BIGSOUND 2026 is officially calling for artists, with applications now open for the Southern Hemisphere’s largest music industry showcase.
Brisbane BIGSOUND is gearing up to celebrate 25 years this September, export ready acts from Australia and New Zealand are being urged to throw their hat in the ring, if you’re serious about cracking international markets, this is the room you want to be in.
What BIGSOUND Is Looking For
Programmers are chasing export market ready artists at any stage of their career, whether you’re unsigned and building momentum or already packing rooms, the brief is clear: artists who can capitalise on opportunity and translate buzz into real world growth.
Applications close Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 at 11:59pm, and organisers have confirmed there will be no extensions, submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, so sitting on it isn’t a smart move.
To apply, artists will need the full kit: band member details, socials, career highlights, streaming and ticketing data, a short bio, two representative tracks, a high quality press image, and video content, you’ll also need to outline what you want from BIGSOUND, who your dream collaborators are, and what’s next for your project.
Apply here.
Why It Still Matters
BIGSOUND isn’t just a festival slot, it’s effectively Music Industry Christmas. For three days, Fortitude Valley becomes a pressure cooker of labels, promoters, managers, media, festival bookers and international delegates.
Past alumni include Flume, G Flip, Gang of Youths, Thelma Plum, Confidence Man and RÜFÜS DU SOL, while not every act becomes a global headline, the track record speaks for itself (per press release).
By night, selected artists perform across multiple Valley venues in front of tastemakers and decision-makers and by day there are curated one on one meetings designed to push careers forward. Artists also receive access to the full festival program, after parties, professional development sessions, and an Artist Hub built for networking.
There are limited paid performance opportunities tied to partner events, though these are aligned with commercial outcomes and not guaranteed.
BIGSOUND remains one of the few spaces where underground ambition meets global infrastructure, if you’re ready for export, now’s the time to prove it.
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