Red Hot Summer Tour 2026: Paul Kelly Lineup & Tickets

For more than four decades, Paul Kelly has been a defining voice in Australian music—and in November 2025, he takes centre stage for the Red Hot Summer Tour, an all-Australian outdoor festival hitting 16 venues across six states with supporting acts including Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, and The Cat Empire.

Official Site: redhotsummertour.com.au · Country: Australia · Featured Act: Paul Kelly · Venue Type: Outdoor · Ticket Platform: Ticketmaster

Who is playing the Red Hot Summer Tour in 2026?

Confirmed acts

Paul Kelly anchors the bill as the official headliner across all 16 shows (Red Hot Summer Tour Official). Five supporting acts round out the lineup: Missy Higgins, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers, and Jess Hitchcock. Each has confirmed their participation through official channels, with Kasey Chambers making the announcement directly on her website (Kasey Chambers Official). The tour promoter also lists the identical lineup (Face to Face Touring).

Missy Higgins brings seven ARIA Awards to the stage, with hits including “Scar,” “The Special Two,” and “Steer” (The Note). The Cruel Sea released their seventh studio album “Straight Into The Sun” earlier this year—their first new record in 23 years (The Note). The Cat Empire dropped their tenth studio album “Bird in Paradise” in March 2025 and has experienced a major resurgence in recent years (The Note).

Jess Hitchcock occupies a dual role: she joins Paul Kelly’s band and performs with her own act, introducing new music to audiences. Noise11 describes her as “Paul Kelly’s secret weapon” (Noise11).

Rumored performers

No additional performers beyond the six confirmed acts have been announced for 2026. Any acts not listed on the official site or artist-confirmed channels should be treated as unconfirmed.

The implication: with an all-star Australian bill locked in, fans can expect a curated lineup rather than an expanded roster. The risk is that demand will outpace supply at popular venues.

Is Paul Kelly touring in 2026?

Paul Kelly on Red Hot Summer Tour

Paul Kelly is confirmed as the headliner for the entire Red Hot Summer Tour 2026 (Red Hot Summer Tour Official). The tour, announced in January 2026, marks one of the most significant commitments in his touring schedule. Kelly has over four decades in Australian music, and his songs have been woven into the fabric of Australian life for more than 40 years (Noise11).

Paul Kelly will perform a career-defining set at each show, including songs from his upcoming 30th studio album “Seventy,” scheduled for release in November 2025 (The Note). This gives audiences a chance to hear new material live before the general release.

Jess Hitchcock will join Paul Kelly’s band for these performances, adding a collaborator Noise11 has called his “secret weapon” (Noise11).

What this means: Paul Kelly fans will get an exclusive preview of “Seventy” material at outdoor venues across the country—a rarity for an artist who typically focuses on theatre and festival appearances.

Who is performing at the Red Hot Summer Tour 25?

Hunter Valley NSW event

While the 2026 tour is the primary focus, the previous iteration—Red Hot Summer Tour 2025—featured its own standout performances, including events in Hunter Valley, NSW. Those shows demonstrated the tour’s model: a curated all-Australian lineup at scenic outdoor venues.

The 2026 edition builds on that tradition with expanded geographic reach and the addition of new venues in Mornington, Hervey Bay, Hillarys, and Sandstone Point (Noise11). The Hunter Valley NSW venue remains part of the 2026 schedule as well.

The pattern: each year’s edition brings fresh additions while retaining the core appeal—an outdoor setting, legendary Australian acts, and a compact, focused lineup that encourages festival-goers to catch every set.

Who is touring 2026?

2026 Gig Calendar

The Red Hot Summer Tour 2026 is one of the largest confirmed Australian touring events for 2026, with 16 shows across six states from January through May. The official tours page lists this Paul Kelly headlined tour among active events for the year (Red Hot Summer Tour Official).

Rumoured concerts

A discrepancy exists between sources regarding exact start dates. Noise11 lists the first show as Saturday 10th January 2026 in Batemans Bay NSW (Noise11), while The Note references 17th January in Warrnambool. This may reflect staggered regional announcements rather than conflicting information.

Ticketing dates also show conflicts: Noise11 indicates presale January 21 and general on-sale January 22, while The Note lists presale September 24 and general sale September 25—likely referring to the 2025 tour cycle. For the 2026 tour specifically, the January 21/22 dates appear most current.

The catch: with tour dates spread across five months, fans in some regions face long waits between announcement and their local show. Victoria has the highest concentration of dates, while Western Australia and Tasmania each receive only one confirmed date.

Red Hot Summer Tour 2026 venues

The tour covers 14 venues across six states, with regional centres getting equal billing alongside capital cities.

Regional highlights

Victoria leads with five confirmed shows, giving fans the most access. The state includes the opening Warrnambool Racecourse event on January 17 and wraps with Mornington on April 11 (Noise11). New South Wales also fields five shows, with Batemans Bay opening the tour on January 10.

Queensland receives three dates, including the final show at Sandstone Point on May 23—the latest date confirmed for the entire tour (Noise11). Hervey Bay marks a new venue for 2026.

Western Australia’s only date is Hillarys (May 9), while Tasmania’s sole show is Launceston (March 8). South Australia has one show allocated, with the specific venue pending confirmation.

The implication: for fans outside Victoria and NSW, the options are limited. A single show in WA or TAS means those audiences must travel or miss the tour entirely. Queensland fans have slightly better access with three dates spread across the state.

“Kelly, whose songs have been woven into the fabric of Australian life for more than four decades, will headline the festival.”

— Noise11 (Music News Outlet)

“Paul Kelly will headline the festival with his upcoming 30th studio album ‘Seventy’—set for release in November 2025—giving audiences an exclusive preview of new material.”

— The Note (Music Publication)

“Jess Hitchcock—her collaborations with Paul Kelly have earned her the description of his ‘secret weapon.'”

— Noise11 (Music News Outlet)

Related reading: F1 Calendar 2026

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