WHERE WORLD-CLASS MUSIC MEETS MELBOURNE’S MOST BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR STAGE – LIVE AT THE GARDENS RETURNS IN MARCH FOR ITS EPIC FOURTH SEASON

BLISS N ESO, CUT COPY, LEFTFIELD, MARLON WILLIAMS, SONS OF THE EAST AND THELMA PLUM TO HEADLINE MELBOURNE’S MOST MAGICAL MUSIC SERIES UNDER THE STARS

After a hugely successful third season of Live at the Gardens that wrapped last weekend, excitement is already building for what’s coming next. Fans can now look ahead and mark their calendars for next year – the acclaimed concert series has confirmed its return to the iconic Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne in March.

Set against Melbourne’s most stunning natural backdrop, Live at the Gardens will once again deliver another unforgettable lineup of live music under the stars. Across two magical weekends – 6-8 March and 13-15 March – the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Observatory Precinct will be transformed into a vibrant open-air venue, with MG Live thrilled to today announce five shows for the March 2026 season featuring an incredible mix of Australia’s biggest names and international stars.

Tickets on sale Wednesday 10 December at 12pm AEDT, with presales commencing Monday 8 December at 11am AEDT. Sign up here for presale access.

The opening weekend launches with the soulful sounds of MARLON WILLIAMS echoing through the Gardens as he brings his extraordinary artistry to Live at the Gardens on Friday 6 March. Hailed as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most compelling singer-songwriters, Marlon is known for his haunting vocals, magnetic stage presence and blend of folk, alt-country and indie-rock – with his new te reo Māori album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, further showcasing his poetic storytelling and cinematic soundscapes. The album was Marlon’s third chart-topper in a row in New Zealand, and his fourth Top 40 album in Australia. Powerhouse Gumbaynggirr soul sensation EMMA DONOVAN and the dynamic KEE’AHN join the lineup.

Get set for a triple treat on Saturday 7 March when three of Australia’s finest acts captivate the Gardens with quality songwriting and storytelling. THELMA PLUM, a proud Gamilaraay artist who writes about culture, heritage, love and pain, has released two Top 10 albums – 2019’s Better In Blak and 2024’s I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back. The title track of Better In Blak won the prestigious Vanda & Young Song of the Year award, and Thelma has been nominated for 15 ARIAs, winning this year’s Best Pop Release. Sydney band SONS OF THE EAST recently released their second album, Sons. With a catalogue of hits that run deep, their legendary live shows have thrilled audiences worldwide. The STACK review declared, “Sons Of The East bring sunshine to even the bleakest of winter days, with magical melodies and heavenly harmonies … they’re ready for stardom.” Sons was nominated for Best Blues & Roots Album at the 2025 ARIA Awards. Opening the night is enchanting singer-songwriter JEM CASSAR-DALEY.

Electronic music pioneers LEFTFIELD take over the Gardens on Sunday 8 March for a night of legendary grooves, seismic bass and immersive, boundary-pushing, high-energy electronic dance music. Formed in 1988, and originally comprised of Neil Barnes and Paul Daley, LEFTFIELD quickly became one of the most influential and innovative acts of all time, with seminal albums Leftism and Rhythm & Stealth and classic tracks such as Open Up and Phat Planet cementing their place in dance music history. Now led solely by Barnes for more than 15 years, LEFTFIELD – whose acclaimed fourth album, This Is What We Do, was released in 2022 – continue to push boundaries, shake foundations and sell out venues around the world. This is their first visit to Australia in eight years. Acclaimed musician, producer and songwriter PAUL MAC (DJ Set) and Australia’s Godfather of Techno, LATE NITE TUFF GUY both join the bill, adding to what will be an electrifying celebration of hypnotic sound, rhythm and dancefloor energy.

Get ready for a hometown dancefloor takeover when Melbourne’s own CUT COPY bring their euphoric blend of synth-pop and indie electronica to the Gardens on Friday 13 March. The Grammy-nominated, ARIA Award-winning group have for more than two decades shaped the sound of Australian electronic music with era-defining hits including Hearts On Fire, Lights & Music and Take Me Over. CUT COPY recently returned with their seventh studio album Moments, an album made to bring people together, pulsing with warmth and optimism. Expect a mesmerising live set of celebrated anthems to fresh new sounds, perfect for dancing under the stars. Joining CUT COPY is a stacked lineup of international and local legends – TODD TERJE, CC:DISCO!, CRAZY P (DJ set) and COLETTE.

Aussie hip hop heavyweights BLISS N ESO bring the series to a dynamic close on Sunday 15 March. Five ARIA number one albums, two ARIA Awards and more than half a billion streams, the Sydney crew have carved an enduring legacy in Australian music. Their latest album, The Moon (The Dark Side) – a bold companion to their chart-topping The Moon (The Light Side) – showcases their continued evolution. And BLISS N ESO’s live shows are legendary for their energy, connection and scale. Fresh off a national tour that sold more than 30,000 tickets, they return to prove once again why they’re icons of the Australian live scene. Multiple ARIA Award-winning artist DRAPHT joins the bill, delivering his trademark sharp lyricism and high-voltage energy, with hip hop duo HORRORSHOW rounding out the lineup.

All ticketing and event information liveathegardens.com.au

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