News · 23 March 2026

Don McLean Announces ‘American Pie’ 55th Anniversary Australian Tour 2026

Image: supplied

The legendary troubadour plays Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre in October.

Legendary American singer-songwriter Don McLean returns to Australia this October to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the song that defined a generation – ‘American Pie’.

Released in 1971, the song, taken from the album of the same name, spent four weeks at the top of the US Billboard Charts. Exploring the end of rock and roll after the deaths of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, who died in a plane crash, the nearly nine-minute track is considered one of the greatest songs ever written.

McLean’s Australian tour will see the singer-songwriter not only perform his biggest hit, but also fan favourites such as ‘Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)’, ‘Castles in the Air’, ‘And I Love You So’ and more.

The American Pie 55th Anniversary Tour kicks off in Mareeba at the Sabannah In The Round Festival on Saturday 10 October. McLean then plays Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on Monday 12 October, Gold Coast’s The Star Theatre on Wednesday 14 October, Western Sydney’s Coliseum Theatre on Saturday 17 October, Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre on Sunday 18 October, Sydney’s State Theatre on Monday 19 October and Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on Wednesday 21 October, with the final concert at Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre on Friday 23 October.

Pre-sale runs from 10am AEDT Friday 27 March until 11pm AEDT Monday 30 March. General on-sale kicks off 9am AEDT Tuesday 31 March via echopacific.com.au.

Now aged 81, McLean has been a commanding presence for more than five decades. Over that time, he’s released 21 studio albums, including 2024’s American Boys, and continues to perform to sold-out theatres across the globe.

This October, Aussie audiences get the chance to reconnect with McLean’s back catalogue and experience an evening with the great man as he takes them on a journey through the decades.

Catch Don McLean at Thebarton Theatre on Friday 23 October. Ticketing information available at echopacific.com.au.