Concerts in Melbourne: April 2026
Concerts in Melbourne This April
April 2026 is a dense month for live music in Melbourne, covering more ground than any single genre or venue tier can contain. The arena circuit at Melbourne Park runs almost nightly through the first half of the month, with Rod Laver Arena hosting six separate touring acts across eleven days. Jack Johnson plays Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The theatre and mid-size circuit is equally loaded; Forum Melbourne, Palais Theatre, 170 Russell, and Festival Hall all have multiple bookings. The club circuit at Brown Alley and PICA keeps the electronic side covered, while Ultra Australia returns to Flemington Racecourse on Easter Saturday and Ability Fest takes over The Timber Yard the same day.
Here is every confirmed gig worth knowing about, organised by venue size, with ticket details where available.
Arena and Stadium Shows
April's arena schedule is concentrated in two bursts: a run of back-to-back shows from 8 to 12 April, and Mumford & Sons closing out the month on 24 and 25 April. All arena shows listed below are at Rod Laver Arena unless otherwise noted, with tickets sold through Ticketek.
A Day to Remember and Papa Roach
Wednesday 8 April | Rod Laver Arena | From $189.90 | Ticketek
The Big Rock Tour co-headline pairs A Day to Remember, touring behind their 2025 album Big Ole Album Vol. 1, with Papa Roach, who are marking 30 years as a band. French metalcore act Landmvrks open. The Melbourne date is the third of six arena shows across Australia and New Zealand.
Jimmy Barnes
Thursday 9 and Friday 10 April | Rod Laver Arena | From $129.90 | Ticketek
Two nights celebrating 40 years of Working Class Man. Barnes has been doing anniversary tours for his catalogue for years now, but 40 is a round enough number to justify the arena treatment. Expect the full band and a setlist leaning heavily on the solo material that made him a household name.
mgk
Saturday 11 April | Rod Laver Arena | From $129.90 | Ticketek
Machine Gun Kelly brings the Lost Americana Tour to Melbourne in support of his seventh studio album, lost americana. The album leans back toward the pop-punk and alt-rock territory of Tickets to My Downfall after a period of genre-hopping. VIP packages are available through the Ticketek listing.
Pierce the Veil
Sunday 12 April | Rod Laver Arena | From $109.90 | Ticketek
The I Can't Hear You World Tour reaches Melbourne after dates in Brisbane, Sydney, and a second Sydney show. Movements and Jack Kays support. Pierce the Veil have not toured Australia in nearly a decade, and the Rod Laver Arena booking represents a significant step up from their previous venue sizes in this market. Tickets are sold via Ticketmaster.
Mumford & Sons
Friday 24 and Saturday 25 April | Rod Laver Arena | From $100.90 | Ticketek
Two nights on the Prizefighter Tour, supporting the band's sixth studio album of the same name, co-produced with Aaron Dessner of The National. The album features collaborations with Hozier, Chris Stapleton, and Gracie Abrams. Melbourne's Folk Bitch Trio support on both nights. A second Melbourne date was added after the first sold through presale allocation. The band played a sold-out one-off at Sydney Opera House in March; these are their only other Australian dates before heading to Brisbane and Sydney.
Large Venue and Theatre Shows
Erykah Badu
Wednesday 1 April | Margaret Court Arena | Ticketek
Her first Australian show in 14 years. Badu's live set, currently titled Walk Between Worlds, is built on improvisation; she structures each performance around the room and the audience rather than running a fixed setlist. The Melbourne date opens her Australian run, with Bluesfest and a Sydney sideshow to follow. Five-time Grammy winner. If you know, you know; if you do not, this is a good place to start.
Sublime (with Skegss)
Wednesday 1 April | Festival Hall | Ticketek
The reformed version of the Long Beach ska-punk band, touring with Australian surf-rock outfit Skegss as support. Festival Hall's standing-room floor suits this bill; expect a hot, sweaty room.
Counting Crows
Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 April | Palais Theatre | Ticketmaster
Two nights at the Palais on the Complete Sweets! Tour. The band are touring their catalogue in full rather than promoting a new record. Palais Theatre's seated format and acoustics work well for acts in this mode.
The Black Crowes
Thursday 2 and Friday 3 April | Forum Melbourne | Ticketmaster
Two Forum nights. The Robinson brothers continue touring the band's back catalogue. Forum Melbourne's ornate Moorish interior and mid-size capacity suit The Black Crowes' blues-rock energy better than an arena setting.
Boney M
Saturday 4 April | Forum Melbourne
The disco and Eurodance act play one Forum show. If you need to hear "Rasputin" live in a room with a painted ceiling, this is the date.
Buddy Guy
Monday 6 April | Palais Theatre | Ticketmaster
The 89-year-old Chicago blues guitarist plays the Palais. At his age, every tour could plausibly be his last, and he has been saying as much for several years now. Still playing at a level that justifies the ticket price.
Earth, Wind & Fire
Wednesday 8 April | Plenary, MCEC | Ticketmaster
Their first Australian shows since 2012. The Melbourne date at the Plenary (Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre) follows a Bluesfest headline set and a Sydney sideshow. The Plenary holds around 5,500 and is not a venue that hosts concerts regularly, which gives this one a slightly unusual atmosphere. Expect the full catalogue: "September," "Boogie Wonderland," "Let's Groove," and the rest.
Sleaford Mods
Tuesday 14 April | Forum Melbourne | Sold out
The Nottingham post-punk duo return to Australia for the first time since 2023. Jason Williamson's deadpan delivery over Andrew Fearn's minimalist beats is one of the more distinctive live propositions in contemporary music. Sex Mask support. This one sold out; check authorised resale if you missed it.
Kerser
Saturday 18 April | Festival Hall
The biggest independent hip-hop booking of the month. Kerser has built a significant audience almost entirely outside the traditional music industry pipeline, and the Festival Hall scale reflects that. The High Demand Tour is an accurate name for an artist who consistently fills rooms without mainstream press coverage.
Jack Johnson
Friday 24 April | Sidney Myer Music Bowl
A daytime outdoor show at the Bowl on the same day Mumford & Sons open at Rod Laver Arena. Johnson's acoustic surf-rock catalogue is well suited to the Music Bowl's open-air setting, and an April afternoon in Melbourne is a reasonable bet for weather. One of the larger bookings of the month by venue capacity.
Baxter Dury
Tuesday 28 April | Forum Melbourne
The English singer-songwriter, son of Ian Dury, brings his deadpan post-punk to the Forum. A niche booking that rewards anyone with a taste for wry, character-driven songwriting.
Festivals
Ultra Australia
Saturday 11 April | Flemington Racecourse
The electronic music festival returns to Flemington for its seventh year. The 2026 lineup is headlined by Zedd, The Chainsmokers, and DJ Snake, with Oliver Heldens, Darren Styles, Miss Monique, MaRLo, and Nico Moreno also on the bill. Melbourne gets the Saturday; Gold Coast takes the Sunday. Tickets via the Ultra Australia website.
Ability Fest
Saturday 11 April | The Timber Yard
The Dylan Alcott Foundation's all-electronic festival returns with PNAU, Logic1000, Kito, and Ollie Lishman on the bill. 18+ event. Ability Fest's accessibility-first design makes it one of the more thoughtfully produced festival events in the city.
Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers
Saturday 11 April | Mornington Racecourse
A stacked outdoor bill of Australian artists at Mornington Racecourse, about an hour south of the CBD. Paul Kelly headlining an outdoor show on the Mornington Peninsula in April is close to a platonic ideal of a Melbourne autumn gig. Jess Hitchcock also performs. Worth the drive.
Melbourne Salsa Festival (with Grupo Niche)
Friday 10 April | The Timber Yard | Humanitix
Multiple Latin Grammy winners Grupo Niche headline the Melbourne Salsa Festival, direct from Colombia. This is the only notable Latin music event of the month, and Grupo Niche are not an act that tours Australia regularly. If you have even a passing interest in salsa, this is a rare booking.
Glitch Festival
Saturday 18 April | PICA | Sold out
The Maltese techno festival's second Melbourne edition at PICA, booked through Untitled Group. DJ AYA, Funk Tribu, Lammer, MIJA, and Upper90 are on the lineup. Already sold out.
Electric Island Melbourne
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April | Riviera Beach Club, St Kilda
A two-day beachside electronic festival running the same weekend as Glitch and Sunbury, but in a very different setting. Saturday's lineup is headlined by Armand van Helden and Flight Facilities (DJ set), with Eats Everything, Tyson O'Brien, and Mike Steva. Sunday brings Above & Beyond, Cristoph B2B Jeremy Olander, Eli & Fur, Rromarin, and Amity. The St Kilda location gives this one an outdoor, waterfront atmosphere that separates it from the warehouse-and-racecourse options elsewhere on the calendar. One of the strongest electronic lineups of the month.
Sunbury Music Festival
Saturday 18 April | Sunbury
A revival of the historic Sunbury festival format, located about 40 minutes northwest of the CBD. Rogue Traders are among the confirmed acts. Details are still emerging; check the festival website for the full lineup as it is announced.
Sonder Music & Arts Festival
Friday 3 to Monday 6 April | Tallarook
A boutique electronic and arts festival about 90 minutes north of Melbourne. Multi-day camping event with a focus on underground electronic acts. Not a metropolitan show, but close enough to Melbourne that it draws a significant city crowd over the Easter long weekend.
Small and Mid-Size Venue Shows
The Wailers
Wednesday 1 April | 170 Russell
The legacy reggae act carry on Bob Marley's catalogue at 170 Russell. A solid mid-week option for anyone who wants to hear the songs played by musicians who were there.
Jerry Harrison (of Talking Heads)
Wednesday 1 April | Forum Melbourne
The Talking Heads keyboardist and guitarist performs. Not a Talking Heads reunion, but an opportunity to hear material from one of the most influential bands of the late twentieth century, played by one of its members.
Le Youth
Thursday 2 April | Brown Alley
The American deep house and melodic house producer plays Brown Alley on his "who are you really" tour. Brown Alley's basement layout and sound system are a natural fit for this kind of electronic set.
nimino
Friday 3 April | 170 Russell | Ticketmaster
The Spring Tour 2026 stop at 170 Russell. nimino has been building a following through a run of EPs and festival slots; the 170 Russell booking is a good indicator of where their audience sits.
stavroz
Friday 3 April | Northcote Theatre
The Belgian electronic collective play Northcote Theatre. Known for organic, melodic house and downtempo material. The Northcote Theatre's intimate setting suits their sound.
ZHU
Sunday 5 April | 170 Russell | Ticketmaster
The anonymous(ish) electronic producer plays a club show at 170 Russell. His blend of deep house, electronica, and R&B works well in a dark room with a good sound system.
Aaryan Shah
Saturday 4 April | Northcote Social Club
The Australian artist plays the Northcote Social Club. A smaller room show worth catching early in the month.
Bic Runga
Thursday 9 April | Northcote Theatre
The New Zealand singer-songwriter plays Northcote Theatre. A quiet, mid-week option for fans of Drive and Sway-era Bic Runga.
Odeal
Thursday 16 April | 170 Russell
The Shows That Saved Us Tour. Odeal brings R&B, Afro, and Alte influences to 170 Russell, filling a gap in the month's schedule alongside Erykah Badu at the soulful end of things. One of the more interesting mid-month bookings for anyone tracking what is happening in contemporary R&B.
Ollie Lishman
Friday 17 April | 170 Russell
The rising electronic producer plays 170 Russell in an Untitled Group booking. Lishman also appears at Ability Fest the previous weekend; this is the standalone club set.
Shortround
Friday 17 April | Brown Alley
A two-hour visual live show titled Subconscious. Brown Alley's dark, contained space works for this kind of immersive electronic performance.
Baker Boy
Saturday 18 April | Northcote Theatre
The Djandjay Tour. Baker Boy blends hip-hop, punk, gospel, and electronic production with lyrics in both Yolngu Matha and English, and has grown his audience steadily since winning the National Indigenous Music Awards in 2019. The Northcote Theatre is the right size for this tour; the album DJANDJAY represents his most ambitious release to date. A second hip-hop entry for the month alongside Kerser at Festival Hall, and a very different proposition.
nothing, nowhere.
Saturday 19 April | 170 Russell
The Return of the Reaper Tour. nothing, nowhere. occupies a space between emo, rap, and post-hardcore that does not have many direct comparisons. sace6 and Closure support. A 170 Russell crowd will know the words.
Hands Like Houses
Friday 24 April | 170 Russell
The Canberra post-hardcore band play 170 Russell. A more intimate setting than their arena-support days.
Memphis May Fire and Blessthefall
Friday 24 April | Northcote Theatre
A metalcore double bill at the Northcote Theatre on the same night Mumford & Sons open their run at Rod Laver Arena. Two very different options for a Friday night.
Maxïmo Park
Saturday 25 April | 170 Russell
The Newcastle (UK) indie rock band play 170 Russell. They have not released a record in a few years, but Apply Some Pressure still lands in a room this size.
Teletech
Saturday 25 April | PICA
The touring hard techno brand brings Cloudy, Kobosil, Novah, and Prada2000 to PICA on Anzac Day. A late-night option for anyone who wants their long weekend to feel appropriately relentless.
Helmet
Sunday 26 April | Northcote Theatre
Helmet headline the Betty Fest at Northcote Theatre, with Civic and chimers supporting. If you know their 1992 album Meantime, you know what to expect: dense, rhythmically precise post-hardcore.
Harvey Sutherland
Saturday 25 April | Fairfield Amphitheatre
The Melbourne-based electronic and disco producer plays the Fairfield Amphitheatre. A local artist in an outdoor setting on Anzac Day; a relaxed option for the long weekend.
Practical Notes
Transport to Rod Laver Arena: Melbourne Park is a short walk from Richmond or Flinders Street stations. Trams run along Swan Street and Batman Avenue. If you are driving, pre-book parking via the Melbourne Park website; the Eastern Plaza car park fills up on concert nights and drive-up availability is not guaranteed. Rideshare pickup points are on Olympic Boulevard.
Sidney Myer Music Bowl: In the Kings Domain gardens, accessible from the CBD via St Kilda Road trams (routes 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72). A short walk from Flinders Street Station through the parklands. No dedicated parking on site.
Palais Theatre and Forum Melbourne: The Palais is in St Kilda, accessible via tram routes 16 and 96. Forum Melbourne is on Flinders Street in the CBD, directly opposite Flinders Street Station. Neither venue has dedicated parking; public transport is the practical option.
Riviera Beach Club (Electric Island): On the St Kilda foreshore. Accessible via tram route 96 to the Acland Street stop. Same area as the Palais, so the same transport advice applies.
Festival Hall: On Dudley Street in West Melbourne, about a ten-minute walk from Flagstaff or Southern Cross stations. Street parking is limited on event nights.
170 Russell and Brown Alley: Both are in the CBD. 170 Russell is on Russell Street between Bourke and Little Collins. Brown Alley is on King Street. Walking distance from multiple tram routes and Flinders Street or Melbourne Central stations.
PICA (Port Melbourne Industrial Centre of the Arts): In Port Melbourne's industrial precinct. Limited public transport options; the 109 tram to Port Melbourne is the closest route, with a short walk from the stop. Rideshare or driving is more practical for late-night finishes.
The Timber Yard: In Port Melbourne on Plumber Street. Similar transport situation to PICA. Plan your exit before you arrive; this area empties out after events and rideshare wait times can climb.
Flemington Racecourse (Ultra Australia): Accessible via the Flemington Racecourse train station on the Craigieburn or Sunbury lines. Expect crowded trains on the return journey; allow extra time.
Earplugs: Bring them to every show. Flat-attenuation musician's earplugs cost $20 to $40 and reduce volume without destroying the sound. Your ears will thank you in 20 years.
Ticket platforms: Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena shows generally sell through Ticketek. Forum Melbourne, Palais Theatre, and 170 Russell shows often sell through Ticketmaster or Moshtix. Untitled Group events (PICA, some club shows) sell through their own platform. Always check the venue or artist's official website for the authorised seller before buying from a third-party resale platform.
Muse can help you find people going to the same shows this month.
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