BIGSOUND turns 25 and the guest list proves it’s only getting bigger

Representatives from some of the most respected names in independent music are already locked in for BIGSOUND 2026, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest music industry event. Running 1–4 September in Fortitude Valley, Magandjin (Brisbane), BIGSOUND 2026 is shaping up as the biggest edition yet, with guests flying in from the UK, US, France, and Hungary to meet, deal-make, and discover what Australian and New Zealand music has to offer.

For any Australian artist, manager or music business trying to break beyond their home city, this is the event that makes it happen. BIGSOUND is where deals get done, rosters get signed, tours get booked, and the kind of conversations that define careers happen between panels, after showcases, and over a drink at the Artist Hub. Kicking off year 25, the lineup of international guests reads like a wish list.

BIGSOUND 2026

• Where: Fortitude Valley, Magandjin (Brisbane)
• When: 1–4 September 2026
• Tickets on sale in May

Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.

 

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Confirmed international guests include Nigel House from Rough Trade Retail — one of independent music’s most iconic institutions, with stores across the UK, New York, and Berlin, championing artists through retail, in-store and out-of-store performances. Mariana Timony, Senior Editor at Bandcamp Daily, will be on the ground writing a Brisbane Scene Report during the event, putting a spotlight on emerging local artists and culture for a global readership.

Christie Medina-Gonzalez represents Hellfest, one of the world’s premier heavy music festivals held in France, known for its massive production and lineups spanning established icons and emerging acts alike.

Carole Ann Vetter brings serious sync muscle as Senior Director of Licensing & Admin at Low Profile, a Brooklyn-based, female-run agency behind global campaigns for brands including Nike, Apple, and Netflix.

Rounding out the big five is Márk Bóna from Sziget Festival, one of Europe’s largest festivals, based in Budapest, Bóna has been across programming and production since 2004 and now oversees key stages and emerging artist bookings.

Also joining the international delegation:

• David Telfer, Lawyer at DMT Law Firm (US)
• Christina Austin, Agent at Cobra (UK)
• Kelley Lin, Label/General Manager at True Panther (US)
• Lucy Atkinson, Agent at ROAM Artists (UK)
• Steph Salas, Label Manager at Carpark Records (US)
• Reeperbahn (GER)
• SXSW (US)
• The Great Escape (UK)

Beyond the international guests, BIGSOUND 2026 will again feature the BIGSOUND 100; a curated showcase of Australian and New Zealand acts primed to make the most of the Artist Hub, Content House, tailored meetings, mentoring, and performance schedules.

Returning crowd favourites include Roundtables, Conversation Corners, the Delegate Hub, and Goolwal Goolwal (Yagara language for BIGSOUND), the First Nations-led program delivering free cultural experiences by day and live music by night. An expanded technology and partner showcase program is also on the way.

Artist applications have been extended and close at 11:59pm on Tuesday, 7 April 2026. The full program launches in July, with early bird tickets going on sale in May.

For more information, head here.