Australian Albums: The Weeknd ‘Starboy’ Debuts At No 1

Anthony Albanese's tribute to Dolly Parton following her death has recalled a remarkable chapter in Australian touring history, when the then Federal Transport Minister intervened to prevent Parton's 2011 Australian tour from being cancelled over the size and configuration of her American tour buses.

The comedian, actor, writer and director will bring his new Hypothetical stand-up show to Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in September and October.

AXS will become the official ticketing partner for Sydney's Hordern Pavilion from 10 August 2026, expanding the company's Australian footprint while introducing its mobile ticketing and fan management platform to one of the country's best known live music venues.

New Zealand actor Sam Neill, whose career spanned five decades across cinema, television and Australian productions, has died in Sydney at the age of 78, leaving behind one of the most respected acting legacies in the Southern Hemisphere and beyond.

British author, comedian and former doctor Adam Kay will return to Australia this summer with his live stage production Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas Live, bringing his bestselling medical memoirs and festive stories to audiences across seven cities.

Rapper Eminem has lost a key round in an Australian trademark dispute after Sydney beachwear company Swim Shady successfully challenged the scope of his "Shady" trademarks in Australia.

by Paul Cashmere The cost of seeing live music has transformed dramatically over the past four decades, with arena and stadium concert ticket prices now outpacing inflation at a rate few other entertainment sectors can match. In the mid-1980s, a major concert ticket typically cost between $12 and $15. In 2026, premium tickets for the world's biggest tours regularly exceed $500, while VIP packages can stretch beyond $1,000. The shift has fundamentally changed not only the economics of touring, but also the behaviour of audiences in Australia, North America and Europe.