Great Southern Nights

320 gigs, four Gig Trails, two new Live Fest events, and the return of Groovin The Moo gave punters plenty of bang for their buck.

With Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, Lime Cordiale, Jet, and many more, Australia’s favourite artists will take their music to regional areas this May.

Five years on from its COVID-inspired debut, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd looks back on the inception of Great Southern Nights ahead of its enormous 2026 return.

After the success of previous years, the Great Southern Nights Gig Trails return to Newcastle and this year, expands into new areas across NSW.

The initiative, which began in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has since blossomed into a showcase of Australia’s biggest acts.