There’s only one week to go until Fortitude Valley gets very loud
BIGSOUND 2026 runs from 1-4 September, bringing four days of live music, industry sessions, showcases, parties and plenty of reasons to spend the week moving between venues across Brisbane.
Now in its 25th year, BIGSOUND has become one of the biggest fixtures on the Australian music calendar. The festival has helped put artists including Flume, Tash Sultana, Tones And I and Courtney Barnett in front of the people who can help take their careers further.
This year is no different, with hundreds of artists and industry figures heading to Fortitude Valley, alongside a packed program that keeps expanding.
Among the names joining the 2026 program are SLOWLY SLOWLY, MAY-A and Sunshine Coast duo FRANK & LOUIS.
For those not spending the week behind a delegate lanyard, there’s plenty to check out too.
The BIGSOUND Mall Stage, presented by Amazon Music, brings free live music to Brunswick Street Mall every day, with Pash, Zipporah and Salty performing Tuesday, followed by BIRDLAND, DEVA MAHAL and LAMBROS on Wednesday and LARA BUCHANAN, NGAIIRE and SILKY ROADS on Thursday.
Wednesday also brings the Hunting Ground Publishing Showcase, featuring new signings JUNGAJI and HOLYSTONE from noon.
Brisbane’s QUBE Effect is making its BIGSOUND debut this year, with local band BADPOSTURE taking over Brunswick Street Mall at 4.40pm on Thursday.
There’s plenty happening away from the stages. The California Lane CD & Record Fair runs Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am–3.30pm, while the MILKLAB x BIGSOUND Morning Mix Run Club offers a morning run, DJ set, free drinks and merch.
At The Precinct, the what’s the colour of love? exhibition will feature a floor talk with trials and BIRDZ at 4.15pm Wednesday, looking at the work and ideas behind trials’ hendle album.
Then there are the parties.
Sony & Friends brings MAY-A, Jem Cassar-Daly, Pash and Bella Amor together, while the official Oztix Party takes over The Brightside with Slowly Slowly, BIRDLAND, Large Mirage and Liquid Zoo.
Live Nation’s Ones To Watch will feature Jem Cassar-Daly, Eli Wan and Holly Hebe, with Holly Hebe appearing exclusively during BIGSOUND week.
The UPSTARTER Showcase Party is another one to watch, with five finalists performing at The Beaumont on Wednesday for the chance to take home a $20,000 cash prize.
And when it’s finally time to call it, the BIGSOUND 25th Birthday Closing Party takes over the entire Prince Consort from 11.30pm until close, covering the Garden Bar, Parlour Bar, La La Land and Greaser.
There’s a serious industry side to the week too, with international delegations from the UK and Canada arriving in Australia to connect with local artists, managers, labels, publishers and music businesses.
Canada is the Featured Guest Country for 2026, with representatives from BPI, CIMA and Music Managers Forum Canada among those involved.
Before everything officially kicks off, the BIGSOUND Sneak Peek LIVE at The Sofitel Brisbane runs Saturday 29 August from 4–7pm.
For four days, Fortitude Valley becomes the place to be for anyone interested in where Australian music is heading next. There will be new artists to discover, old friends to run into, industry conversations happening everywhere and, inevitably, a few late nights.
BIGSOUND 2026
1–4 September 2026
Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
Delegate Pass: $899 / $849 QMusic Subscriber & Reciprocal Members
3-Night Festival Pass: $100 early bird / $119 full price
1-Night Festival Pass: $69
Youth (25 and under) & Concession: $30
Platform fees apply. Afterpay available.
More info and tickets: bigsound.org.au
