Bluesfest Byron Bay Officially Confirms 2026 Return as Tickets Go On Sale

The sun hadn’t even set on what was planned to be Bluesfest’s final day before the official confirmation was given that the event would live on.

The long-running festival has become an institution on the Australian festivals calendar across its 36-year history. Names such as Bob Dylan, BB King, Paul Simon, John Mayer, Mary J Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, plus homegrown stars Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil and Tash Sultana, have all performed over the years, with the dizzying lineups also offering chances for rising stars to receive a vital platform.

However, this year’s event – which ran from April 17-20 on Australia’s east coast – was initially set to be the final outing for the long-running festival. 

“To my Dear Bluesfest Family, and after more than 50 years in the music business, Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community, and the resilient spirit of our fans,” festival director Peter Noble wrote in a statement last year.

“But after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter,” he continued. “As I said earlier this year at Bluesfest 2024, next year’s festival will be happening and it definitely is, but it will be our last.”

However, in December, Noble had changed his tune, explaining that the decision to call time on the event was an attempt to regain the support of the New South Wales state government, and noted that organizers were already booking acts for their 2026 edition.

On Sunday, April 20, Bluesfest officially confirmed that the festival would live on, revealing that it would be taking place across the Easter long weekend of 2026, from April 2-5. Additionally, attendees were also given the chance to purchase “pre-early bird tickets,” with the offer expiring at the conclusion of the festival.

“Please support our festival and guarantee our future by the simple act of buying your ticket at the best possible price at the festival today,” organizers wrote on social media. Traditionally, standard early bird tickets for the next festival are put on sale shortly after the previous event, with organizers expected to do so in the near future.

The announcement of Bluesfest’s 2026 return also took place one day after Noble stood with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Mandy Nolan as the Australian Greens party launched their Festivals Support Package on the grounds of the festival.

The Greens’ proposed package to revitalize Australian festivals includes $20 million AUD per year in direct festival grants, $2 million AUD for a comprehensive review of the failures relating to the insurance market that is affecting the live music sector, and a national festival strategy, alongside tax offsets for artists and venues.

“Our festivals are in crisis,” Hanson-Young said. “Over the past few years we’ve seen the cancellation after cancellation of loved and iconic festivals. It’s clear that the government needs to step in to help the industry.”

“With rising costs, insurance issues, and festival cancellations across the country, this plan brings hope and much-needed support to keep Australia’s festival scene alive and thriving,” Bluesfest organizers added.

The 2025 edition of Bluesfest featured Crowded House, Chaka Khan and Toto in the headline positions, with a wide variety of Australian and international acts completing the vast bill. Artist details for the 2026 revival of Bluesfest are yet to be announced, though will ostensibly be revealed around August/September, as is traditional for the festival’s first lineup announcement