First Blood

Australia's strained festival sector has claimed another significant event with the cancellation of Park Waves Australia, the touring heavy-music festival led by Parkway Drive and promoter Destroy All Lines, which had been scheduled for February 2026. The announcement ends plans for an 11-show national run that would have introduced the German-born event to local audiences, with organisers confirming that rising costs and unsustainable financial pressure made the tour unviable. Parkway Drive said the decision “feels like a kick in the guts”, reflecting the frustration felt across the wider industry. All ticket holders will receive a full refund, with emails already dispatched.

American genre-blender nothing, nowhere. will return to Australia in 2026 for The Return Of The Reaper Tour, marking ten years since he first announced himself to the world with his breakthrough release Reaper. The Vermont-born artist, the creative alter ego of Joseph Mulherin, will bring his band and two special guests, sace6 from the US and Sydney's rising post-hardcore outfit Closure, for a national run of shows next April.

Evanescence are set to bring their haunting symphonic rock back to Australia later this year, announcing three intimate headline shows for October and November ahead of their role as special guests on Metallica’s mammoth M72 World Tour.

For the first time in nearly a decade, American metal juggernaut Motionless In White will headline their own Australian tour. Set for June 2026, the band will bring their theatrical ferocity to some of the country’s largest venues, joined by homegrown heavyweights Make Them Suffer and rising U.S. metalcore act Currents.

Midge Ure has postponed all upcoming tour dates due to health reasons. This includes the Australian shows due to start in October.

Ex-Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley is coming back to Australia in March 2026.

Bloc Party are coming back to Australia and New Zealand with Young The Giant in August 2025.