Great Southern Nights will return in 2026 with more than 300 gigs across hundreds of venues, reinforcing the role of live music as a key driver of visitation and nighttime economy growth across regional NSW.
Running from 1 to 17 May, the statewide program will see established and emerging Australian artists perform in intimate venues across the South Coast, regional centres and metropolitan NSW. The initiative is designed to encourage short breaks, energise town centres and support jobs across the creative, hospitality and visitor economies.
Delivered by Destination NSW in partnership with ARIA, Great Southern Nights aligns with the NSW Government’s broader strategy to build a year round calendar of cultural events that deliver economic, social and cultural benefits for communities across the state. New for 2026 is Live Fest, a series of curated single day events in Dubbo and Tamworth aimed at turning a night out into a short regional getaway.
https://www.greatsouthernnights.com.au/
Berry is adopting a similar live music led approach through its newly launched Extend the Weekend destination campaign.
Backed by $200,000 through the NSW Government’s Uptown Grant Program, Extend the Weekend is designed to encourage longer stays, lift midweek trade and reduce reliance on peak holiday periods.
At the centre of the campaign is A Day Well Spent, a four part, multi venue live music series running from February to June across country, jazz and blues, indie, funk and soul. The program focuses on lifting Thursday nights and shoulder season weekends while investing in Berry’s local creative economy through paid collaborations.
Precinct Coordinator Kate Dezarnaulds said the campaign responds to post COVID trading patterns that have become increasingly concentrated into weekends and peak periods.
“With rising costs and tighter household budgets, even one extra night can make a real difference for regional businesses,” she said. “Extend the Weekend is about supporting Berry beyond the peaks.”
The series will launch with a country themed weekend in February, headlined by award winning New Zealand artist Jenny Mitchell and modern country rock act Jacob Fitzgerald & The Electric City, alongside local and regional performers.
As Great Southern Nights continues to build momentum statewide, Berry’s Extend the Weekend campaign highlights how smaller destinations are applying the same live music strategies at a local level to strengthen visitation, support businesses and build long term resilience.
