Split Enz Lead First Bluesfest 2026 Lineup Announcement
The reformed Kiwi rockers will be joined by the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, Sublime, The Black Crowes, The Pouges and many more.
Image Kurt Petersen
Bluesfest Byron Bay returns in 2026 with another monster lineup headlined by Kiwi legends Split Enz, who are reforming for the festival and playing their first Australian show in over two decades.
Marking their 50th anniversary of their debut album Mental Notes, the reunion features original members Tim Finn, who hinted at the band getting back together in an interview with The Note earlier this year, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie and Eddie Rayner with Matt Eccles on drums and James Milne on bass
Once again running over the Easter weekend from April 2 to April 5 2026, organisers have shared the first lineup announcement that includes 35 acts, with more names to follow in the coming months.
Joining Split Enz are Grammy Award winners Earth, Wind & Fire, Californian punk meets ska trailblazers Sublime, Southern rock titans The Black Crowes, alt-rock storytellers The Counting Crows and Celtic favourites The Pogues, who are playing Bluesfest for the first time in 14 years to celebrate their 40th anniversary, with original members James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Spider Stacy joined by acclaimed guest vocalists Daragh Lynch, Iona Zajac and John Francis Flynn.
Other artists revealed include Marcus King Band, The Living End, Xavier Rudd, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, The Dreggs, South Summit, Chain, Pierce Brothers and more.
Speaking on the first announcement, Bluesfest OAM Director Peter Noble had this to say, “Our Bluesfest announcement today is a pearler - it’s a beauty.
“Split Enz will be doing their first Australian show since 2006, right here at Byron Bay Bluesfest. Yep, here we go! With 25 platinum and 7 gold albums to their name across Australasia, Bluesfest fans will be the first to see them play in Australia following their triumphant return show in New Zealand.
“And that’s just the start. Split Enz will be delivering hit after hit after hit. ‘Think I Got You’, ‘Message To My Girl’, ‘Six Months in a Leaky Boat’. Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Earth, Wind & Fire, think ‘Shining Star’, ‘After the Love Has Gone’, ‘September’ - it’s no wonder Earth, Wind & Fire have sold more than 100 million albums, making them one of the best-selling artists of all time.
“All up, the artists in this announcement have collectively sold around 180 million albums. The Black Crowes - 30 million, Counting Crows – 20 million, Sublime – 20 million – and the list goes on. Between them, they’ve earned 58 platinum and 43 gold albums, plus an extraordinary number of awards, including nine Grammys for Earth, Wind & Fire and nine Grammys for the greatest living bluesman, Buddy Guy. Who would have thought we’d see Buddy Guy return after what was billed as his farewell tour just a few years back? When the opportunity came to present him again - well, I took it.
“We’re also making some major improvements to the festival experience. Our main stage will have a bigger venue footprint, new seating zones, and undercover areas for campers and deck chairs - both indoor and outdoor. Plus, we’re adding more buses to more areas, responding directly to what our audience has asked for.
“This is just the first announcement. Enjoy this one - and we can’t wait to see you at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026, Easter Weekend.”
Tickets for Bluesfest Byron Bay 2026 are on sale now via bluesfest.com.au.
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Bluesfest Byron Bay has been one of Australia’s leading music festivals since it was established in 1990, but next year’s event was in the balance earlier this year after Director Peter Noble declared the 2025 event to be the last ever.
“We’ve had the highest attendance of any Australian festival since pre-COVID at 109,000 attendances - the third-biggest event we've done in the history of the festival.... festivals are back,” Noble said in a statement about this year’s event.
“We’re the top-selling festival in the country, and we’ve worked hard to get here. That support means Bluesfest fans have kept this dream alive. It's a clarion call for me. People want this event. People want it to continue.”
For over 35 years, Bluesfest has continued to draw big crowds and even bigger artists, winning an array of awards and hosting some of the world’s best, including icons such as BB King, Santana, Bob Dylan, Mavis Staples and Robert Plant, along with modern greats like Dave Matthews Band, Lauryn Hill, Mary J Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Erykah Badu. Bluesfest has also championed Aussie acts such as Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil and Kasey Chambers.
Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026 takes place from Thursday 2 April to Sunday 5 April at Byron Events Farm. Tickets are on sale now via bluesfest.com.au.
Byron Bay Bluesfest FIRST LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT
Split Enz
Earth, Wind & Fire • Sublime
The Black Crowes • Buddy Guy
Counting Crows • The Pogues • Marcus King Band
Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew “Remain In Light”
The Living End • Xavier Rudd
Mental As Anything • Mark Seymour
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
Robert Randolph • Taj Farrant
Skegss • The Dreggs • South Summit
The Southern River Band • 19-twenty
Chain • Backsliders • Pierce Brothers
Áine Tyrrell • Ray Beadle • Steve Poltz • Daniel Champagne
• Nik West (Exclusive) • Roshani • Angelique Francis (Exclusive)
Jovin Webb (Exclusive) • Z-star
Ben Catley • Laid Back Country Picker (Exclusive)
