Get ready, Down Under, because one of the UK’s most thoughtful and wry young songwriters, Matt Maltese, is heading our way! The British-Canadian artist has just unveiled plans for a major Australian and New Zealand tour in early 2026. This highly anticipated visit will mark his first time back since the release of his sixth and most intimate studio album to date, 'Hers', earlier this year.
Maltese, who first cemented his place as a generational voice with his 2018 debut 'Bad Contestant', has a gift for blending heartfelt emotionality with a distinct, self-effacing wit. His work consistently elevates the mundane details of modern love and yearning into something universally profound—a knack that has seen him accrue a dedicated global following, from Sydney to São Paulo. Grammy winner Sabrina Carpenter even called him an artist she “loves” who is making “some of the most beautiful, funny, tragic” music around.
His latest album, 'Hers', which dropped in May, perfectly exemplifies this evolution. Critics have praised the record for trading irony for a more mature vulnerability, existing in a “twilight world” where his delicate piano compositions are laced with the warm quiver of strings and woodwind flourishes. It's a collection of songs that feel both classic and completely contemporary.
Following the album's release, Maltese shared the track ‘Cure For Emptiness,’ a poignant collaboration with fellow English artist Bello, which has already racked up nearly half a million streams in under a month. The raw, melancholic piano ballad explores themes of "searching and never finding," showcasing the candid emotional depth that is a staple of his craft.
Beyond his own records, Maltese has kept busy behind the scenes, penning songs for other artists and even making his theatre debut, composing music and lyrics for The Royal Shakespeare Company’s 'Twelfth Night', a production described by The Observer as “inspired.”
Currently in the midst of a mammoth 46-date headline tour across the US, UK, and Europe, Maltese is a proven live commodity, selling out venues worldwide. His return to Australia in March next year will see him take on some of the country’s finest venues in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, before crossing the Tasman to play in Auckland and Wellington.
If you’re keen on an enchanting live show that effortlessly weaves together poetic new material from 'Hers' with beloved fan favourites spanning his six-album catalogue, you won't want to miss this. Tickets for Matt Maltese’s 2026 Australia and New Zealand Tour are on sale now.
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