Great Southern Nights is thrilled to return in 2026. Taking place from 1st – 17th May 2026, Great Southern Nights brings some of Australia’s finest acts to all corners of the state, supercharging arts and cultural events in NSW.
Backed by NSW Government, Great Southern Nights is Australia’s first and only state-wide live music initiative, supporting artists, venues and the broader industry. In 2026, Great Southern Nights will activate far and wide across the state, with over 300 gigs taking place in more than 200 venues across Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Dubbo, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, South Coast and Orange.
With the full program being revealed today, Great Southern Nights is excited to announce a new series of events called Live Fest, a single day offering, with uniquely programmed line ups in Dubbo and Tamworth. On top of the incredible music, Live Fest encourages attendees to grab friends, plan a roadtrip, make a weekend of it and explore everything these regions have to offer.
LIVE FEST DUBBO
Great Southern Nights opens with a weekend of spectacular music and scenery at Dubbo’s Lazy River Estate on Saturday 2 May 2026, featuring multiple ARIA Hall of Fame inductees and some of Australia’s most revered acts;
PAUL KELLY, MISSY HIGGINS, THE CRUEL SEA, THE CAT EMPIRE, KASEY CHAMBERS, JESS HITCHCOCK
The beautifully manicured grounds and rolling vineyards leading down to the Macquarie River form a stunning backdrop for this family friendly, licensed/all ages event and is the perfect way to open the 2026 iteration of Great Southern Nights.
Really looking forward to bringing our travelling caravan to Dubbo and playing under those big skies. It’s been too long – Paul Kelly
LIVE FEST TAMWORTH
On Saturday 9 May, Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre plays host to Live Fest offering some of Australia’s finest dance, rock and indie-pop icons, featuring;
LIME CORDIALE, JET, THE LIVING END, THELMA PLUM, KITA ALEXANDER
Dust off the dancing shoes and settle in for an epic evening!
GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS 2026 PROGRAM
Returning for the fifth edition, Great Southern Nights 2026 features some of Australia’s most recognised names from The Living End and Pete Murray to rising stars like BOY SODA, MAY-A and Playlunch. With over 300 gigs across the program, the stacked line up has something for music lovers across all generations and genres.
Get to know your Great Southern Nights 2026 line up
True to form, Great Southern Nights’ program covers a wide range of genres with some of the finest pop, indie rock and dance heavyweights like BALL PARK MUSIC, THE JUNGLE GIANTS, PEKING DUK and YOUNG FRANCO. Enjoy household names like JESSICA MAUBOY and THE WHITLAMS (Orchestral) along with indie singer-songwriters like JACK RIVER, MEG MAC, GORDI and HATCHIE.
So stoked to be joining forces with Great Southern Nights this May! I can’t wait to be back with our old pals GAUCI in Sydney at such an intimate venue – Hatchie
There’s country, roots, soul and folk offerings from STEPH STRINGS, EMMA DONOVAN, WILSN and more as they head to stages across the state. Rap, hip hop and RnB fans can enjoy incredible sets from BAKER BOY, JK-47, GENESIS OWUSU and VV PETE.
Pumped to get to collaborate with Great Southern Nights again to take the Baker Boy show to the Northern Beaches. Looking forward to bringing DJANDJAY to Dee Why RSL! – Baker Boy
If you are looking for a place to stay for Great Southern Nights 2026 check out our interactive accommodation map below. Just add in the dates you want to stay and the venue and you will be able to see what’s available nearby!
If you also need to find a flight to get you there, try our flight search feature below! Simply add in your home and destination city, select the dates you want to travel and search away!
