US pop star Chappell Roan will headline the 2026 Laneway Festival in Australia and New Zealand, marking her first full tour in the region. The festival, which featured Charli xcx as headliner in 2025, continues its trend of securing major international acts.
Roan's performances will be exclusive to Laneway, including her first-ever show in New Zealand and her first Australian dates since her global breakthrough in 2024. The 27-year-old artist will present her full 90-minute production, which drew the largest crowd at Reading and Leeds Festival last month, featuring a fantasy castle stage set, an all-female band, and gothic fairytale costumes inspired by drag.
The scale of these shows contrasts sharply with her 2023 tour, when she played small venues on Australia's east coast following the release of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Hits such as 'Pink Pony Club', 'Good Luck Babe', and recent single 'The Giver' have propelled Roan from cult favourite to mainstream superstar, with headline slots at Coachella and Lollapalooza.
Joining Roan on the lineup are breakout indie group Wet Leg, London rockers Wolf Alice, bedroom pop singer Role Model, British singer PinkPantheress, and Swedish rappers Yung Lean & Bladee, all exclusive to Laneway. Other acts include Charli xcx collaborator the Dare, Lucy Dacus, Alex G, Cavetown, and Mt. Joy.
Since its debut in Melbourne's Caledonian Lane in 2005, Laneway has expanded across Australia and New Zealand, with recent headliners including Stormzy, Fred Again, and Haim. This year's lineup also features Australian acts such as Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Blusher, Shady Nasty, Armlock, The Belair Lip Bombs, and Djanaba.
The festival kicks off in Auckland on 5 February 2026, followed by dates on the Gold Coast (7 February), Sydney (8 February), Melbourne (13 February), Adelaide (14 February), and Perth (15 February). Presale registration is open, with a 24-hour presale starting at 11am AEST on 23 September, and general sales opening the next day.
