Whitianga

Metallica closed their Australia and New Zealand tour in Auckland with a moment created only for local fans. The final night delivered the expected firepower across a career spanning setlist, yet the highlight arrived when Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett delivered their tour-tradition Doodle. This version was built around the Split Enz classic I Got You, paired with Six60's anthem Don't Forget Your Roots. The Doodle placed two of New Zealand's most important songs into the middle of Metallica's global production, creating a rare cultural crossover in front of a sold out crowd.

Sanguisugabogg, the Ohio death metal force known for their graphic theatrics and uncompromising sound, will return to Australia in June 2026, with Oklahoma's PeelingFlesh joining them for their first run of shows on local soil. The tour follows Sanguisugabogg's chaotic 2024 Australian debut, which left audiences talking about the band's notorious tradition of launching a football into the pit with the promise of a prize for the last fan standing. The group will bring a new set built around their 2025 album Hideous Aftermath, which has become a defining benchmark for modern death metal.

The Beta Band will tour Australia for the first time in 2026, a moment indie fans have awaited for almost three decades. The Scottish innovators will visit Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Fremantle, bringing their influential 1998 release The Three E.P.'s to life, along with key tracks from their catalogue. The tour follows a surprise reunion that has already filled theatres in the United States and the United Kingdom, proving the group's legacy retains powerful momentum.

Three time GRAMMY Award winner Fantastic Negrito will make his long awaited return to Australia in March 2026, bringing a run of headline dates and festival shows that promise powerful performances and bold storytelling. The tour will see the American artist share songs from across his remarkable career, including his 2024 album Son Of A Broken Man.

Grammy winner Judith Hill will tour Australia in May 2026 as she brings her latest album, Letters From A Black Widow, to life for local audiences. The shows will showcase her signature mix of soul, funk and gospel, delivered with the emotional depth that has defined her career. Hill released the album in 2024 and marked a new chapter for the Los Angeles artist, who continues to build on a remarkable legacy shaped by collaboration, resilience and reinvention.

Australia will welcome a powerful fusion of UK folk punk and Texan pop punk in May 2026, with Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls joining forces with Bowling For Soup for the co-headline Bowl My Bones Australian Tour. The two acts will travel across the country together next May, offering fans a rare chance to see two long-running and influential punk artists share a single bill.

Lenny Kravitz has started his southern return, and Auckland was first to witness his new tour in action. Lenny touched down with a setlist shaped by his three decade career, and Australia now has a predicted blueprint of what to expect next. Kravitz played Auckland on Saturday night, and the show leaned into classics, deep cuts, and a generous serve from his latest album Blue Electric Light.