Bluesfest Drops Massive 2026 Line-up

After teasing and a significant build-up of hype on social media, Bluesfest has unveiled its stacked first artist announcement for next year’s program.

Leading the charge are New Zealand/Australian music icons Split Enz, who will perform Down Under for the first time in 20 years next Easter.

Split Enz will be joined by another 34 legends from Australia and across the globe, including the genre-defying Earth, Wind & Fire, and ska punk heroes Sublime. Elsewhere, the line-up confirms that, along with their already-announced, in-demand Australian tour dates, Counting Crows will perform at Bluesfest 2026.

Celtic punks The Pogues also appear on the line-up, alongside Marcus King Band, The Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, and others, with Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) and Adrian Belew (King Crimson) bringing their show, where they’ll perform Talking Heads’ classic Remain In Light in its entirety, to Australia for the first time.

Representing Australia at Bluesfest 2026 is yet another diverse array of artists, from punk rock (The Living End) to soul (Xavier Rudd) to hypnotic indie-folk (The Dreggs), rock and roll (The Southern River Band), and festival favourites (Pierce Brothers).

You can check out the full artist announcement below.

Join our community with our FREE weekly newsletter

Returning for its 37th edition, Bluesfest will be held at its home of Byron Bay over next year’s Easter Weekend: Thursday, 2 April, to Sunday, 5 April. Tickets to Bluesfest 2026 are available now via the festival website.

“Our Bluesfest announcement today is a pearler - it’s a beauty. 7 Tours announced AND Bluesfest,” said Festival Director Peter Noble OAM.

“Split Enz will be doing their first Australian show since 2006, right here at Byron Bay Bluesfest. Yep, here we go! With 25 platinum and seven gold albums to their name across Australasia, Bluesfest fans will be the first to see them play in Australia following their triumphant return show in New Zealand,” Noble continued.

“And that’s just the start. Split Enz will be delivering hit after hit after hit. Think I Got You, Message To My Girl, Six Months In A Leaky Boat. Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Earth, Wind & Fire, think Shining Star, After the Love Has Gone, September - it’s no wonder Earth, Wind & Fire have sold more than 100 million albums, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time.

“All up, the artists in this announcement have collectively sold around 180 million albums. The Black Crowes - 30 million, Counting Crows – 20 million, Sublime – 20 million – and the list goes on. Between them, they’ve earned 58 platinum and 43 gold albums, plus an extraordinary number of awards, including nine GRAMMYs for Earth, Wind & Fire and nine GRAMMYs for the greatest living bluesman, Buddy Guy.

“Who would have thought we’d see Buddy Guy return after what was billed as his farewell tour just a few years back? When the opportunity came to present him again - well, I took it.”

Noble also discussed “major improvements” punters will find at the festival site. He added that the Bluesfest main stage will have a “bigger venue footprint,” while across the ground, there’ll be new seating zones and undercover areas for campers and chairs, situated both indoors and outdoors. Bluesfest 2026 will also arrive with more buses in more areas.

Noble concluded, “This is just the first announcement. Enjoy this one - and we can’t wait to see you at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026, Easter Weekend.”

Earlier this year, Bluesfest held its 36th edition of the event, with Noble confirming on the ground that what was once the festival’s final outing would return in 2026. And what a line-up the team has booked for next year.