The collapse of Bluesfest 2026 has left a crater in Australia’s live music calendar, but not everyone’s walking away from the wreckage.
Several artists originally locked into the Byron Bay festival are pressing ahead with their AU/NZ tours, reshaping plans rather than scrapping them entirely.
The festival, scheduled for April 2nd-5th, was officially cancelled earlier this month, organisers pointed to rising production, logistics, insurance and touring costs, alongside softer ticket demand and global uncertainty.
It’s the kind of explanation that’s becoming painfully familiar across the industry, but the story hasn’t stopped there.
Financial fallout and growing scrutiny
Since the cancellation, things have only become murkier, a liquidator has been appointed to handle Bluesfest’s finances, including vendor payments and ticket refunds. Reports suggest the festival owes around $5.7 million to creditors, and correspondence from Worrells indicates refunds are ‘unlikely’.
That’s sparked backlash from ticketholders, with calls for deeper investigation gaining traction.
Festival director Peter Noble has largely stayed out of sight, even as scrutiny ramps up. A recent investigation by The Australian detailed alleged long term issues behind the scenes, including claims of bullying, payment disputes with artists, and questions around public messaging after Bluesfest’s previously announced 2025 end date.
For a festival that’s been part of the country’s fabric for decades, it’s an ugly unravelling.
Tours still going ahead
Despite this, a stack of artists are pushing forward, they’re locking in headline shows and revised runs across Australia and New Zealand (per Rolling Stone).
Sublime, The Pogues, The Wailers, The Black Crowes, and Marcus King Band are all moving ahead, The Wailers have reshuffled their run with a string of NSW dates replacing their Bluesfest appearances, Split Enz are also sticking to their May tour plans.
Not everyone is staying on the schedule. Sets from Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew, Erykah Badu, and Earth, Wind & Fire have been scrapped, along with select sideshows.
The Black Crowes double down on Sydney
The Black Crowes have gone one step further, adding a second Sydney show on Wednesday, April 8th at Enmore Theatre due to demand. Tickets for the new date go on sale Tuesday, March 24th at 11am (local).
The added show expands their national run, which will see them hit Melbourne on April 2nd and 3rd, Brisbane on April 6th, before wrapping in Sydney across two nights.
The tour marks their first live run following the release of new album A Pound of Feathers, recorded in Nashville with producer Jay Joyce, Australian outfit The Southern River Band will join as support across all dates.
Originally, Bluesfest 2026 was shaping up as one of the stronger lineups in recent memory, mixing legacy acts with names like Parkway Drive, now it’s a case of salvaging what’s left and making it count.
What it means moving forward
There’s a strange resilience in the way these tours are continuing. For fans, it’s a second chance to catch acts that could’ve disappeared overnight, for the artists, it’s likely a financial necessity as much as a commitment.
But the bigger picture is harder to ignore, Bluesfest wasn’t just another festival. Its collapse, and the mess that’s followed, feels like a warning shot for the entire touring ecosystem.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TOUR DATES 2026
SUBLIME
- Wednesday, April 1st – Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
- Saturday, April 4th – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney NSW
- Wednesday, April 8th – Wolfbook Arena, Christchurch NZ
- Friday, April 10th – Trusts Arena, Auckland NZ
- Saturday, April 11th – Brewtown, Wellington NZ
THE BLACK CROWES
- Thursday, April 2nd – The Forum, Melbourne VIC
- Friday, April 3rd – The Forum, Melbourne VIC
- Monday, April 6th – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
- Wednesday, April 8th (NEW SHOW) – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
- Thursday, April 9th – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
THE POGUES
- Wednesday, March 25th – Fremantle Prison, Fremantle WA
- Friday, March 27th – Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide SA
- Sunday, March 29th – The Forum, Melbourne VIC
- Thursday, April 2nd (NEW SHOW) – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
- Sunday, April 5th – Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW
- Monday, April 6th – Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW
- Wednesday, April 8th – St James Theatre, Wellington NZ
- Thursday, April 9th – Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch NZ
- Saturday, April 11th – NZICC Theatre, Auckland NZ
MARCUS KING BAND
- Wednesday, April 1st – Powerstation, Auckland NZ
- Wednesday, April 8th – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
- Friday, April 10th – The Forum, Melbourne VIC
- Saturday, April 11th – Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide SA
THE WAILERS
- Wednesday, April 1st – Drifters Wharf, Gosford NSW
- Thursday, April 2nd – Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW
- Friday, April 3rd – Finnians Tavern, Port Macquarie NSW
- Saturday, April 4th – Coffs Hotel, Coffs Harbour NSW
- Sunday, April 5th – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads NSW
SPLIT ENZ
- Wednesday, May 6th – TSB Bank Arena, Wellington NZ
- Thursday, May 7th – TSB Bank Arena, Wellington NZ
- Friday, May 9th – Spark Arena, Auckland NZ
- Saturday, May 10th – Spark Arena, Auckland NZ
- Wednesday, May 13th – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne VIC
- Thursday, May 14th – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne VIC
- Monday, May 18th – TikTok Entertainment Centre, Sydney NSW
- Tuesday, May 19th – TikTok Entertainment Centre, Sydney NSW
- Friday, May 22nd – RAC Arena, Perth WA
- Monday, May 25th – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide SA
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