ANNOUNCEMENT: South Australia’s Summer Sounds Festival To Go Ahead

by Paul Cashmere The cost of seeing live music has transformed dramatically over the past four decades, with arena and stadium concert ticket prices now outpacing inflation at a rate few other entertainment sectors can match. In the mid-1980s, a major concert ticket typically cost between $12 and $15. In 2026, premium tickets for the world's biggest tours regularly exceed $500, while VIP packages can stretch beyond $1,000. The shift has fundamentally changed not only the economics of touring, but also the behaviour of audiences in Australia, North America and Europe.

Hugh Cornwell has postponed his Australian tour, with the former Stranglers frontman now set to return for a rescheduled run of dates in December 2026.

Chris Botti is reshaping his live repertoire again, introducing Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' global hit ‘Die With A Smile' into Australian tour performances as the Grammy-winning trumpeter continues to blur the lines between jazz, pop and cinematic orchestration.

ARIA Award winning Gamilaraay artist Thelma Plum will return to stages across Australia this July and August for her first national acoustic tour, revisiting songs from across her catalogue in a stripped back live setting.

Iron Maiden have played the first show of their Run For Your Lives world tour in Athens, Greece, giving Australian fans their clearest picture yet of what to expect when the band returns in November 2026. The opening night leaned heavily on the earliest chapters of the band's catalogue and restored several classics absent from their previous Australian visit.

The Jungle Giants have expanded their national tour in support of Experiencing Feelings Of Joy, adding a broad run of regional Australian shows following the album's chart debut and major city theatre dates.

The Meanies are expanding their live schedule through 2026 with interstate dates, a new split release with Dad Fight and a return to Western Australia for the first time in three years.