Cueing up 2026: What NYE does to dance floors

With each year, promotion for New Year’s plans creeps earlier as the summer seems to get longer. Who is playing as the clock strikes midnight, where you are, and the people you’re with, is a moment that, for better or for worse, can define the year for many people.

But how does that kind of pressure feel for the artists on stage?

Depending on where you stand emotionally, playing on New Year's could either be the most incredible opportunity of your life, or just another day of the year. But one thing is for certain, that your role in the lives of other people is, in many ways, never as crucially important as it is on December 31st.

This New Year’s, a new event is set to capture the attention of Naarm/Melbourne locals at the city’s iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl, aptly named New Year’s At The Bowl. Featuring a stacked lineup of local and international talent, led by electronic music icons Underworld, Carl Cox and featuring Berlioz, Confidence Man, Joy Crookes, Ross From Friends pres. Bubble Love, Tornado Wallace, Sam Gellaitry, Good Neighbours, INJI, Emma-Jean Thackray, Harvey Sutherland, Roza Terenzi, Kamma & Masalo, Milo Eastwood, Prosumer, Alex Kassian, Aldonna, X & IVY, Big Wett, Any Young Mechanic, and Shantan Wantan Ichiban.

To get an idea of what kinds of feelings this New Year’s holds, we caught up with a selection of the standout local talent to appear at that very festival.

Q: What are you looking forward to about performing at New Year's at the Bowl?

A: I'm looking forward to playing (and going to!) the bowl for the first time and getting to end the year under the stars.

Q: Do you have a history playing at Sidney Myer, or is this your first time?

A: No - it's my first time :)

Q: How does the setting, and being on NYE, influence what fans can expect from your set?

A: They can expect some playful, trippy and bouncy tracks - music to dance to your friends with and enjoy the beautiful setting.

Q: Does NYE bring a certain type of energy?

A: Probably getting excited for 2026; anticipating, reflecting and propelling any electric energy into the new year.

Q: What are you looking forward to about performing at New Year's at the Bowl?

A: I just wanna get drunk, take my shirt off and watch Underworld.

Q: Do you have a history playing at Sidney Myer, or is this your first time?

A: We’ve played there a few times; it’s such a good spot. Way back, just before COVID hit, we played with New Order, and we did a bit where we made out with masks on. lol we had no idea what was about to happen.

Q: What are you looking forward to about performing at New Year's at the Bowl?

A: I am most looking forward to spending New Year's with my friends and family after being away for most of the year.

Q: Do you have a history playing at Sidney Myer, or is this your first time?

A: No, this is my first time!

Q: How does the setting, and being on NYE, influence what fans can expect from your set? Does it bring a certain type of energy?

A: I think I’m going to keep it very fun and light-hearted. I’d like to bring in the new year with some positive energy.

Q: What are you looking forward to about performing at New Year's at the Bowl?

A: Keen to play some of my new tunes on a big system, and hang with some buddies watching Underworld.

Q: Do you have a history playing at Sidney Myer, or is this your first time?

A: I’ve played a couple times, once in 2021, a COVID-era “distanced” party where they put everyone in little 10-person rave-pod structures and the whole place looked like a dystopian cyberpunk movie. Before that, I played with the MSO opening for Armand Van Helden, and we scored all my music for a disco orchestra. Always a very special place to play!

Q: How does the setting, and being on NYE, influence what fans can expect from your set? Does it bring a certain type of energy?

A: I love a NYE gig, I’ve played plenty over the years. It’s a reliably good party. There’s a bit of hope in the air; nobody has to get up the next day, you can dial up the heat a bit. We’ve been playing some turnt-up club versions of my old tunes, so I think we’ll end the year on a high.

Q: What are you looking forward to about performing at New Year's at the Bowl?

A: It’s such an incredible lineup, we’re especially keen to see some of our friends/favourite acts. Not to mention ringing in the New Year in Aussie summer vs a UK winter. It’s an iconic venue as well, so we’re keen as to experience it for our first official Aussie tour run.

Q: Do you have a history playing at Sidney Myer, or is this your first time?

A: This is our first time! Been a dream to perform at the Sidney Myer, so when we got the offer, we were doing cartwheels!

Q: How does the setting, and being on NYE, influence what fans can expect from your set? Does it bring a certain type of energy?

A: We never pre-plan our sets - we prefer to go off the energy of the crowd. Definitely safe to assume that the setting + NYE will attract a high-energy set, but hard to know exactly until we’re in the moment.

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Tickets for these artists’ NYE appearance are available via New Year’s At The Bowl’s website.