The Southern Hemisphere’s largest music showcase, BIGSOUND is celebrating 25 years this September and as always, the team are looking for the next BIG thing.
With some of Australia’s most coveted showcase spots, BIGSOUND is the place to be. Applications are open now. The team encourages artists to apply now for their chance to be included on our stacked line up. Applications close Wednesday, 1 April 2026 – there will be NO EXTENSIONS.
Otherwise known as Music Industry Christmas, BIGSOUND brings Australian and New Zealand artists together with the big wigs of the global music industry. From labels, promoters and managers to media, festival bookers and venues – the who’s who of Music descend on Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley for what is the biggest week in Australian music annually.
BIGSOUND has a strong track record of platforming artists who go on to achieve significant national and international success, with alumni including Flume, Confidence Man, Rufus du Sol, G Flip, Gang of Youths, Thelma Plum, and Lime Cordiale.
The nitty gritty – BIGSOUND is all about BIG impact
Programmers are seeking export market-ready acts regardless of their career stage (be it unsigned, emerging or established legend) – who can capitalise on momentum and will benefit from the opportunities provided at BIGSOUND.
If selected, you will be playing front of a curated audience of domestic and international industry guests, including A&R representatives, bookers, and delegates from global export events such as The Great Escape and Reeperbahn Festival.
Preparing your applicants in integral – you will need to submit band member details, social media profiles, notable career achievements, streaming and ticketing stats, a short biography, two representative tracks, a high-quality artist image, and a video. Plus you’ll need to talk about what you’re seeking to get out of BIGSOUND, who your dream team would be and what you’re looking to achieve as an act in the future.
Applications close Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 11:59PM, with no extensions. Artists are encouraged to apply early, as programmers assess applications on a rolling basis.
But what’s in it for me?
There is a reason why we call our past showcase artist alumni – BIGSOUND isn’t just a festival, it’s an industry showcase and a global marketplace for Australian talent.
If selected, by night you’ll play in multiple venues across Fortitude Valley in front of tastemakers, trendsetters and industry decision makers; by day, you’ll meet one-on-one with curated industry guests and delegates who we think can help you take the next step in your music career.
You’ll also have access to the full BIGSOUND festival including after parties and the Artist Hub which features artist-focused professional development and networking opportunities across three days of the festival. Your team will receive ONE delegate pass granting access to the full BIGSOUND Program and Delegate Portal (valued at $899), as well as a discounted price to purchase other delegate passes should you wish.
There are limited paid performance spots at BIGSOUND presented as part of our partner event series. We’ll put you forward for these opportunities but there are no promises.
These performance spots are programmed in conjunction with our partners with a focus on aligning to their commercial outcomes.
Photo Credit: PISCO SOUR performs at BIGSOUND 2025 (Darcy Goss)
