Pictured: Márk Bóna - Sziget Festival (Hungary), Christie Medina-Gonzalez - Hellfest (FR), Carole Ann Vetter - Low Profile Sync Agency (US), Nigel House - Rough Trade Record Stores (UK) & Mariana Timony - Bandcamp (US).

BIGSOUND go big for first round of international guests

It's the showcase that places you right in front of the music industry's biggest figureheads and labels.

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley is set to ignite once again as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest music industry event, BIGSOUND, returns from 1 to 4 September 2026. Kicking off its 25th year, the iconic festival and conference promises four days of dazzling showcases, career-defining conversations, and unparalleled industry connections, now with its first wave of international guests confirmed.

BIGSOUND 2026

When: 1 – 4 September 2026

Where: Fortitude Valley Brisbane, QLD

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Representatives from across the globe including Rough Trade Record Stores (UK), Bandcamp (US), Hellfest (FR), Low Profile Sync Agency (US), and Sziget Festival (Hungary) will descend on Brisbane, setting the tone for a 2026 delegation that reads like a dream itinerary for Australian and New Zealand artists. The full roster also includes ROAM Artists (UK), Reeperbahn (GER), DMT Law Firm (US), Carpark Records (US), The Great Escape (UK), True Panther (US), and SXSW (US).

Alongside the conference, BIGSOUND 2026 will showcase the BIGSOUND 100, a curated selection of the most exciting emerging artists from Australia and New Zealand ready to take advantage of the festival’s Artist Hub, Content House, tailored meetings, mentoring, and performance opportunities. Artist applications have now been extended until 11.59pm on Tuesday 7 April 2026, with the official program set to be revealed in the coming months.

Global Industry Heavyweights Touch Down

• Nigel House, Rough Trade Retail (UK): The driving force behind one of the world’s most influential independent record stores, House brings decades of expertise in artist discovery and fan engagement, having supported acts such as Geese and Courtney Barnett.

• Mariana Timony, Bandcamp Daily (US): As Senior Editor, Timony will capture the heart of Brisbane’s music scene in a dedicated Scene Report, spotlighting the city’s most promising talent.

• Christie Medina-Gonzalez, Hellfest (FR): Representing one of the world’s leading heavy music festivals, Medina-Gonzalez oversees line-ups that blend global headliners with breakthrough emerging acts across six colossal stages.

• Carole Ann Vetter, Low Profile (US): Brooklyn-based and female-run, Low Profile connects culturally relevant artists with powerhouse brands including Nike, Apple, and Netflix through strategic sync campaigns in film, TV, and advertising.

• Márk Bóna, Sziget Festival (HU): A long-time booker and event manager, Bóna shapes the programming of one of Europe’s most internationally celebrated festivals, curating diverse multi-genre line-ups that attract audiences from around the world.

Joining these industry luminaries are David Telfer (DMT Law Firm, US), Christina Austin (Cobra, UK), Kelley Lin (True Panther, US), Lucy Atkinson (ROAM Artists, UK), Steph Salas (Carpark Records, US), alongside festival heavyweights Reeperbahn (GER), SXSW (US), and The Great Escape (UK).

QMusic and BIGSOUND CEO Kris Stewart emphasises: “Each year, alongside our Conference Curators Cathy Oates and Niriko McLure, our commitment is to bring global music industry decision makers to Brisbane. We want people to leave BIGSOUND with relationships that support them across their entire career.”

Returning favourites such as Roundtables, Conversation Corners, Artist Hub, Content House, Delegate Hub, and Goolwal Goolwal (the Yagara-language First Nations-led program blending free cultural experiences with music) will be joined by an expanded technology and partner showcase in 2026.

Celebrating 25 years, BIGSOUND is where the music industry does business. Fortitude Valley, Magandjin (Brisbane) transforms into a four-day hub of discovery, deals, and development, launching careers of artists including Flume, Tash Sultana, Tones and I, and Courtney Barnett. It is a cultural pilgrimage, part showcase, part conference, and part celebration of Australian music’s global footprint.

The full program will be unveiled in July, with early bird tickets on sale in May.

Fans and industry members can subscribe now at www.bigsound.org.au/subscribe to be first in line.