Great Southern Nights, the festival that sweeps throughout New South Wales, is merely five years young and yet the capacity it holds as a means of showcasing Australian music far outreaches the time it has been running.
In light of its celebratory fifth year of operations, the festival will showcase 320 artists across 215 venues spanning from May 1-17.
Proportionally speaking, it’s unlike any other festival that takes place in Australia. And unsurprisingly, it affords emerging artists the opportunity to connect with audiences, and vice versa, all the while allowing established artists a spot on a stacked line-up to play an active role in fostering a live music scene in this country.
With artists who’ve held a notability for decades like Paul Kelly, The Living End, Shane Howard, and Augie March performing at various stages across the two-and-a-half weeks, the festival also features more recent fan favourites in Hannah Joy from Middle Kids, Baker Boy, Genesis Owusu, Maddy Jane, and San Cisco.
What’s more is that this year’s festival will feature international superstars in Thundercat and Lisa Simone, two artists well-versed in performing and supporting those who endeavour to do so.
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The festival is set to be held across hundreds of venues, spanning from the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney to venues in Newcastle, Brunswick Heads, Dubbo, and a whole selection of regional destinations.
Geographically, it takes over most of New South Wales, offering the most eclectic line-up to the most far-reaching towns. Annabelle Herd, CEO of both ARIA and PPCA, spoke with The Music about the festival's impact since its inception at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Great Southern Nights was born out of one of the toughest periods the music industry has ever faced,” explains Herd. “COVID had silenced stages and shut down touring across the country, and we needed a way to bring live music back to life and give people something to enjoy again.
“Great Southern Nights started as a recovery initiative in 2020 and has since grown into something genuinely extraordinary, with over 320 artists, 215 venues, 17 nights of music across multiple regions of NSW, activating this May. It's become a true celebration of Australian talent at every level.”
And 2026 will be the most expanded iteration of the festival to date, with the inclusion of many new aspects to its offerings.
“2026 is shaping up to be our biggest and most exciting year yet,” outlines Herd. “We've introduced Live Fest – a brand new, single-day event format launching in Dubbo and Tamworth. And we were thrilled to support the return of Groovin The Moo in Lismore with reduced [price] tickets for local residents and a real community focus.
“We've also expanded our Gig Trails from two to four regions, activating in Newcastle, Chippendale, Port Kembla, and Newtown & Enmore. GSN 2026 runs 1–17 May across NSW, and with more than 300 gigs on offer, there really is something for everyone.”
All things considered, the festival's impact thus far, particularly in regional areas, has been nothing short of phenomenal.
“The impact in regional communities has been profound,” Herd notes. “GSN delivers great music while powering local economies, filling accommodations, and supporting small businesses. It shines a spotlight on the live music scenes in towns like Dubbo, Tamworth, Byron Bay, and Brunswick Heads in a real and meaningful way.
“When you can draw music lovers to explore their own backyard, everyone wins. It has also provided a great opportunity for artists to connect with regional fans and provides infrastructure that makes regional touring more economically viable.
“This year's line-up is eclectic and stacked with some big Aussie acts, hailing from various genres.”
And not only has the festival’s scope into regional areas supported those places in myriad ways, but it’s also afforded artists the means of connecting with audiences that they wouldn’t otherwise perform to on a tour run.
“Artists absolutely love playing regionally,” states Herd. “There's something special about performing for audiences in communities that don't always get the big tours. [The artists] tell us the energy is different, the connection is real, and for many artists, it opens entirely new fanbases they didn't know they had.
“From Missy Higgins and Paul Kelly at Lazy River Estate in Dubbo to Thelma Plum and Lime Cordiale in Tamworth, these are genuinely unique shows in genuinely unique settings,” Herd says.
Concurrently, with big Australian acts playing shows, the festival is also about giving emerging artists moments to share their musicianship.
“It can be career-changing for emerging artists,” Herd shares. “Playing alongside household names, in front of new audiences, within a program that is marketing properly and attracts serious media attention, is the kind of platform that accelerates careers.
“With over 20 genres represented and more than 320 gigs happening this year alone, there's real space for rising talent to shine alongside Australia's best.”
And it is partnerships with ARIA and Destination NSW, alongside other sponsor-based support, that allow for Great Southern Nights to be what it is.
“Promoting Australian artists and driving the music ecosystem is at the heart of everything ARIA does,” exclaims Herd. “GSN is a perfect expression of that mission. In partnership with Destination NSW, we've been able to build something that audiences across NSW love and that drives the entire industry, including venues, artists, crew, and communities. ARIA is proud to run GSN year after year.”
And it’s a thrill that the festival has not only been able to continue operations but also grow in the way it has since its inception.
“There are few things in life as magical as live music – whether it’s a gig from one of your favourite artists or you are discovering a new favourite, the joy of live music is unmatched.
“For that reason, the response from audiences has been incredibly positive, and 80,000 people a year don't lie. People have been able to enjoy live music close to home, explore new parts of NSW, and share the experience with the artists and venues that make their communities hum.”
No matter what music resonates with you, Great Southern Nights will showcase it all in their 2026 festival, as they continue to mould a legacy that imprints communities, industry and all the entanglements that thread music into Australia’s cultural expression.
Great Southern Nights runs from May 1 until May 17, with tickets to its myriad events available now.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
