The Red Hot Summer Tour is back in 2026 with an all-Australian line-up, headlined by one of the nation’s most enduring songwriters, Paul Kelly. The outdoor festival series will feature Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers and Jess Hitchcock alongside the legendary musician, and in Victoria will come to Warrnambool, Werribee, Wodonga and Bendigo.
Kelly, whose career spans more than four decades and 30 albums, said he is looking forward to returning to the tour. “The band and I have many great memories from our last Red Hot Summer tour. We’re looking forward to making some new ones!” he said.
Known for classics including To Her Door, Deeper Water and How to Make Gravy, Kelly continues to release new work, with 2024’s Fever Longing Still and the forthcoming SEVENTY showing his enduring creative force. His latest song, Rita Wrote A Letter, revisits characters from How to Make Gravy, offering a fresh perspective nearly 30 years later.
Joining Kelly is ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Missy Higgins, who recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her chart-topping debut with The Second Act, which also reached number one on release. Fans can also expect hits like Scar and The Special Two.
The Cruel Sea return after decades of acclaim with their genre-blurring sound and new material following their first original album in 23 years. Festival favourites The Cat Empire, now with a refreshed line-up, will bring their trademark high-energy performances, while Kasey Chambers and powerhouse vocalist Jess Hitchcock round out the bill.
Red Hot Summer Tour tickets are available on presale from 9am on Wednesday 24 September and general on-sale is from 9am on Thursday 25 September via Ticketmaster.
Red Hot Summer Tour 2026
- Saturday 17 January – Warrnambool Racecourse, Warrnambool, VIC
- Saturday 24 January – Speers Point Park, Lake Macquarie, NSW
- Saturday 31 January – Westport Park, Port Macquarie, NSW
- Sunday 1 February – Broadwater Parklands, Southport, QLD
- Sunday 8 February – Werribee Park, Werribee South, VIC
- Saturday 14 February – Berry Showground, Berry, NSW
- Sunday 15 February – Bella Vista Farm, Bella Vista, NSW
- Saturday 28 February – Gateway Lakes, Wodonga, VIC
- Sunday 8 March – Launceston Country Club, Launceston, TAS
- Saturday 14 March – Bendigo Racecourse, Bendigo, VIC
- Saturday 21 March – Kent Reserve, Victor Harbor, SA
