A deep dive into our 320+ gigs

A few weeks back, Great Southern Nights added a ginormous amount of gigs to the 2026 program, officially making it our biggest yet! Nothing if not diverse, the program stretches far beyond its headline moments and into the beating heart of Australia’s live music ecosystem. While the big names may draw the large crowds, don’t miss the back rooms, regional stages and late-night sets where the full story unfolds: a mix of established favourites, rising artists and unexpected live experiences.

Here are some program highlights that you may have missed;

Across Sydney and into the Northern Beaches, there’s a diverse cross-section of genres and shows on offer. Touch Sensitive brings his polished, groove-heavy electronica to Bombies Rooftop, The Moving Stills’ sun-soaked indie jams will ring out at The Vic on the Park and DZ Deathrays will rip the roof off Freshie Brewing Co. 

There’s also depth and intimacy, pairing revered artists with carefully chosen venues. Icon Sarah Blasko offers an atmospheric, ethereal performance perfectly suited to a seated setting at Darling Quarter Theatre and Mahalia Barnes delivers powerhouse soul and blues at the intimate Low 302. Ben Lee will play his huge back catalogue to Chatswood at the Concourse, while Husky brings warmth and storytelling via rich indie-folk textures to Rose Bay. Bootleg Rascal’s genre-mixing blend of reggae, hip hop and indie is a perfect match for Manly Beach icon Hotel Steyne. The energy lifts with Total Tommy’s punchy, no-frills indie rock at Mary’s in Newtown and Y.O.G.A’s genre blurring set at Pleasure Club by the Odd Culture Group.

Heading north to the Northern Rivers, Betty Taylor will deliver fresh, melodic Australian songwriting to the Beachy and Radium Dolls lean into grit and unpredictability at The Northern.

In Newcastle, Luca Brasi anchor the heavier end with an emotionally charged, high-impact live show. Lisa Mitchell complements the lineup bringing her emotive, instantly recognisable voice at the Playhouse. 

Further south, University of Wollongong plays host to a mini-fest pulled together by the crew from Yours and Owls. Teenage Dads lead a new generation of indie acts with sharp, playful songwriting, heading to the Gong with a bunch of band-friends and local homegrown talent  in tow. Letters to Lions will bring their anthemic indie-pop to Bermagui Beach Hotel and the Scarborough.

Beyond original artists, Great Southern Nights also leans into the joy of live music in all its forms, including some crowd-pleasing tribute experiences popping up across the program. The Australian Shania Twain Show brings all the singalong country-pop hits and high-energy nostalgia you’d expect. The Elvis Concert Spectacular delivers a full-scale celebration of The King, complete with the glitz and charisma of a classic Elvis performance. The Australian Blink182 show coming up the Shire will be one not to miss.

These shows add another layer to the program, offering familiar favourites alongside the thrill of discovering something new. There’s over 120 gigs that are completely free, so why not venture out to experience a new venue or uncover your new favourite local artist.

That’s just a taste of what’s  to discover within the Great Southern Nights 2026 program. It’s less about a single headline, and more about a statewide journey through Australia’s live music culture - one gig, one venue, one unexpected highlight at a time.

Head to the gig guide and dive in!