BYRON BAY BLUESFEST 37TH FESTIVAL
EASTER 2026 APRIL 2 – 5 APRIL 2026
BLUESFEST IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE FIRST WAVE OF ARTISTS PERFORMING THIS EASTER – 35 ARTISTS ANNOUNCED – MORE TO COME
SPLIT ENZ FIRST PERFORMANCE IN AUSTRALIA IN 20 YEARS
THE FIRST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT
SPLIT ENZ
EARTH, WIND & FIRE • SUBLIME
THE BLACK CROWES • BUDDY GUY
COUNTING CROWS • THE POGUES • MARCUS KING BAND
JERRY HARRISON & ADRIAN BELEW “REMAIN IN LIGHT”
THE LIVING END • XAVIER RUDD
MENTAL AS ANYTHING • MARK SEYMOUR
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND
ROBERT RANDOLPH • TAJ FARRANT
SKEGSS • THE DREGGS • SOUTH SUMMIT
THE SOUTHERN RIVER BAND • 19-TWENTY
CHAIN • BACKSLIDERS • PIERCE BROTHERS
ÁINE TYRRELL • RAY BEADLE • STEVE POLTZ • DANIEL CHAMPAGNE
• NIK WEST (exclusive) • ROSHANI • ANGELIQUE FRANCIS (exclusive)
JOVIN WEBB (exclusive) • Z-STAR
BEN CATLEY • LAID BACK COUNTRY PICKER (exclusive)
A word from our Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM
“Our Bluesfest announcement today is a pearler – it’s a beauty.
7 Tours announced AND Bluesfest.
Split Enz will be doing their first Australian show since 2006, right here at Byron Bay Bluesfest. Yep, here we go! With 25 platinum and 7 gold albums to their name across Australasia, Bluesfest fans will be the first to see them play in Australia following their triumphant return show in New Zealand.
And that’s just the start. Split Enz will be delivering hit after hit after hit.”Think I Got You”, “Message To My Girl”, “Six Months in a Leaky Boat”. Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Earth, Wind & Fire, think “Shining Star,” “After the Love Has Gone,” “September” – it’s no wonder Earth, Wind & Fire have sold more than 100 million albums, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time.
All up, the artists in this announcement have collectively sold around 180 million albums. The Black Crowes – 30 million, Counting Crows – 20 million, Sublime – 20 million – and the list goes on. Between them, they’ve earned 58 platinum and 43 gold albums, plus an extraordinary number of awards, including nine GRAMMYs for Earth, Wind & Fire and nine GRAMMYs for the greatest living bluesman, Buddy Guy. Who would have thought we’d see Buddy Guy return after what was billed as his farewell tour just a few years back? When the opportunity came to present him again – well, I took it.
We’re also making some major improvements to the festival experience. Our main stage will have a bigger venue footprint, new seating zones, and undercover areas for campers and deck chairs – both indoor and outdoor. Plus, we’re adding more buses to more areas, responding directly to what our audience has asked for.
This is just the first announcement. Enjoy this one – and we can’t wait to see you at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026, Easter Weekend.”
– Peter Noble OAM, Festival Director
