Live Nation named Presenting Partner of BIGSOUND 2026
The confirmation for this year builds on a five-year partnership between Live Nation and BIGSOUND.
Live Nation has been named an official Presenting Partner of BIGSOUND 2026, marking the touring giant's largest presence yet at the Brisbane music conference and showcase.
The confirmation for this year builds on a five-year partnership between Live Nation and BIGSOUND, and will see the company bring staff and programs from across its business to four days of panels, industry conversations, artist development initiatives and live showcases in Fortitude Valley from Tuesday 1 September to Thursday 3 September 2026.
"BIGSOUND is where the next wave of Australian and New Zealand artists, ideas and industry relationships start to take shape," said Jackie Antas, Senior Vice President, Communications, Live Nation Australia and New Zealand.
"Having consistently partnered with BIGSOUND for the past five years, we've seen the value of showing up with practical support - not just visibility.
"As Presenting Partner, we're bringing more of our people, programs and global perspective to the week, creating opportunities for artists and useful conversations for the wider industry."
"We're excited to be back in the Valley for our favourite time of the year, and part of what comes next," Antas concluded.
What's on the schedule
Live Nation staff will take part in panels, roundtables and dedicated sessions spanning global touring, artist development, marketing, festivals and career pathways across the conference.
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On Tuesday 1 September, from 3 pm to 3:45 pm at The Outpost, Live Nation's Hans Schafer, Senior Vice President of Global Touring, will join a panel on the global rise of Latin music, drawing on his work with Bad Bunny.
Wednesday 2 September brings a session at the BrewDog Artist Hub from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, where Live Nation's Next On program hosts a conversation between Emily Taylor of Live Nation, Immy Rennie of Ivy Music Group and Callum Grady of Cult Artists on artists' experiences with the program.
A mixer connecting developing artists and managers with the Next On booking team follows.
Next On offers developing artists rent-free venue access, production and marketing support and covered ticketing fees, while artists keep 100% of ticket and merchandise revenue.
On Thursday 3 September, Live Nation will host a Conversation Corner at Content House (The Magee Pub & Dining) from 10 am to 10:55 am, giving delegates the chance to meet Live Nation and Ticketmaster representatives about careers in live music.
That afternoon, from 2 pm to 2:45 pm at the same venue, Live Nation's Ellie Glaves, Digital Marketing Director, joins marketing leaders from Laneway Festival, Concord Music and Meta to discuss music marketing.
Live Nation promoter Paul Lynch will then join the Agents & Festivals Roundtable at Fortitude Music Hall from 4 pm to 5 pm.
Artist development showcase
Live Nation's ONES TO WATCH Backed By American Apparel® returns to BIGSOUND on Thursday 3 September from 5 pm to 7 pm at The Outpost, with performances from Holly Hebe, Eli Wan and Jem Cassar-Daley.
The showcase continues the program's focus on putting developing artists in front of new audiences and the wider industry.
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