Bluesfest Star Chris Smither Name-Checked In Spy Novels

Byron Bay Bluesfest has unveiled a major new wave of artists for its 2026 edition, confirming Parkway Drive, Erykah Badu and The Wailers as headline additions to an already formidable bill. The announcement reinforces Bluesfest’s long held reputation for programming that spans generations, genres and cultures, united by musicianship, legacy and the power of live performance.

Pierce Brothers will enter 2026 with momentum few Australian acts can match, rising from the success of their fourth studio album Moonrise, released in late 2025, and now preparing for an extensive Australian tour from March through May.

Earth, Wind & Fire will return to Australia in April 2026, marking the iconic band's first Australian performances since 2012. The long-awaited tour will begin with a headline set at Byron Bay Bluesfest on Easter Friday before two exclusive sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne. For Australian fans, this homecoming has been more than a decade in the making, and the announcement reaffirms the group's continuing stature as one of the most influential bands in the history of soul, funk and R&B.

Byron Bay Bluesfest will roar into its 37th edition in 2026 with one of the most important reunions in Australasian music history. Split Enz, in their first Australian appearance in two decades, will headline the Easter weekend event from 2 to 5 April 2026, confirming a landmark moment for the festival and for generations of fans who witnessed the band rewrite the rules of art-pop and new wave.

You can’t make this up. Iggy Pop’s parrot Biggy has given Hoodoo Gurus the ultimate seal of approval.

Tom Morello is a late announcement for Bluesfest 2025 and Indonesia’s Electric Cadillac have also been added to the festival.

Chaka Khan will return to Australia in 2025 for Bluesfest, just 18 months after she performed for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.