Cooma’s Allan Spencer declared the 2025 and 14th edition of the Australian National Busking Championships the best in the event's history. If the 2026 edition goes to plan, it may well be the best, but for now, Mr Spencer is hoping for good weather, great music and big crowds to support the nation’s top buskers. Since the first busking final in 2012 where predominantly local buskers and some from the ACT gathered in Cooma, the championships have become a nationwide hit. Regional finals are held in five states and territories, with the finals held in Cooma across a busy weekend. Last year’s installment saw the largest prizepool on offer and the most number of spectators. “We had more entrants, we had big crowds on both days, amazing support from the local community providing more than $14,000 in prizemoney and prizes. There was also great support from the music community and great work from many volunteers,” Mr Spencer said following the 2025 grand finals. The 2025 winners were Denim, who impressed celebrity judges Kerrie Gambley (Haystack Mountain Hermits), John Littrich (The Water Runners) and Kyle Kash (Tamworth busking co-ordinator). Runners-up in the open division were Perth ukulele comedian, Tomas Ford (Woody Campfire), and country artist, Amanda Heartsong. Woody Campfire won his way into the national grand final with a win in the Cooma heat the previous day, impressing the judges with his wicked comedy and high energy, off the stage antics. The winners said they were honoured to win the competition and had “loved every minute” of their weekend in Cooma. The national grand final was held on the second day, and followed the Cooma regional heat of the competition, held for the first time on the same weekend as the national grand final. “It was a big and busy weekend, but our best yet,” Mr Spencer said. “Each year we continue to grow the event, I’m thankful for all the support we receive from local businesses, buskers and the community.” The Saturday event featured a record 46 entries, including solo performers, duos and bands, with entrants performing four, 30 minute sets at designated busking spots in the Cooma central business district. They were judged on wow factor, musicality, crowd appeal, presentation and originality. The open division for the Cooma heat was won by Perth ukulele comedian Tomas Ford (aka Woody Campfire), with Berridale violin playing brothers, Justin and Filip Klempfner, winning secondary and people’s choice and Justin Klempfner winning primary. Across two busy days, thousands of people watched the popular event, with musicians lining the streets. Buskers came from Perth, Central Queensland and across NSW for the event. Adding to the occasion was the Loy Krathong Thai Festival and Rotary markets, street parade and stalls on Sunday, the weekend was one of Cooma’s busiest.
