Split Enz, Earth, Wind & Fire and Sublime headline Byron Bay Bluesfest’s 2026 line-up
One of Australia’s longest-running music festivals is gearing up for another year of tunes, with Byron Bay Bluesfest revealing the first wave of artists slated to perform its 37th iteration from April 2–5, 2026. Headlining the line-up is seminal New Zealand band Split Enz, which will be playing in Australia for the first time in 20 years. Here’s what we know …
Throughout its storied history, award-winning music festival Byron Bay Bluesfest has managed to bring some of the world’s finest blues, roots, soul and rock musicians to our shores and 2026 will be no exception.
Next Easter, legendary New Zealand art-rock group Split Enz will headline the festival, performing its first Australian show in more than 20 years. Original members Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie and Eddie Rayner will reunite and perform with Matt Eccles on drums and James Milne on bass, celebrating the band’s 50th anniversary.
Joining Split Enz and next year’s Bluesfest will be genre-spanning icons Earth, Wind & Fire, California-born ska punk legends Sublime, rock titans The Black Crowes, esteemed blues guitarist and singer Buddy Guy, alt-rock storytellers Counting Crows, Canadian blues singer Angelique Francis and Celtic punk heroes The Pogues, which will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of its landmark album Rum Sodomy & the Lash.
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Also performing across the weekend will be a host of local talent, from The Living End and Xavier Rudd to Chain, The Dreggs and Mark Seymour of Hunters & Collectors.
In addition to the star-studded line-up, the 2026 Byron Bay Bluesfest will also mark the debut of some upgraded amenities designed to enhance the festival-going 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,” says festival director, Peter Noble OAM. “Plus, we’re adding more buses to more areas, responding directly to what our audience has asked for.”
Much like in previous years, more artist announcements will likely be made between now and April, so stay tuned! Tickets to Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026 are available now via Moshtix – click here to snag yours.