The best major concerts to see in Brisbane in 2026
Brisbane welcomes the greats to town this year, from international headliners to local stars and hot new acts.
Live music might be in crisis, and Lady Gaga fans might have faced an infuriating wait, but the local appetite to see major pop, rock, electronic, country, R’n’B and hip-hop remains strong.
So who’s coming to Brisbane, and not already sold out? See below for a curated selection of big gigs.
Abigail Morris, frontwoman for The Last Dinner Party.Credit: Jordan Munns
In the meantime, don’t forget to Ausify your Algo, lend local acts an ear, and support smaller live music venues.
The Lumineers
The New Jersey folk rockers clip on the suspenders for their Automatic w_orld tour,_ with the Head and the Heart in support.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Tuesday, January 13.
David Byrne
The one-time Talking Head brings 13 musicians and dancers with him for a stage extravaganza tied to new album Who Is the Sky? and catchy single Everybody Laughs.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Saturday, January 17.
The Last Dinner Party
St Elton John loves this all-female London art rock act who have been touring like nothing matters on the back of new album From the Pyre.
Riverstage, Monday, January 19.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Cave, Ellis and the current ensemble bring Cave’s Wild God tour to town, playing tracks from the highly acclaimed new album, as well as the canonical hits. Good luck sitting still during Mercy Seat, or not crying during Into My Arms.
Brisbane Showgrounds, Tuesday, January 27.
Lorde
The NZ star had an Australia and UK No.1 with fourth album_Virgin_ and could probably be persuaded to perform older megahits such as Royals at her Boondall show.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Monday, February 16.
Halsey
Famous for 2015 album Badlands, the US singer-songwriter’s new tour is a series of Broadway-style production numbers with ambitious scenery, costuming and choreography.
Riverstage, Tuesday, February 17.
Good Charlotte
The Maryland skate-punk heroes return after an eight-year absence, on the back of their eighth studio album, Motel Du Cap.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Thursday, February 19.
Ed Sheeran is playing Suncorp Stadium three nights running.Credit: nna\BGossling
Ed Sheeran
The global superstar (and his loop pedal) take over Lang Park for a phenomenal three nights following the release of new album Play. Warm-up acts in Brisbane are Vance Joy, Mia Wray and Aaron Rowe.
Suncorp Stadium, February 20-22.
Pulp
Jarvis Cocker and three of the band’s core members made a triumphant return last year with new album More, and the Britpop stars’ first Australian shows in 13 years will have fans singing along to Common People, Disco 2000 and more.
Riverstage, Tuesday, February 24.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Hailed as “a rare 21st century guitar hero” by Rolling Stone, Ingram is a jaw-dropping blues prodigy from Mississippi, mentored by Buddy Guy and the Rolling Stones, no less.
The Triffid, Wednesday, February 25.
G-Flip is now LA based.Credit: Bec Parsons
Ethel Cain
Southern gothic songstress Hayden Anhedönia is a critics’ favourite and arrives touting her new album Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You.
Fortitude Music Hall, February 26 (February 25 sold out).
G-Flip
Drummer, singer, producer and queer icon G-Flip brings their Dream Ride tour to town with support act the Beaches! from Canada.
Riverstage, Friday, February 27.
Leftfield
The hugely influential UK dance music act marks 36 years with an Antipodean tour, with support from Late Night Tuff Guy in Brisbane.
The Tivoli, Thursday, March 5.
Linkin Park
Charging ahead with vocalist Emily Armstrong since the death of Chester Bennington, the nu-metal power rockers will play new hits such as Heavy Is the Crown alongside anthems spanning their 30-year career.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, March 3 & 5.
Hilltop Hoods in action.Credit: Justin McManus
Hilltop Hoods
Australia’s hip-hop legends play the nation’s stadiums following the release of ninth album Fall from the Light, with supports Maverick Sabre, Trials and DJ Total Eclipse.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, March 13 (March 14 sold out).
Bernard Fanning with Kasey Chambers
This On the Banks festival event has Powderfinger icon Fanning celebrating the 20th anniversary of his Tea and Sympathy album, with Chambers, the Paper Kites, Troy and Jem Cassar-Daley and Georgia Mooney joining him on stage.
Cultural Forecourt, South Bank, Sunday, March 15.
Babymetal
Gobsmacking in the best way, Japanese kawaii metal band Babymetal fuses heavy metal sounds and imagery with cutesy girl vocals and dance moves. If you know, you know.
Riverstage, Sunday, March 22.
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, aka RZA, left, and Clifford Smith, aka Method Man, of Wu-Tang Clan. Credit: Invision
Wu-Tang Clan
The hip-hop supergroup to end them all returns for the “final time” with all the living greats on stage: RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna and Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s son, Young Dirty Bastard.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Wednesday, March 25.
Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew
Harrison (Talking Heads) and Belew (King Crimson) team up to perform the seminal 1980 Talking Heads album Remain in Light along with the band’s greatest hits.
The Tivoli, Sunday, April 5.
Brisbane’s Regurgitator performing at Woodford Folk Festival.Credit: Matt Craven
Regurgitator
Ben, Quan, Pete and Sarah will play all the golden greats, from Kong Foo Sing to Polyester Girl.
The Tivoli, Friday, April 24.
Deftones
The nu-metal gods from Sacramento have nearly 40 years of history to draw upon including new album Private Music. Special guests are Interpol and Ecca Vandal.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, May 6 & 7.
Boy & Bear.Credit: Daniel Boud
Boy and Bear
The Sydney indie folk five-piece are back, 15 years on from the double platinum Moonfire album, performing all the favourites, with special guests the Dreggs, Bear’s Den and Rageflower.
Riverstage, Friday, May 8.
Eskimo Joe
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Black Fingernails, Red Wine album and Perth’s stalwart alternative rock trio will play the album in full.
The Triffid, Saturday, May 9.
Five
Count ’em – the Simon Cowell-signed UK boy band who sold 20 million records have reunited with all five original members, ready to Keep on Movin’ at Boondall.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Wednesday, May 20.
Ron Sexsmith
The Canadian crooner brings his complex and playful songwriting to town for a long-awaited Australian tour.
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sunday, April 19.
Festival calendar 2026
On the Banks Cultural Centre Forecourt, February 25-March 22.
Ultra Beach Gold Coast Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast, April 11-12.
Blues on Broadbeach May 14-17.
Noosa Jazz Festival August 28-September 6.
BIGSOUND Brisbane, September 1-4.
Groundwater Country Music Festival Broadbeach, October 16-18.
Ball Park Music
Brisbane jangle-pop favourites head out on another rock’n’roll adventure to play fan favourites and deep cuts.
The Tivoli, Friday, June 5.
Suzanne Vega
Hum along to Tom’s Diner and Marlene on the Wall with the return of the “new-waif” legend playing songs from her 40-year career.Fortitude Music Hall, Saturday, September 12.
Conan Gray
The former YouTuber has sold out Madison Square Garden and Wembley Arena, so Boondall should be no problem on his Wishbone world tour.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Tuesday, September 29.
Ashnikko
An unhinged bubblegum rapper-vamp whose videos have to be seen to be believed, Ashnikko brings her Smoochies tour to Brisbane, which has little inkling of what’s going to hit it.
Riverstage, Friday, September 25.
Olivia Dean performs at the ARIA Awards in 2025.Credit: Getty Images
Olivia Dean
London-born Dean arrives flush from her UK No.1 with the beguiling Man I Need from second album The Art of Loving.Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Tuesday, October 13.