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First International Guests Announced For BIGSOUND 2026

Mary Varvaris

BIGSOUND returns to the Fortitude Valley for its 25th edition this September.

Márk Bóna - Sziget Festival, Christie Medina-Gonzalez - Hellfest, Carole Ann Vetter - Low Profile, Nigel House - Rough Trade & Mariana Timony - Bandcamp
Márk Bóna - Sziget Festival, Christie Medina-Gonzalez - Hellfest, Carole Ann Vetter - Low Profile, Nigel House - Rough Trade & Mariana Timony - Bandcamp(Credit: Supplied/BIGSOUND)

We’re still months away from this year’s BIGSOUND, but who said that announcements can’t start getting rolled out?

Today, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest music industry conference and showcase event revealed its first international representatives, who will head to Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley from 1-4 September for the 25th edition of BIGSOUND.

The first international guest announcement includes representatives from ROAM Artists (UK), Reeperbahn (GER), DMT Law Firm (US), Carpark Records (US), The Great Escape (UK), True Panther (US), and SXSW (US), among others.

Representatives announced today include:  

  • Nigel House, Rough Trade Retail Director

  • Mariana Timony, Bandcamp Daily Senior Editor

  • Christie Medina-Gonzalez, Hellfest, Programmer and Artistic Coordinator

  • Carole Ann Vetter, Low Profile Senior Director of Licensing & Admin

  • Márk Bóna, Sziget Festival Booker & Event Manager

  • David Telfer, Lawyer at DMT Law Firm (US)

  • Christina Austin, Agent at Cobra (UK)

  • Kelley Lin, Label/General Manager at True Panther (US)

  • Lucy Atkinson, Agent at ROAM Artists (UK)

  • Steph Salas, Label Manager at Carpark Records (US)

  • Reeperbahn (GER)

  • SXSW (USA)

  • The Great Escape (UK)

In a statement, BIGSOUND and QMusic CEO Kris Stewart said of today’s announcement, “Each year, alongside our Conference Curators Cathy Oates and Niriko McLure, our commitment is to bring global music industry decision makers to Brisbane. We want people to leave BIGSOUND with relationships that support them across their entire career.”

The complete BIGSOUND program will be unveiled in the coming months, with a press release noting that the entire program will “launch” in July. Early bird tickets are scheduled to go on sale in May, and more news will drop soon. Subscribe for updates about BIGSOUND 2026 on the event website.

As well as hosting conference speakers, BIGSOUND 2026 will once again be home to Roundtables, Conversation Corners, Artist Hub, Content House, Delegate Hub, and Goolwal Goolwal, BIGSOUND’s First Nations-led program.

This year’s festival will host the BIGSOUND 100, showcasing Australian and New Zealand acts ready to take the next step in their careers—artist applications close on Tuesday, 7 April, at 11:59 pm. Find out more on the BIGSOUND website.