Your favourite band’s favourite band is officially heading back Down Under. The legendary Mael brothers, better known to the world as Sparks, have confirmed a string of headline dates for May 2026, bringing their inimitable brand of theatrical art pop to Melbourne and Brisbane.
The news follows the previously revealed centrepiece of their itinerary: a massive performance at the Sydney Opera House on May 25th for Vivid LIVE. Fans in Victoria and Queensland won’t have to travel far to catch the magic, however, as the duo will grace Melbourne’s historic Palais Theatre on Thursday, May 28th, followed by a Saturday night spectacular at the Glasshouse, QPAC in Brisbane on May 30th. These dates represent their first Australian appearance since their rapturously received 2023 run.
Since Ron and Russell Mael first disrupted the UK charts in 1974 with the operatic 'This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us', they have remained perpetual outsiders at the very centre of pop culture. Their influence is staggering, stretching from the dark New Wave of Joy Division and Depeche Mode to the contemporary theatricality of The Last Dinner Party. As super-producer Jack Antonoff famously put it, “all pop music is re-arranged Sparks.”
The band’s cultural footprint has only expanded in recent years. Following Edgar Wright’s 2021 documentary The Sparks Brothers, the duo has enjoyed a massive resurgence. From scoring the film Annette with Leos Carax to their viral collaboration with Cate Blanchett (who famously suited up for 'The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte'), Sparks are currently operating at a creative peak most twenty-somethings would envy.
The 2026 tour arrives on the heels of a prolific 12 months. Fans can expect a setlist leaning into the acclaimed 28th studio album MAD! (released May 2025) and its chaotic companion EP, MADDER!. These new tracks will sit alongside a 60-year catalogue of hits, including 'The Number One Song In Heaven' and 'Angst In My Pants'.
Presented by Destroy All Lines, the general public can grab tickets starting at 9:00am local time on Friday, March 27th. If you’re a member of the artist, promoter, or mailing list presales, you can jump the queue on Thursday, March 26th at 9:00am.
Grab your tickets now, and for more from Sparks, join the legendary band on Facebook and Instagram.
