ARTIST IN CONVERSATIONS LINEUP ANNOUNCED AND NEW WAVE OF INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY GUESTS
BIGSOUND 2026 CONFIRMS JULIA JACKLIN, TRIALS AND KING GIZZARD FOR ARTIST IN CONVERSATIONS PLUS NEW WAVE OF INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY GUESTS
- International guests confirmed for BIGSOUND 2026 – Partisan Records, Pitchfork, Bonnaroo, Soho House, MOM+POP (US), ROAM Artists (UK), Reeperbahn Festival (GER), DMT Law Firm (US), Carpark Records (US), The Great Escape (UK), True Panther (US) and SXSW (US)
- Artist In Conversations confirmed - Stu Mackenzie and Lucas Harwood (King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard), Julia Jacklin, and trials
- Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now, Delegate Tickets from $699 - visit bigsound.org.au to take advantage, early bird offer ends Monday, 30 June 2026
Magandjin (Brisbane), Queensland - BIGSOUND is excited to announce esteemed international industry guests, as well as its first wave of Artist In Conversation for their 25th anniversary edition this September 1-4, 2026.
This year, BIGSOUND is focused on delivering more opportunities for delegates to connect directly with the global market, with an expanded focus on facilitated networking, conversations and meetings throughout the week. With more networking events than ever before, this year’s BIGSOUND aims to nurture meaningful connections, with the return of our roundtables, conversation corners, curated meetings, and bigger-better mixers. BIGSOUND is excited to bring an expertly curated and diverse program of networking events, panels and discussions to connect Australian artists and industry with international delegates; ranging from festivals, labels, sync, media, agents and more.
Bringing over a decade of experience from a massive career as part of one of Australia’s most prolific rock groups, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, delegates will have the chance to hear from Stu Mackenzie and Lucas Harwood as they reflect on their career. Taking the BIGSOUND stage in 2013, this Melbourne band caught the attention of punters and music industry alike, building momentum before catapulting into a career filled with a ton of music, massive wins and everything in between. With over 25 albums to their name, this globally known collective has remained steadfast in their creative vision and approach to art, leading them into the overseas market and becoming one of the most important bands of their generation.
Acclaimed songwriter and musician, Julia Jacklin also joins the BIGSOUND Artist in Conversation lineup; the multi ARIA Award nominee whose catalogue of striking alt-pop and indie music has won her a global audience made her first appearance at BIGSOUND in 2016 - just ahead of the release of her seminal debut album Don’t Let The Kids Win. Jacklin has become one of Australia’s finest songwriters and performers, known as a master of emotional storytelling - most recently evidenced on her ARIA-nominated album PRE PLEASURE. Jacklin has proven time and again her enduring talent, and has taken it to the world. In 2026, Jacklin returns to international stages, having signed her first-ever global record deal with 4AD, marking an exciting new chapter for the artist.
Award-winning Ngarrindjeri hip hop producer, composer and innovator, trials has been a driving force behind some of Australia’s most important projects. With funkoars, one of Australian hip hop’s most respected groups, and then with A.B. ORIGINAL, his powerful project with Yorta Yorta artist Briggs, trials is one of the country’s most important creatives. In 2026, trials has stepped out into the solo spotlight, releasing his long-awaited debut album hendle to widespread acclaim.
Included in today’s international guest announcement:
Partisan Records - Chris Fraser (Head of A&R): joined Partisan in May 2025, working closely with label founder Tim Putnam in overseeing the current and future roster, helping to bring their creative vision to life. With offices in New York, London and Los Angeles, Partisan has signed Geese/Cameron Winter as well as Blondshell, and works with artists including IDLES, Cigarettes After Sex, PJ Harvey, Ezra Collective and Laura Marling; as well as launching the career of Fontaines D.C.
Pitchfork - Nina Corcoran (Associate Staff Writer): Chicago-based, joined the staff team in 2021 after contributing to the website since 2015. She’s also written for Rolling Stone, Wired, and Stereogum, and was previously the music editor of alt-weekly newspaper, DigBoston.
Bonnaroo - Bryan Benson (Music Exec, Talent Buyer): Bryan Benson is a live music executive and talent buyer helping book and curate lineups for major festivals including Bonnaroo, Boston Calling, Railbird and High Water. Benson is also the Lead Buyer for Live Nation in Nashville, where he oversees bookings for venues across the city, including Bridgestone Arena, Ryman Auditorium, FirstBank Amphitheatre, Ascend Amphitheatre, and Live Nation’s new iconic room, The Truth.
Mom+Pop Music – Thaddeus Rudd (Co-Owner): Thaddeus Rudd co-owns New York-based independent Mom+Pop Music alongside Michael Goldstone. With a roster spanning Magdalena Bay, Porter Robinson, Courtney Barnett, MGMT and Underscores, and a back catalogue including Flume and Tash Sultana to name a few, Mom+Pop is an independent label force to be reckoned with.
Soho House London - Jessica Moss (Music Programming): Jessica Moss leads music programming at Soho House London, with over 100 events a month across the UK and Europe, working with a huge range of artists and genres from Skepta and the Wu-Tang Clan, to Honey Dijon, KAYTRANADA and Nubya Garcia.
Also included on today’s announcement, are representatives from some of the world’s most recognisable music festivals such as Director of SXSW Music, Dev Sherlock; Marie Robinson from The Great Escape; artist booker for MOJO in the Netherlands, Puck Stoelinga; Yuta Nomura, founder and organiser of CUEW Showcase & Conference in Shibuya, Tokyo, as well as the ONE MUSIC CAMP and ARIUFUJI Weekenders in Japan.
International label delegates announced for BIGSOUND today also include TBA Agency festivals agent Kyle Kernohan; BBC Radio 1 presenter and DJ Tara Kumar, and two representatives from India: Rafael Pereira from India International Music Week and Roydon Bangera from Skillbox.
"BIGSOUND has always been a place where real connections happen, and this year we’re focused on creating even more opportunities for Australian and New Zealand artists and industry to connect with each other and the global market. The program focuses on the conversations the industry is having right now - how the business is changing, how we stay ahead, and how Australian and New Zealand artists continue to grow on the global stage.” - Kristy Ellis, Interim CEO, QMusic
BIGSOUND 2026 will again feature the popular Roundtables, Conversation Corners, Artist Hub, Content House, Delegate Hub, and Goolwal Goolwal, (Yagara language for BIGSOUND) - BIGSOUND’s First Nations-led program bringing free cultural experiences by day and deadly tunes by night. Alongside these crowd favourites an expanded technology and partner showcase program will be launched in the coming months.
The full BIGSOUND program will launch in July, with Early Bird tickets on sale now - make sure you are subscribed and staying tuned to all official updates.
BIGSOUND is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Education; and the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts funding and advisory body.
About BIGSOUND
The biggest week in Australian music and largest music industry event in the Southern Hemisphere, BIGSOUND has been where the music industry does business for 25 years. Held annually in the sacred home and beating heart of Australia’s Live music scene - Fortitude Valley, Magandjin (Brisbane), BIGSOUND is four days and three nights of showcases, development, conversations and connections.
BIGSOUND is the place where managers find their next act, agents close touring deals, labels discover the artists that define the next generation, and where introductions made over a drink at the Artist Hub become the partnerships that shape careers. Part showcase, part conference, part pilgrimage for the Australian music industry and its global peers - BIGSOUND is a cultural moment that has helped launched and propelled the careers of artists including Flume, Tash Sultana, Tones and I, and Courtney Barnettt, and continues to attract the international music industry to Brisbane each September.
BIGSOUND 2026 | 1–4 September, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Tickets on sale May 2026.
About QMusic
QMusic is the not-for-profit music industry peak body and development association for Queensland. The work of QMusic is critical to the success and development of Queensland’s music economy. It is the only significant and established not-for-profit organisation in Queensland dedicated to delivering sector and talent development, and recognition and capacity building initiatives including Industry Connect, the QMAs, and BIGSOUND.
