Kate Rusby

Cosmic Psychos have been elevated to headline status at Thrashville 2026 after American punk pioneers FEAR were forced to withdraw from their long-awaited Australian tour due to health concerns involving frontman Lee Ving.

The City of Yarra has confirmed that Leaps And Bounds Music Festival will return to its full ten-day format in 2026, with venues across Fitzroy, Collingwood, Abbotsford and Richmond hosting a broad program of live music, record fairs, broadcasts and community events from 16 to 26 July. The annual winter festival, presented by Yarra City Council in partnership with local venues and promoters, will once again focus on supporting the live music ecosystem that has helped establish Yarra as one of Australia's most significant music precincts.

With The Wailers, The Living End and Taj Farrant leading a decentralised program, Byron Bay pivots to a venue-wide live music takeover following the cancellation of Bluesfest 2026

Shinedown say their decision to step away from Rock The Country reflects the band's long-held belief in unity through music, with Shinedown emphasising that their responsibility is to their audience above all else.

Freaks of Nature has confirmed its long awaited return to Saudi Arabia in 2026, unveiling the first phase of artists set to perform at its seventh edition, Freakyard. Across two weekends in February, the boutique electronic music and arts festival will once again transform the MDLBEAST Soundstorm site in Banban, Riyadh, into a multi layered immersive playground for dance music fans from around the world.

Laneway Festival has announced five new additions to its 2026 national lineup, with each act selected through the annual triple j Unearthed competition. The initiative continues its long history of elevating breakthrough talent across Australia, with the winners set to perform across Laneway's February run in the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The program has been a launchpad for many rising acts, and the 2026 group reflects the depth of new Australian music.

The Northern Territory's flagship music festival BASSINTHEGRASS has locked in a massive 2026 bill, bringing a powerful mix of homegrown talent and international names to Darwin's Mindil Beach on Saturday 16 May 2026. The NT's biggest day in live music will once again transform one of Australia's most recognisable coastal backdrops into a celebration of contemporary music, tropical lifestyle, and Territory spirit.