BIGSOUND Unveils 2026 Goolwal Goolwal Program

BIGSOUND returns for its 25th year next month, and so does one of its newer initiatives: the Goolwal Goolwal program.

Celebrating First Nations excellence, this year, the program has joined forces with multiple international delegations, features an expanded line-up of performers, and has unveiled its first-ever merchandise, with a portion of proceeds going to The Disappeared Project and Dhadjowa Foundation.

Goolwal Goolwal will welcome international delegates this year, including guests from Turtle Island (CAN), Aotearoa (NZ) and Chile. Attendees will be a part of a traditional Welcome to Country, ‘Gather and Graze’ and a Calling for Country ceremony for global First Nations guests.

The Gather and Graze program is set to feature an opening showcase led by participants of Mushroom Group’s First Nations Pathway Program, supported by Coles. Performers include 3%, joining the line-up with a late-night show at Brisbane’s Crowbar, as well as RIAH, MINTY, Djunmili Yunupingu, homebody, Kiah (performing as The Violet Summers) and many others.

Elsewhere, the home of Goolwal Goolwal – open to the public daily until 5:30 pm – at Hey Chica! has plenty to see and do. There will be talks, First Nations market stalls, an art exhibition hosted by trials, and the annual Goolwal Goolwal Elders gathering, which will coincide with a highly anticipated performance from the program’s Elder in Residence, Uncle Joe Geia.

MOB CYPHER is also heading to BIGSOUND, showcasing hip-hop and rap artists including DENNI, Nooky, Dallas Woods and more at The Prince Consort - La La Land on Tuesday, 1 September, while trials provides the beat.

12% of artists performing as part of the BIGSOUND 100 line-up identify as Mob, with this year’s event becoming a feast of Blak excellence. Artists in Conversations sessions include appearances from trials, Tasman Keith and Kobie Dee, among others.

For the first time, Goolwal Goolwal will unveil a deadly shirt, showcasing rising Mob Artists. It will be sold in the BIGSOUND merchandise store and give back to the community, with a portion of proceeds going to First Nations not-for-profits, Dhadjowa Foundation and The Disappeared Project.

Festival tickets and delegate passes for BIGSOUND 2026 are now available – head to the event website for more information.

BIGSOUND 2026

LINE-UPS

SPECIAL EVENT FEATURES [NEW]

3%
Jarjum Sounds with Lucas Proudfoot
MOB CYPHER ft. Dallas Woods, DENNI,  Nooky, trials and more
Uncle Joe Geia

BIGSOUND 100 [Previously announced]

AKOSIA | Ally Row | And Beyond | Any Young Mechanic | BALA RONTU (Goolwal Goolwal) | belac | Betty | Birdland | blinder | blue diner. | Blush'ko and The Lazy Boys | CATPISS | Clancy | Daily J | DC Maxwell | DeepFaith | Denvah | Deva Mahal | Divers | Djawarray and Mayi Wunba Dancers (Goolwal Goolwal) | dœgægé | DRIZZZ | Dugong Jr | Dumbhead | eli wan | Erika Ever | Fletcher Kent | Gloam | Grace Chia | Greatsouth | HARLEY GIRL | Hayley Jensen | Indigo Blaze | Jaal | Jack Botts | JALMAR | Jem Cassar-Daley (Goolwal Goolwal) | Jett Blyton | JIMI THE KWEEN | JJ Vacant (Goolwal Goolwal) | Kaikobad | Kidskin | Kiz (Goolwal Goolwal) | koady | Kyla Belle (Goolwal Goolwal) | L.O.W | Ladyhawke | LamBros. | Lara Buchanan | Late June | Lazy Haze | Lightyears (Goolwal Goolwal) | LIQUID ZOO | Local the Neighbour | Loosie Grind | Lover | Maybe Hugo | Mertas | Milly Strange | Mim Jensen | MOKOMOKAI | Ngaiire | NIGHTDIVE (Goolwal Goolwal) | PA777IENCE | PASH | Peach Fuzz | Piper Butcher | Polly | PRETTY BLEAK | Public Figures | Queenie | Ricky Neil Jr (Goolwal Goolwal). | Rromarin | Ruby Mae (Goolwal Goolwal) | RubyHoo | Salty | Sam Fischer | Say True God? (Goolwal Goolwal) | Scratching | Sidney | Sidney Phillips | Silky Roads | Special Features | Stimpies | SUPERNEW | Sweatbaby | TANISHA | Tear Drive | TEENS | THE BROWNS | The Cheaks | THEADORE | Tori Darke | Toy Shaw | TRAVIS COLLINS | Tusekah | Wild Gloriosa | WIN BIG | Zach Stephenson | Zipporah (Goolwal Goolwal)

INDUSTRY GUESTS [Previously announced]

Ali Tomoana | Amy Teng-Collier (Concord, USA) | Angela Pulvirenti | Ari Pascual | Becki Whitton | Blake Benson (Project A&R / Kyro Clipping) | Briony Kent | Bryan Benson (Live Nation & C3 Presents / Bonnaroo, USA) | Carol Gesser | Carole Ann Vetter (Low Profile, USA) | Cash Savage and the Last Drinks | Chris Brearley | Chris Fraser (Partisan Records, USA) | Christie Medina-Gonzalez (Hellfest, FRA) | Christina Austin (Cobra Agency, GBR) | Dan Woolston | Dave Dullens (Converse Australia/NZ) | David Cook (New Dream Productions; Goolwal Goolwal) | David Melik Telfer (DMT Law Firm, USA) | Dev Sherlock (SXSW, USA) | Dina Bassile (Tibi Access) | Edvard Hakansson | Eli Wan | Emma Bosworth | Jade Nazareth | Jess Barlow | Jordan Royal | Joseph Clarke (Goolwal Goolwal) | Julia Jacklin | Kaleena Smith (Music NSW; Goolwal Goolwal) | Kelley Lin (True Panther, USA) | Kobie Dee (Goolwal Goolwal) | Kyle Kernohan (TBA Agency, GBR) | Lorrae McKenna | Lucas Cantor Santiago (Mindset Ventures) | Lucas Harwood (King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard) | Lucy Atkinson (ROAM Artists, GBR) | Lucy Blomkamp | Lucy Buckeridge | Maggie Collins | Marcelo Godoy | Marcus Walkom | Mariana Timony (Bandcamp, USA) | Marie Robinson (The Great Escape, GBR) | Márk Bóna (Sziget Festival, HUN) | Migo Tuazon (MET Media) | Milo Eastwood (PBS Community Radio) | Natasha Pinto | N'Fa Forster-Jones (Grid Series) | Ngaiire | Nicholas Di Lorenzo | Nigel House (Rough Trade, GBR) | Nina Corcoran (Pitchfork, USA) | PA777IENCE | Patrick Daniel (Reeperbahn Festival, DEU) | Pia Del Mastro | Puck Stoelinga (Mojo, NLD) | Rachel Whitford | Rafael Pereira (India International Music Week, IND) | Roydon Bangera (Skillbox, IND) | Sam Fischer | Sean Walker | Steph Salas (Carpark Records, USA) | Stu Mackenzie (King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard) | Summer King (Topic Artists, USA) | Tara Kumar (BBC Radio 1, GBR) | Tasman Keith (Goolwal Goolwal) | Thaddeus Rudd (Mom + Pop, USA) | Tom Brain | trials (Goolwal Goolwal) | Victoria Kozbanis | Yuta Nomura (CUEW / One Music Camp / Arifuji Weekenders, JPN) | Zac Abroms