Bluesfest reveal first lineup with 20-year return performance

The 37th year of Bluesfest hits Byron Bay with a bold headline act.

You would never have thought that just a few years again, Bryon Bay’s Bluesfest had announced it’s departure. Today the festival have announced their 37th edition of the internationally acclaimed, award-winning festival with an incredibly diverse lineup and special appearances.

Heading the annual event is the reunion of New Zealand’s biggest exports, Split Enz, who will be performing in Australia for the first time in 20 years.

BYRON BAY BLUESFEST 37TH FESTIVAL

When: EASTER 2026 – 2 – 5 APRIL 2026

Lineup

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)

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Led by Tim Finn, Split Enz are an adopted national treasure for our nation – one that changed the shape of popular music. Their tracks ‘I Got You’, ‘Message to My Girl’, ‘Six Months In A Leaky Boat’, ‘One Step Ahead’, and the vibrant ‘I See Red’ all kickstarted the early 80’s new wave of pop hits with big hair, bold makeup and an infectious music offering. Eclectic yes but exciting as ever, the band catapulted to worldwide success – the first in the country to do so. Their cult following has lived on after their end (enz) with reunions happening here and there including in 2006, the year following their ARIA Hall of Fame induction.

The band will be joined by disco and funk sensations Earth, Wind and Fire who are bound to bring boogie fever with their mega hits ‘September’, ‘Let’s Groove’, and ‘Boogie Wonderland’. As the staple of the genre, Earth, Wind & Fire are the most commercial and critically accomplished funk acts. Reggae, ska, punk fusion Sublime also top the bill for Bluesfest. The ‘Santeria’ songwriters were formed in 1988 and by the 90’s became one of the most decade defining bands with an unfortunate tragic tale with lead vocalist and guitarist Bradley Norwell passing away. Continuing their legacy, Norwell’s son Jakob joined original members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh in 2023 to reform the band and signal an exciting new chapter.

The lineup is further rounded out by The Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, another bird-themed band name of Counting Crows, The Pogues, Marcus King Band, Jerry Harrison and Adrian Below for Remain In Light, and Australian big guns, The Living End, Xavier Rudd, Mental As Anything and Mark Seymour.

You also have the talents Kenny Wayne Sheppard Band, Robert Randolph, and Taj Farrant. Some rhyming with Skegss and The Dreggs comes through as the surf rock side hits the famous beach location. South Summit, The Southern River Band, 19-Twenty, Chain, Backsliders, and festival favourites Pierce Brothers will all pack a punch at the Easter weekend festival.

The cap off the first announcement you also have Aine Tyrrell, Ray Beadle, Steve Poltz, Daniel Champagne, Roshani, Z-Star and exclusive performance from Nik West, Angelique Francis, Jovin Webb,  and Laid Back Country Picker.

Returning for its 37th edition, Bluesfest will be held at its home of Byron Bay over next year’s Easter Weekend from Thursday 2 April to Sunday 5 April 2026. Tickets to Bluesfest 2026 are available now and can be picked up here.