AO 2026 Drops a Festival-Worthy Line-Up with Kid LAROI, Peggy Gou and More
If you thought the Australian Open was only about tennis, think again. Melbourne’s biggest summer party just got a massive upgrade. AO LIVE Presents is back in 2026 and it’s blowing out to five nights of headline gigs inside John Cain Arena. Think world-class rallies by day, arena-sized bangers by night.
From Wednesday 28 January through Sunday 1 February, the AO will double as Melbourne’s hottest music festival. On the bill: The Kid LAROI, Spacey Jane, The Veronicas, SOFI TUKKER and Peggy Gou, with more names still to come. Tennis whites optional, dancing shoes essential.
Opening serve: The Kid LAROI
Australia’s hip-hop export returns home for an exclusive show to kick things off. The Kid LAROI has gone from Sydney teen with a dream to topping the Billboard Hot 100 with Justin Bieber and Juice WRLD. He’s now one of the most streamed artists on the planet, and AO fans will get first dibs on his 2026 set.
Indie anthems and arena sing-alongs
Thursday night belongs to Spacey Jane. Perth’s indie rockers have made a habit of selling out tours, topping ARIA charts, and dominating Triple J’s Hottest 100. With their latest album If That Makes Sense dropping earlier this year, expect a fresh batch of festival-ready tracks to echo through John Cain Arena.
Pride takes the spotlight
Friday 30 January is AO Pride Day and it’s going off with The Veronicas and SOFI TUKKER. The Origliasso sisters will bring their catalogue of iconic hits, including Untouched (voted number three in Triple J’s greatest Aussie tracks of all time). Add in SOFI TUKKER’s high-voltage live set and you’ve got a night that’s pure chaos in the best way.
Game, set, Gou
Closing out the series before the men’s final is Peggy Gou. The Korean-born DJ has gone from underground house sets to global icon status, soundtracking festivals everywhere with her tracks Starry Night and It Goes Like (Nanana). If anyone knows how to turn an arena into a dancefloor, it’s her.
AO: now a 21-day party
Outside the arena, the AO is turning into a precinct-wide playground. Grand Slam Oval will have live music every night of Opening Week for the first time. Garden Square gets acoustic sessions, while Melbourne DJs will spin under the summer skies. Ground passes start from just $10, and AO LIVE Presents tickets kick off at $99, including a full day inside the AO.
With Untitled Group — the team behind Beyond The Valley — programming the music, AO 2026 is set to feel less like a sporting event and more like Melbourne’s ultimate summer festival. The only question: are you here for the tie-break, the encore, or both?
Tickets go on sale midday Tuesday 14 October 2025 via Ticketmaster.
If you thought the Australian Open was only about tennis, think again. Melbourne’s biggest summer party just got a massive upgrade. AO LIVE Presents is back in 2026 and it’s blowing out to five nights of headline gigs inside John Cain Arena. Think world-class rallies by day, arena-sized bangers by night.
