The NSW Government is investing in world-class live music experiences and delivering a major boost to communities across NSW, with Great Southern Nights 2026 set to bring more than 300 gigs to hundreds of venues from 1 to 17 May.

Missy Higgins, Paul Kelly, Jet, Baker Boy, Lime Cordiale, Jessica Mauboy, Hoodoo Gurus, Hatchie and Peking Duk are among the Australian artists who will light up stages across Inner and Western Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Dubbo, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, the South Coast and Orange.

In a first for Great Southern Nights, today’s program reveal introduces Live Fest, a brand-new series of single-day events in Dubbo and Tamworth giving music-lovers the chance to enjoy curated line-ups and weekends away in regional NSW.

The annual celebration of live music takes Australian talent beyond major arenas and bright city lights, placing established and emerging artists in intimate venues and vibrant entertainment precincts, energising local communities and driving visitation right across the state.

Great Southern Nights takes Australian music beyond the main stages, placing recognised and emerging artists in intimate venues and established entertainment precincts, bringing vibrancy to local communities.

From the city to the bush and the coast, the live concert series will once again bring people out at night, energising local precincts and supporting jobs and businesses across the entire ecosystem of the creative, nighttime and visitor economies, positioning NSW as Australia’s leading destination for vibrant cultural experiences.

Great Southern Nights aligns with strategic objectives outlined in the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which includes building a nation-leading calendar of world-class events to drive visitation and deliver economic, social and cultural benefits for the state.

It adds to an already stellar lineup of major cultural events for NSW in 2026, including Vivid Sydney, Biennale of Sydney, Tropfest, Sydney Mardi Gras, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, Byron Bluesfest, Sydney Comedy Festival, Mundi Mundi Bash, Sydney Fringe Festival, Deni Ute Muster, Sydney International Art Series and the Australian premiere of Disney’s new production of The Lion King.

Great Southern Nights is delivered by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

For tickets and the full artist line-up visit www.greatsouthernnights.com.au