Australia's most awarded music festival announces three culturally significant acts spanning metal, neo soul and reggae for its 2026 Easter event.
Byron Bay Bluesfest has announced its next wave of artists for 2026, adding Parkway Drive, Erykah Badu, and The Wailers to an already stacked lineup that includes Split Enz, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sublime, The Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, Counting Crows, and The Pogues.
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Erykah Badu’s first Australian appearance in 14 years
The Queen of Neo Soul returns to Australia for the first time since 2012. Erykah Badu emerged in the 1990s as a central figure in the neo soul movement alongside D’Angelo and Maxwell, with her 1997 debut Baduizm establishing her as a defining voice of the era. Her catalogue includes the foundational albums Mama’s Gun and New Amerykah, pieces of work that remain essential to modern R&B and Black music culture.
A five-time GRAMMY Award winner with nominations spanning from 1998 through to 2025, Badu’s influence extends beyond music into film, fashion, visual art and activism. Her deeply intuitive and improvisational live performances have cemented her reputation as one of the most important artists of the last 30 years.
Parkway Drive returns home
Byron Bay locals Parkway Drive are set for their first hometown performance since their high school shows in 2014, marking their debut festival appearance in their home region. Formed in 2003, the band has spent over two decades redefining heavy music on a global scale, amassing six ARIA Gold albums, four number one ARIA albums, three ARIA Music Awards, and the 2024 APRA Award for Most Performed Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Work.
Their 2022 album Darker Still became the band’s third consecutive number one on the ARIA Chart and earned the 2023 ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album. Fronted by Winston McCall alongside guitarists Jeff Ling and Luke Kilpatrick, bassist Jia O’Connor, and drummer Ben Gordon, Parkway Drive have headlined major festivals worldwide, toured with Metallica and Slipknot, and completed sold-out arena runs across Australia and Europe. Their 2025 performance with a full symphony orchestra at the Sydney Opera House demonstrated their theatrical approach to live performance, making their Bluesfest homecoming a significant moment for one of Australia’s most successful global exports.
The Wailers celebrate 50 years of Rastaman Vibration
The Wailers return to Bluesfest with a special three-night residency, celebrating 50 years since the 1976 release of Rastaman Vibration. Led by Aston Barrett Jr., son of legendary bassist Aston “Familyman” Barrett (who portrayed his father in the 2024 biopic Bob Marley: One Love), the band will perform three completely different sets across the festival weekend.
Each performance spotlights a different chapter of The Wailers’ legacy. Sets will be drawn from Legend (featuring all songs from the landmark compilation), Natural Mystic (select album tracks alongside classic Legend hits), and Rastaman Vibration / Positive Vibrations (songs from Rastaman Vibration paired with essential Legend anthems). The residency builds on their successful 2022 Bluesfest appearance, with specific set nights to be announced closer to the festival.
Bluesfest 2026 takes place over Easter at the 300-acre Byron Events Farm, 11km north of Byron Bay. Head here for tickets and information.
