The festival's opening announcement features 35 artists including legendary returns and long-awaited debuts ahead of the Easter 2026 event.
Split Enz will perform their first Australian show in more than 20 years at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026, headlining the festival’s first artist announcement alongside legendary acts Earth, Wind & Fire and Sublime.
Catch up on all the latest news here.
The 37th edition of Australia’s most awarded music festival takes place over Easter from 2-5 April 2026 at the Byron Events Farm, 11km north of Byron Bay.
Split Enz reunite with original members Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie and Eddie Rayner, joined by Matt Eccles on drums and James Milne on bass. The beloved New Zealand art-rock pioneers return to celebrate their 50th anniversary with hits including “I Got You”, “Message To My Girl” and “Six Months in a Leaky Boat”.
Earth, Wind & Fire make their first Bluesfest appearance since 2012, bringing their catalogue of hits like “September”, “Let’s Groove” and “Boogie Wonderland”. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees have sold over 100 million albums and earned nine Grammy Awards.
Making their long-awaited Australian debut, Sublime reunite founding members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh with Jakob Nowell—son of late frontman Bradley Nowell. Their 2025 single “Ensenada” spent eight consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, becoming their biggest radio hit since “What I Got”.
The Black Crowes return for the first time since 2008, alongside blues legend Buddy Guy, alt-rock storytellers Counting Crows, and The Pogues celebrating the 40th anniversary of Rum, Sodomy & the Lash.
Also announced are Marcus King Band, Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew performing Talking Heads’ Remain in Light, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Robert Randolph, and Australian acts including The Living End, Xavier Rudd, Mental As Anything, Skegss, The Dreggs and South Summit.
Bluesfest Tours will bring seven headline acts, Sublime, The Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, The Pogues, Marcus King Band, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, and Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew with Robert Randolph, to venues across Australia for exclusive sideshows.
Full first announcement lineup:
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
Roshani
Angelique Francis
Jovin Webb
Z-Star
Ben Catley
Laid Back Country Picker
More artists to be announced. Tickets are on sale now via bluesfest.com.au.
