuesday 30 September

• Expressions of Interest Information Session: Tuesday 7 October 2025 (6:00 pm to 7:30 pm - online) https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8921ca45-36bb-49d1-bd1d-36ee6cb68c40@fd1e4787-5974-4ae8-ac86-93ab2fd52107

• Expressions of Interest Close: 11:59pm, Tuesday 28 October 2025

• Stallholders will be notified of the outcome:  Wednesday 5 November 2025

• Payment due: Friday 5 December 2025

• Stallholder Briefing: Tuesday 10 February 2026 (6:00 pm to 7.30 pm – online)

• Induction Due: 23 February 2026

• Bump In: Sunday 1 March 2026 (specific times will be confirmed in February)

• Event Date: 12:00pm to 6:00pm, Sunday 1 March 2026

• Bump Out: 6:00pm – 11:59pm, Sunday 1 March 2026

Checklist

Before you begin please ensure you have completed the following checklist:

• Read and understand the relevant Stallholder Guidelines our website. All Stallholder Fees and associated costs can be found in the Guidelines. 

• Have a digital copy of your Full product/menu list including prices ready

• Have 2 photos of your stall ready

• Have 2 photos or images of your products and display ready

You can click "Save and Complete Later" at the bottom of the page to receive an editable link to your submission.

Selection Criteria

Stallholder applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Local Preference: Priority will be given to makers, producers, and service providers based in Merri-bek.

• Product Quality and Uniqueness: Consideration of the overall quality and distinctiveness of the products or food on offer.

• Stall Presentation: Assessment of the stall setup, including visual appeal and suitability for the site.

• Experience and Financial Stability: Review of the stallholder’s retail and business experience, along with their financial capacity.

• Support for Small-Scale Makers: Preference for small-scale makers and businesses, rather than those selling commercially manufactured products.

Merri-bek City Council reserves the right to select stalls based on achieving a balanced mix of goods and services for the event. All decisions are final, and no negotiation will be entered.

Merri-bek City Council reserves the right to refuse incomplete applications.

Stall Categories

Category Descriptions:

Food and Beverage Stalls: For traders interested in selling food and beverages at Sydney Road Street Party including food trucks, carts, trailers and containers.

Artisan and Craft Stall: ‘Artisan’ comprises of anything ethically handmade, either by yourself or by someone else. 

Commercial / Merchandise Stall: This category is for non-handmade products or those not ethically produced by others. 

Merri-bek City Council Unit: For Merri-bek City Council Units to promote their services and activities.

Sydney Road Traders: For Sydney Road businesses between Brunswick Road to Moreland Road. 

Community Organisation Stalls: For Community groups providing activities and information at Sydney Road Street Party.

For stalls selling pre-packaged food and beverage, e.g. for gifts or take-away sales, apply as an Artisan rather than the Food and Beverage category.

Image:  Sydney Road Street Party Stall 2025. Image by Simon Fazio.

About You and Your Organisation

All stallholders must hold current Public Liability Insurance (PLI) with a minimum coverage of $20 million. 

If your Expression of Interest is successful, you’ll be asked to provide a digital copy of your Certificate of Currency. The certificate must clearly show the insured party’s name, coverage amount, and valid policy dates

About Your Stall

Web and Social Media Links

Please upload images of your stall:

Please upload images of your products:

Access Requirements

Stallholders must comply with the relevant standards of all gas appliances set by Energy Safe Victoria. They ensure gas appliances are used safely and consider equipment, installation, ventilation and clearance, fire protection and emergency management.

FoodTrader Requirements

Food and Beverage traders are required to hold a current FoodTrader account. This ensures that your food service is registered with a local government authority and can legally trade. https://foodtrader.vic.gov.au

If selected, Food and Beverage traders will be required to lodge a Statement of Trade for the event via their FoodTrader account.

Plastic Free Events

Serving up sustainability: unbleached serviettes, reusables, and plastic-free choices 

Sydney Road Street Party follows Merri-bek City Council’s Plastic Wise Policy, which supports the use of sustainable, low-impact materials. Stallholders are expected to minimise waste and choose reusable, recyclable or compostable alternatives where possible. 

You can read more and download the full Plastic Wise Policy via the Merri-bek City Council website.

The following items are NOT allowed at the event: 

• Balloons 

• Single-use plastic including bags, bottles (e.g., water, soft drinks), cups, plates, bowls, straws, cutlery, and take-away containers 

• Non-recyclable packaging 

• Compostable plastic cups, plates, bowls, straws, cutlery, and take-away containers 

• Avoidable plastic packaging like cling wrap, plastic bags, or similar 

Preferred materials include: 

• Reusable or recyclable containers 

• Unbleached paper serviettes 

• Fabric or compostable banners and signage 

• Washable cups, plates and cutlery 

Please use reusable event materials like promotional banners and flags whenever possible. 

Exemptions can be obtained for coffee and ice cream traders where non-single use cups are unavailable. Please indicate in your Expression of Interest if you wish to apply for an exemption.

Performances, workshops or activities

It may be possible to facilitate a performance, workshop, activity or seating area as part of your stall. They need to be planned and confirmed in advance so please describe your activities and indicate if they involve noise, distractions, or extend beyond your designated 3 x 3m or 3 x 6m site.

Image: Sydney Road Street Party 2025 drew tens of thousands of attendees. Image by Simon Fazio.

All stallholders must ensure the following: 

• All stallholders must include a securely weighted marquee for weather protection (excluding self-contained food trucks or trailers). 

• Pegging into the ground is not permitted anywhere onsite. 

• Food stalls must have three walls, or two walls if using gas appliances. 

• Stallholders must only operate within their allocated space (e.g. 3x3m or 3x6m marquee or assigned food truck/trailer footprint). 
  

• Shared paths and areas outside your site must always remain clear and unobstructed. This includes A-frame signs, stock or equipment. 

• All electrical equipment must be tested and tagged by a suitably qualified person before being brought to the event. 

• All stalls will be inspected for safety before trading begins.  

• Stalls that do not meet requirements may not be permitted to operate.

All stall infrastructure must comply with PoPE (Place of Public Entertainment Permit) safety requirements and meet applicable event safety standards. 

Bringing your own marquee is strongly discouraged. If your marquee is later found to be non-compliant with POPE safety requirements, your stall may be disqualified from participating. 

If you wish to use your own, you must provide correct documentation at the time of submitting your EOI that it: 

• Is rated for commercial event use, which means:
  1. A sturdy aluminium or steel frame (not lightweight pop-up or backyard gazebos)
  2. Fire-retardant, waterproof and UV-resistant canopy
  3. Engineered to withstand outdoor wind conditions, typically rated for winds of 55 km/h or more on a 3x6 m marquee
  4. Designed for use with ballast weights (not pegging)

• Meets minimum wind load requirements for outdoor events

• Includes certification from the manufacturer or a qualified engineer

Please note: 

Assembly instructions or general product specifications without relevant safety or compliance information will not be accepted as certification. 

Applications submitted without the correct documentation will not be approved. 

All on-site infrastructure will be inspected by a registered engineer. Marquees must comply with POPE safety requirements at the time of inspection. If your own marquee is later found to be non-compliant, your stall may be disqualified from participating.

Sydney Road Street Party provides event-grade marquees and appropriate weights for hire. These can be pre-booked through this EOI application form. Hire fees will be outlined in the Additional Hire Charges table.

With the exception of self-contained stalls such as Food Trucks and Trailers, all sites must have a safe, professional structure that provides durable sun and weather protection.

Marquees:
Marquees and weights are not included in stallholder site fees unless you select the marquee & weights provided option.

Hired marquees include weights and professional setup.

Marquees are required in order to trade as part of Sydney Road Street Party 

Weights:
All marquees must be securely weighted. You can hire Weights package for either 3 x 3 or 3 x 6 marquee (You cannot hire individual weights).

 Weights must be evenly distributed across all legs. Minimum requirements:

• 3 x 3m marquee (4 legs): 40 kg per leg | 160kg total

• 3 x 6m marquee (6 legs): 65 kg per leg | 390kg total

Pegging:
Pegging is not permitted on the Sydney Road Street Party Site site, for marquees or any other purpose.

Food trading:
Marquees used for food trading must have three walls, unless gas appliances are in use, in which case only two walls are required.

Food and Beverage Stall

Food and beverage stallholders can nominate their preferred stall size, book power, and hire a marquee and other equipment.

Use this section to indicate the stall size and equipment you require.

If your expression of interest is successful, you will receive an automated email to pay the stall and hire fees as specified in this form.

Artisan and Commercial / Merchandise Stall

Artisan and Commercial / Merchandise stallholders can nominate their preferred stall size, and hire a marquee and other equipment. These sites are not powered.

Use this section to indicate the stall size and equipment you require.

If your expression of interest is successful, you will receive an automated email to pay the stall and hire fees as specified in this form.

Merri-bek City Council Stall

Merri-bek City Council units can book a 3 x 3m space in a shared 3 x 6m stall. Spaces are limited and will be assigned on a first-come first-served basis.

Each 3 x 3m space will be supplied with a Marquee, weights, 1x trestle table and 2 x chairs. Please note that these are non-powered sites.

A recoup of $335.50 will be organised as an internal charge for your stall space.

Sydney Road Trader - Activation or Stall

Sydney Road businesses between Victoria Street and Brunswick Road: If you are interested in hosting a stall or activity outside or inside your shop, please use this section to confirm your activation and book any necessary equipment, including marquees and furniture. Note: If you choose not to activate the space in front of your store a stall may be placed there on the event day.

Sydney Road businesses outside of the event precinct between Victoria Street and Brunswick Road: You can host activities inside your premises but not on the street due to road closure boundaries. To be included in the event precinct, please use this section to confirm your activation and book any necessary equipment, including marquees and furniture.

Community Organisation Stall

Community organisations who wish to provide activities, information, and interactivity at the street party. Use this section to book your site size, marquee and equipment needs.

Vehicles, Trailers, Caravans and Cool Rooms/Chillers

If you plan to trade from a stall that includes a vehicle, trailer, caravan, and/or a cool room/chiller - these require special planning for site layout and movement. Due to these considerations, our capacity to manage them on-site is limited. Please provide the exact dimensions, including draw bars, and specify their location relative to your stall.

Power

Only Food and Beverage traders can request to hire power for their site. Please select with care the exact power requirements you would like Sydney Road Street Party to provide. Changes to power requirements are not possible after the stallholder selection process.

Sydney Road Traders can use power drawn from their businesses or self-powered Food and Beverage trucks.

Power cables must be managed in accordance with WorkSafe Victoria’s industry standards. They must be safely hung overhead or run inside of a cable tray. PSOA's (Portable Socket Outlet Assembly) must also be used.

Equipment Hire

Marquees are available for hire as either a 3 x 3m or 3 x 6m, with weights included in the hire. If you are supplying your own Marquee please ensure you supply or hire the appropriate weights.

Additional furniture and cable trays for cable management are also available for hire. Use this section to select if you wish to hire any equipment for the event.

If you have selected the marquee and weights provided option in the site fee than you do not need hire any additional marquee or weights from this section. 

To secure your stall during Sydney Road Street Party please:

• Review the information provided in your Expression of Interest.  If any updates are required this is your final opportunity to make them. 

• Upload any additional required documents.

• Accept the terms below.
  

This is due by 6 November 2025

Apply for Merri-bek City Council Public Liability Insurance Cover

We have a limited number of spaces that can be covered by Merri-bekCity Council’s Public Liability Insurance. These spaces are reserved for first time Artisans or Community stalls. If you a first time Artisan or Community Stall holder, and cannot provide your own Public Liability Insurance, please visit https://merribekcitycouncil.snapforms.com.au/form/merri-bek-city-council-public-liability-cover-application-form. If you receive Merri-bek PLI Cover, please upload the confirmation in the above field.

Foodtrader

As a Foodtrader you need to lodge a Statement of Trade (SOT).  Please visit the Foodtrader website  https://foodtrader.vic.gov.au/user-guide/statements-of-trade/  

When lodging you SOT enter the following event details when selecting the event: 

Sydney Road Street Party 2026 Event ID: EV-0051637-MERR 

Stallholder Briefing

It is compulsory for all participating stallholders to attend the Stallholder Briefing: 6:00pm to 7:30pm, Tuesday 10 February 2026 (online).  Visit this link to register to attend LINK : https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e4c885c3-a6a5-46c5-8878-a4d4a6e794ac@fd1e4787-5974-4ae8-ac86-93ab2fd52107

Safety Induction

A mandatory safety induction will be provided to each stallholder to complete online. Stallholders will not be permitted onsite without it, and this will be checked by event staff on the day. The online safety induction link will be provided prior to the deadline of Tuesday 24 February 2026.

Image: Syndey Road Street Party 2025. Image by Simon Fazio.