All-Aussie bonanza for 2026 Red Hot Summer Tour

THE line-up for epic music festival the Red Hot Summer Tour – which visits Bendigo Racecourse next March – has been announced, with an all-Aussie roster of bands sure to keep the crowd buzzing.

Beloved singer-songwriter and master storyteller Paul Kelly will headline the show, to be supported by fellow homegrown luminaries Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, The Cruel Sea, The Cat Empire and Melbourne-based First Nations singer-songwriter Jess Hitchcock.

Over forty years and across thirty albums, Paul Kelly has carved out a unique position among songwriters through the sheer range of his work, crafting songs that span from the intimate streets of St Kilda to the vast emotional landscapes of the human experience.

His legendary compositions like To Her Door and How to Make Gravy have become part of Australia’s cultural DNA.

“The band and I have many great memories from our last Red Hot Summer tour,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to making some new ones!”

Meanwhile, Higgins has blazed a trail for local female singer-songwriters with releases such as Scar, The Special Two, Steer, Everyone’s Waiting, Futon Couch and A Complicated Truth, earning 26 ARIA Award nominations and seven ARIA number ones so far in her career.

Not to mention the irrepressible Chambers, widely celebrated as one of Australia’s most exceptional live performers with her raw, emotionally charged stage presence and unmistakable voice.

During a career spanning more than two decades, she’s become a festival favourite, captivating audiences across Australia and the US with her heartfelt storytelling and genre-defying music.

The Red Hot Summer Tour 2026 takes place at Bendigo Racecourse on Saturday 14 March.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.