Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has added his voice to the 2026 Triple J Hottest 100, sharing his picks from a wide range of local and international artists. Albo's choices highlight a mix of rising stars and established names, from the indie-pop charms of Olivia Dean and Hatchie to the homegrown beats of Hilltop Hoods and Ocean Alley.

Fun Lovin’ Criminals are set to return Down Under in March 2026, just on two years after the February 2024 tour. This time they come armed with their seventh studio album and first album in 15 years, A Matter Of Time.

Sting has paid more than $800,000 to his former Police bandmates Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland after acknowledging historic underpayments, as a long running dispute over royalties moves through the High Court in London. Court filings confirm the payment was made after the guitarist and drummer launched legal proceedings last year against Sting and his publishing company, Magnetic Publishing.

A new Paul McCartney documentary examining one of the most pivotal chapters of his career is set to arrive in Australia, with the first trailer now released for Man On The Run. The film focuses on McCartney's creative rebirth in the years following the breakup of The Beatles, charting the formation, struggle and eventual global success of Wings.

Kim Gordon has confirmed the release of her third solo album Play Me, due out on March 13 via Matador Records, continuing a late career creative surge that has positioned her as one of the most vital voices in contemporary alternative music. The album follows 2024's The Collective, a release that earned Gordon her first Grammy nominations and reaffirmed her ability to evolve without diluting the artistic principles that have defined her work since the early 1980s.

Flea, the iconic bassist of Red Hot Chili Peppers, is set to release his first full-length solo album, Honora, on March 27 via Nonesuch Records. The album marks a long-awaited return to the trumpet and jazz influences that shaped Flea's early musical life, decades before he became a defining figure in alternative rock.

After eight years away from the recording studio, New York street punks The Casualties have returned with a defiant roar. Their new single, “People Over Power,” marks the band's first release via Hellcat Records and signals a renewed commitment to the fiery spirit that has defined their three-decade career.

Son Little has announced his fourth studio album Cityfolk, due for release on March 20, marking his first full-length project since 2022 and a significant new chapter in a career defined by fluidity, curiosity and deep musical heritage. Co-produced with Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes, Cityfolk is a richly layered work shaped by Southern history, personal ancestry and the enduring spirit of Muscle Shoals.

American synthwave duo The Midnight have confirmed acclaimed Australian electronic soul project Boo Seeka as the special guest for all dates of their upcoming Time Machines Australian headline tour, set to begin later this month. The tour will see The Midnight return to Australia for three shows across Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, marking their first local headline run since the release of their fifth studio album Syndicate.

SXSW Sydney has come to an abrupt end, with organisers confirming the Asia-Pacific edition of the globally recognised South By Southwest festival will not proceed in 2026 or beyond. The decision follows the withdrawal of funding by the New South Wales Government, bringing the event to a close just three years into what was originally planned as a longer-term commitment.

Black Label Society have confirmed the release of a new studio album, Engines Of Demolition, due out March 27, 2026 via Spinefarm. The record marks the band's first full length studio release since 2021's Doom Crew Inc. and arrives after several years of constant touring, writing and personal reflection for founder, guitarist and vocalist Zakk Wylde.

Dune Rats have fired the first local rock shot of 2026 with the release of their new single Shark, unveiling both the track and its accompanying video as they continue a busy start to the year on the road. The Brisbane trio are easing into the new calendar year with intent, using Shark to set the tone for what comes next while staying firmly connected to the audience that has carried them from sweaty suburban rooms to festival main stages.

There are tribute acts that faithfully recreate a catalogue, and there are those rare projects that reinterpret a body of work so convincingly it opens new cultural space around the songs themselves. GayC/DC sit firmly in the latter category. This February, the Los Angeles based outfit billed as The World's First And Only All-Gay Tribute To The Music Of AC/DC will tour Australia for the first time, bringing their high voltage celebration of rock history to six intimate venues across the country.

Byron Bay Bluesfest has unveiled a major new wave of artists for its 2026 edition, confirming Parkway Drive, Erykah Badu and The Wailers as headline additions to an already formidable bill. The announcement reinforces Bluesfest’s long held reputation for programming that spans generations, genres and cultures, united by musicianship, legacy and the power of live performance.

Fed Square will again become Melbourne's summer living room this February with the return of Open Air At The Square, a free, month-long program that places music, film and performance at the centre of the city's cultural life. Running from February 2 to February 28, 2026, the festival draws together local voices and internationally recognised artists across live music, outdoor cinema and participatory performance, transforming warm summer nights into shared experiences in the heart of Melbourne.