Bluesfest

“Bluesfest has always been about great music - not genres."

This is likely the most unexpected artist reveal since Kendrick Lamar at Bluesfest 2016.

“We’re committed to making Bluesfest 2026 our most comfortable, accessible and enjoyable festival yet," said organisers.

While there are no set times attached to the day-by-day breakdown, many more artists will be added to the line-up ahead of next year’s festival.

"Our Bluesfest announcement today is a pearler - it’s a beauty," said Festival Director Peter Noble OAM of today's massive first artist announcement.

Some of next year’s most buzzed-about Bluesfest artists will perform exclusive headline sideshows nationwide in March and April 2026.

"This line-up had to be right, and you’ll see why," Bluesfest organisers teased in a new social media post.

Dark Mofo and RISING are among the 2025 events that have returned reinvigorated, following the trend of Laneway, Bluesfest, and other Australian festivals.

“It’s clear that the government needs to step in to help the industry."

“[The festival circuit] is too important to lose,” said Minister for Music and Night-time Economy John Graham.

Fourteen annual events will receive additional support from the NSW government and benefit from "less red tape."