QMusic has launched BIGSOUND 2026, and the country’s biggest industry gathering is marking its 25th anniversary the right way: by putting more support behind the artists who make it what it is.
Running 1 to 4 September across Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, this year’s edition will for the first time give every act selected for the performing BIGSOUND 100 an expanded support package. All showcasing artists will receive travel assistance, an additional conference delegate pass and greater access to conference sessions. There is also a new QR code donation system that lets punters tip performers directly during the festival, a small change that could make a real difference to touring margins.
On top of that, partners Up Bank and Monster Children are offering BIGSOUND artists the chance to win a $20,000 cash prize to put towards touring, recording and the next stage of their careers, with five finalists performing at a dedicated showcase during the festival. The additional travel funds have been made possible by ongoing government support and philanthropic backing from the Harding Foundation, Hutchinson Builders, the Apostolos Family and the Shepherd Foundation.
This year’s conference theme, Creatives in Conversation, will dig into the ideas shaping the future of Australian music, including artist wellbeing, international export, fan engagement, AI, creative identity and the growing crossover between music, sport and live experiences.
For ALMBC members, the signal matters as much as the dollars. In a year where venues and promoters have been squeezed from every direction, the industry’s flagship event choosing to invest more in artist support, not less, sets a benchmark worth backing. Twenty five years in, BIGSOUND remains the place where the Australian live music business takes stock, does deals and finds its next headliners.
