Great Southern Nights Sydney 2026
17 Days | 300+ Gigs | 1 Iconic City
Sydney’s Premiere Music Celebration
From **Friday 1 May to Sunday 17 May 2026**, Great Southern Nights transforms Sydney into a massive live music playground. This NSW Government initiative brings world-class Australian talent to intimate venues and grand stages across Greater Sydney.
The 2026 Headliners
Opening Night
Jessica Mauboy kicks off the Sydney season at the prestigious City Recital Hall.
Modern Icons
Featuring Missy Higgins, Paul Kelly, Genesis Owusu, and Lime Cordiale.
Special Orchestral Event
The Whitlams perform with a full orchestra at the Coliseum Theatre.
The 2026 Sydney Gig Trails
Experience unique, walkable music experiences across Sydney’s most vibrant creative precincts.
- Chippendale Gig Trail (Saturday 9 May): A takeover of laneways and haunts like Gin Lane, Sneaky Possum, and The Lansdowne Hotel.
- Newtown/Enmore Marathon (Saturday 16 May): 12 hours of non-stop music at spots like Young Henrys, The Duke of Enmore, and Pleasure Club.
Participating Sydney Venues
| District | Iconic Venues |
|---|---|
| Sydney CBD | City Recital Hall, Hordern Pavilion, St Stephen’s Uniting Church. |
| Inner West | Enmore Theatre, The Vanguard, The Vic on the Park. |
| Western Sydney | Coliseum Theatre (Rooty Hill), Wagon Wheel Hotel (St Marys). |
| Northern Beaches | Dee Why RSL, Freshwater Brewing Company. |
Current Show Schedule
Running Touch – Great Southern Nights – The Abercrombie Hotel – Chippendale, Sydney | 9 May, 2026
Allerdyce – Great Southern Nights – The Loft on Broadway – Newtown, Sydney | 9 May, 2026
Emily A Smith – Great Southern Nights – East Village Hotel – Darlinghurst, Sydney | 9 May, 2026
Husky – Great Southern Nights – Club Rose Bay – Sydney | 9 May, 2026
Club Miramar – Great Southern Nights – The Chippo Hotel – Chippendale, Sydney | 9 May, 2026
DYLF & Friends – Great Southern Nights – Inception Cruises – Darling Harbour, Sydney | 9 May, 2026
Twilight in the Backyard – Jon Stevens – Great Southern Nights – Penrith, Sydney | 9 May, 2026
NO BULL + S.O.W. + RAMSTON – Great Southern Nights – The Lansdowne Hotel – Chippendale, Sydney | 9 May, 2026
Chris Rythym (Bongos) – Great Southern Nights – Gin Lane – Chippendale, Sydney | 9 May, 2026
Rhythm Section Presents. – Great Southern Nights – Poor Toms Oltra – Marrickville, Sydney | 10 May, 2026
Great Southern Nights 2026 – Sydney
Sydney is turning up the volume once again for Great Southern Nights 2026, a city-wide celebration of live music showcasing some of Australia’s most exciting artists alongside international favourites.
From iconic concert halls to hidden laneway gigs, this year’s program transforms Sydney and Western Sydney into a vibrant, non-stop live music destination.
A City-Wide Music Celebration
Across multiple weekends, audiences can experience a diverse lineup of performances spanning pop, rock, soul, indie, R&B, and experimental sounds, hosted in some of Sydney’s most loved venues.
Expect unforgettable nights, intimate shows, and large-scale performances that bring communities together through music.
Headline Performances
- Jessica Mauboy – Opening night at City Recital Hall
- The Whitlams – Full orchestra performance at Coliseum Theatre
- James Reyne – Live performance the following weekend
- Baker Boy – Performing tracks from new album DJANDJAY at Dee Why RSL
- Thundercat – Live at the Hordern Pavilion
- Keli Holiday, The Jungle Giants, Young Franco, and Playlunch – Club and festival-style shows across the city
- Peking Duk – Closing the festival in high-energy style
Chippendale Gig Trail – A Festival First
For the first time ever, the Chippendale Gig Trail transforms the neighbourhood into a live music playground on Saturday 9 May.
Laneways, bars, and local favourites come alive with pop-up performances, roving artists, and surprise sets, turning the area into a continuous flow of music and discovery.
- Gin Lane
- Sneaky Possum
- The Lansdowne Hotel
Newtown & Enmore Precinct Takeover
The legendary Newtown and Enmore precinct hosts a massive 12-hour music marathon, inviting audiences to explore one of Sydney’s most iconic live music districts.
Wander between venues, discover emerging artists, and enjoy back-to-back performances across a range of intimate and energetic spaces.
- Hive Bar
- Rising Sun Workshop
- The Duke of Enmore
- Young Henrys
Why Attend
Great Southern Nights 2026 is more than a festival — it’s a city-wide celebration of music culture. Whether you’re discovering new artists or catching headline acts, every corner of Sydney becomes part of the stage.
From major arenas to hidden venues, this is your chance to experience live music at its most dynamic, diverse, and immersive.
Plan Your Nights Out
With performances spread across Sydney and Western Sydney, audiences are encouraged to explore, wander, and discover new sounds in unexpected places.
Get ready — Sydney is about to come alive.
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