The Superjesus and Chocolate Starfish to rock Newcastle Carnival of Cups

10 September 2026

Newcastle is set for a huge night of live music and elite pacing when the Harness Racing NSW Carnival of Cups rolls into the Steel City on Friday, January 8.

Australian rock favourites The Superjesus and Chocolate Starfish will co-headline a packed entertainment line-up as the Carnival of Cups brings its unique combination of live music, top-class racing and free family entertainment to Newcastle.

The Superjesus have been a mainstay of Australian rock for almost three decades and return to the Carnival of Cups stage after previous showstopping sets at Albury and Wagga.

They will share headline duties with renowned live performers Chocolate Starfish, who have built a reputation as one of Australia's most energetic and entertaining rock acts.

Adding a distinctly Newcastle flavour to the night will be The Chair, Australia's leading silverchair tribute act.

The Chair will bring their high-energy set trackside, performing the hits of one of Australia's most celebrated rock bands in the city where the silverchair story began.

Australia's Got Talent finalist Joe Moore will also take to the Carnival of Cups stage, while Newcastle duo Emily A Smith and Anna Weatherup will ensure there is plenty of local talent represented on the bill.

The music will complement a major night of racing, headlined by the $100,000 Steel City Cup and the Hunter Region Final of the TAB Regional Championships.

The Steel City Cup will also form the third leg of the new $100,000 Carnival of Cups Bonus Points Series, which rewards horses for consistency across the five feature races of the Carnival.

Importantly, the Carnival of Cups is about much more than racing.

Entry is FREE, with the Newcastle event designed as an all-ages night out featuring live music, elite racing and a range of free activities and entertainment for children and families.

For those wanting to take their night to another level, the Carnival Crib will return as the event's premium hospitality experience.

The Carnival Crib provides patrons with an upgraded trackside experience, combining prime views of the racing and live entertainment with premium hospitality in an exclusive precinct.

The Newcastle meeting is the third stop of the 2026-27 Harness Racing NSW Carnival of Cups, with the series continuing its mission of bringing major live entertainment, feature racing and family-friendly events together.

With The Superjesus, Chocolate Starfish, The Chair, Joe Moore, Emily A Smith and Anna Weatherup all taking to the stage, Newcastle is set for one of the biggest nights of the Carnival.

To register for your FREE ticket head to www.carnivalofcups.com.au