More events. More venues. More road trips. More unforgettable nights out.
Great Southern Nights 2026 has wrapped after another massive celebration of live music across New South Wales, with over 90,000 music fans heading out to venues, precincts and regional towns for 17 huge nights of gigs.
This year’s program saw more than 320 gigs take over 215 venues across the state, with live music echoing from Kingscliff to Merimbula, Wagga Wagga to Boggabilla and everywhere in between.
From packed pubs and intimate band rooms to laneway pop-ups and regional festivals, Great Southern Nights once again transformed NSW into one giant live music extravaganza.
The beloved Gig Trails returned in 2026, bringing music lovers back to Midtown Newcastle while also expanding for the first time into Chippendale, Newtown-Enmore and Port Kembla.
Over 5,500 patrons wandered between venues discovering surprise performances, buskers, pop-up entertainment, rooftop sets and hidden live music moments throughout each precinct.
This year also introduced brand new additions including Live Fest Dubbo and Live Fest Tamworth, alongside the return of Groovin the Moo and the inclusion of River Sounds Festival — helping bring even more live music experiences to regional NSW communities.
The 2026 line-up featured an enormous mix of Australian talent alongside select international artists, with highlights including performances from Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Peking Duk, Genesis Owusu, Lime Cordiale, Thelma Plum, Baker Boy, The Jungle Giants, Jessica Mauboy and hundreds more.
Whether it was a regional pub show, a packed metro venue or a surprise acoustic set tucked away in a laneway, Great Southern Nights once again proved just how powerful live music can be in bringing people together.
Until next time, NSW!
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