Global icon Grace Jones returns to Australia for the first time since 2018 and shows have been announced in Melbourne on Monday 2 March as part of the 2026 Palace Foreshore program, as well as headlining Womadelaide on March 7, the Saturday night of that festival.
PALACE FORESHORE 2026
Palace Foreshore’s blockbuster 2026 program expands once again today, with the announcement of global superstar Grace Jones, the long-awaited Australian return of MARINA, and the next powerful chapter from King Stingray, turning up the volume on what is already shaping up to be the precinct’s most ambitious season yet.
Grace Jones does not simply return, she arrives. For the first time since 2018, Melbourne will once again witness the magnetic presence of an artist who transcends genre, era and expectation, when she takes the Palace Foreshore stage on Monday 2 March.
A boundary-breaker and cultural disruptor, Jones has reshaped music, fashion and performance with an audacity that remains unmatched. From the wild, smoky clubs of ’70s New York to the sleek minimalism of Compass Point, she didn’t move between genres, she collapsed them. Crowned Disco’s Queen during the era of Studio 54, she carved out classics such as I Need a Man and La Vie en rose, before redefining the ’80s with the avant-garde sophistication of Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing and Living My Life. With surreal costuming, radical self-presentation and her iconic creative partnership with Jean-Paul Goude, every Grace Jones performance became a work of living art, a legacy that continues to evolve.
Expect surreal glamour, theatrical chaos, emotional depth, commanding presence and the kind of electricity only Grace Jones can conjure. This is a rare encounter with a legend who remains fearlessly, defiantly, extraordinarily immortal.
Joining her on the lineup is MARINA, stepping back onto Australian soil for the first time since 2011, when she performed at Falls Festival, Field Day and a headline show at Sydney’s Factory Theatre. Her return on Saturday 28 February arrives with the success of PRINCESS OF POWER, a euphoric, high-energy exploration of healing, empowerment and self-reclamation. Written during a period of deep personal reflection, the album marks a turning point for the platinum-selling artist; where Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land looked outward at a fractured world, this new chapter turns inward, embracing vulnerability as strength and transforming pain into power. Pulsing with disco-lit electro pop and declarations of freedom, feminine energy and love, tracks like “BUTTERFLY,” “CUPID’S GIRL,” and “CUNTISSIMO” capture an artist reborn, thriving wholly on her own terms. With PRINCESS OF POWER, she is not just making music but building a future rooted in authenticity, creativity and courage, MARINA as you’ve never seen her, and never more herself, right here in Melbourne.
Fresh off a huge year and riding a wave of national momentum, King Stingray join the 2026 program on Sunday 1 March, bringing their unmistakable Yolŋu surf-rock energy back to Melbourne. Their second album For the Dreams has further cemented the band’s status as one of Australia’s most vital modern rock acts — expanding their sound with tracks like “Through the Trees,” “Looking Out,” “Best Bits” and their first love song “Cat 5 (Cyclone).” The release captures the whirlwind years that have carried them from their Northern Territory roots to widespread acclaim, while continuing to honour the ancient Indigenous tradition of manikay (songlines) at the heart of their music. With an ARIA Breakthrough Artist Award, five ARIA nominations, the Australian Music Prize and multiple AIR Awards to their name, King Stingray’s rise has been nothing short of explosive. Expect a euphoric, high-energy set that blends raucous rock’n’roll, deep cultural connection and the infectious spirit that has made them one of the most beloved live acts in the country.
The 2026 Palace Foreshore season opens with Black Country, New Road on Thursday February 26, showcasing their bold new era through Forever Howlong, widely praised for its inventive arrangements and collective dynamism.
Hip-hop takes centre stage with the debut of Droppin’ Science on Friday February 27, led by the legendary De La Soul, performing their long-awaited new album Cabin in the Sky live in Australia for the first time. They’re joined by Oddisee & Good Compny and the dynamic Miss Kaninna, bringing fresh, future-facing energy to the Foreshore.
Followed by The Streets on Thursday March 5, with Mike Skinner performing A Grand Don’t Come For Free in full for the first time, a rare, cinematic exploration of one of the UK’s most influential albums.
Pendulum return for an explosive homecoming show on the back of their first studio album in 15 years on Friday March 6, Inertia, reaffirming their status as one of the most electrifying live acts of the century. On Thursday March 12, Peach PRC adds her vibrant pop spectacle to the program, riding the wave of global acclaim, hundreds of millions of streams and multiple Hottest 100 hits.
Complementing the music, Palace Foreshore once again elevates the open-air summer experience, pairing world-class performances with panoramic bay views, golden sunsets, a curated selection of Melbourne’s best food trucks, pop-up bars, local vendors and hospitality partners – all set within the iconic St Kilda Triangle.
TICKETING INFO
Grace Jones:
Venue Pre-Sale: Tue 16 Dec 10am (Local) – Fri 19 Dec 9am (Local)
Promoter Pre-Sale: Thu 18 Dec 10am (Local) – Fri 19 Dec 9am (Local)
GP On Sale: Fri 19 Dec 9am (Local)
King Stingray:
Pre-Sale: Mon 15 Dec 9am AEDT
GP On Sale: Tue 16 Dec, 9am AEDT
MARINA, Droppin’ Science, Peach PRC, The Streets, Pendulum & Black Country, New Road tickets on sale now at https://www.palaceforeshore.com/
For further info head to www.palaceforeshore.com
Palace Foreshore 2026 Lineup so far:
Thursday 26 February: BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD
Friday 27 February: DROPPIN’ SCIENCE
Saturday 28 February: MARINA
Sunday 1 March: KING STINGRAY
Monday 2 March: GRACE JONES
Thursday 5 March: THE STREETS
Friday 6 March: PENDULUM
Thursday 12 March: PEACH PRC
GRACE JONES REVEALED AS WOMADELAIDE SATURDAY NIGHT HEADLINER
WOMADelaide today announces the inimitable Jamaican singer Grace Jones as the Saturday night headliner for the 2026 festival, completing the extraordinary lineup for the celebration of music, arts and dance held over the March long weekend (6–9 March 2026) in Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla.
Jones, who emerged from the legendary Studio 54 nightclub in Manhattan, is a superstar, music legend, gay icon, art-rock symbol, Bond film villain, Keith Haring muse and so much more. With classic tracks such as ‘Pull Up to the Bumper’, ‘My Jamaican Guy’ and the enduring ‘Slave to the Rhythm’, The New York Times noted after her appearance on Beyonce’s 2022 Renaissance album that “pop music has been tattooed with Jones’s influence for 45 years”.
Jones promises to deliver an unforgettable live experience when she takes to the Foundation Stage for her WOMADelaide debut on Saturday night, 7 March. At age 77, her distinctive, husky voice is still as commanding as ever, and her powerful, theatrical stage presence is unrivalled.
“In the annals of pop music and fashion, there has simply never been anyone else on earth quite like her—strong, severe, and otherworldly in every way, Jones has blazed a trail through popular culture over the past four decades that remains unrivalled in terms of boldfaced originality.” – Pitchfork
WOMADelaide’s lineup for 2026 – which showcases 600+ artists in 70 groups from 38 countries – will deliver a four-day festival unlike any other in Australia.
Jones joins the recently announced Arrested Development, who were the first hip-hop artists to win Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, one of Africa’s greatest female voices and activists Oumou Sangaré, beloved Italian pop icon Jovanotti, Canadian jazz-fusion group BADBADNOTGOOD, American gospel family band Annie & The Caldwells – whose latest album was been praised by the likes of Sir Elton John – and psychedelic Amsterdam-based six-piece Nusantara Beat, whose music is a nod to their Indonesian roots.
Other sonic joys set to hit the WOMADelaide stage in 2026 include iconic Australian band Yothu Yindi, celebrating 35 years of Tribal Voice, Yolngu rapper and dancer Baker Boy, Scandinavian female folk group Åkervinda, Marlon Williams, complete with Kapa Haka group Ngā Mātai Pūrua, the Afro-funk Fred again.. collaborator Obongjayar, and many more.
“What an utterly inimitable artist Grace Jones continues to be.” – The Guardian
Quote from WOMADelaide Director, Ian Scobie: “We are delighted to have the one and only Grace Jones join us for WOMADelaide. She is guaranteed to bring a thrilling and memorable energy to the 2026 festival.”
Quote from Minister for Tourism South Australia, Zoe Bettison: “Adding Grace Jones to the already strong WOMADelaide lineup is hugely exciting for the festival and our State. Each year, WOMADelaide transforms our glorious Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla into another world celebrating art, culture, and connection in the heart of Adelaide – and 2026 will be no different. I welcome everyone to lock in their plans and experience why South Australia is officially the Best Event State.”
The full A-Z list of WOMADelaide 2026 artists is:
• Åkervinda (Sweden)
• Alcides Neto (Brazil/AUS)
• Alfio Antico & Go Dugong (Italy)
• Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy (Ghana)
• Annahstasia (USA)
• Annie & The Caldwells (USA)
• Any Young Mechanic (AUS)
• Arrested Development (USA)
• Ashkan Shafiei (Iran/AUS)
• Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou (Morocco)
• Australian Art Orchestra with Kojoe & Hikaru Tanaka — Raw Denshi (Japan/AUS)
• BADBADNOTGOOD (Canada)
• Baker Boy (AUS)
• Balaganesan & Bageswari (India)
• BARKAA (AUS)
• Beoga (Ireland)
• Bhutan Balladeers (Bhutan)
• Blinky Bill (Kenya)
• Bobby Alu (Samoa/AUS)
• Born in a Taxi – Higher Order, Illuminati, Please Wait Here, Sleep Keepers & Zebras (AUS)
• BVT (Philippines/AUS)
• Chloe Loftus Dance – The Air Between Us (NZ/Belgium)
• Cie Hors Surface – Le poids des Nuages & HOME, Damien Droin (France)
• Crazy P (DJ set) (UK)
• Daughters of Donbas (Ukraine/Canada)
• Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek (Germany)
• Džambo Aguševi Orchestra (Macedonia)
• Fantastic Negrito (USA)
• Ganavya (India/USA)
• GANNA (Ukraine)
• Georgia Knight (AUS)
• Grace Jones (Jamaica)
• Iron & Wine (USA)
• Jalen Ngonda (USA/UK)
• Jovanotti (Italy)
• Jyoty (UK)
• KAIIT (PNG/AUS)
• Kankawa Nagarra (AUS)
• La Perla (Colombia)
• The Lazy Eyes (AUS)
• Lewis Major Projects – Triptych REDUX (AUS)
• MĀ (NZ)
• Mama Kin Spender (AUS)
• Mantis (Vanuatu)
• Marlon Williams (NZ)
• Maryam Rahmani (Iran/AUS)
• Meganesia (PNG/AUS/West Papua)
• Megatronic (UK)
• Mungo’s Hi Fi feat. Eva Lazarus (UK)
• MY BABY (The Netherlands/NZ)
• My Chérie (South Africa/AUS)
• Nattali Rize (AUS/Jamaica)
• The Necks (AUS)
• Nusantara Beat (The Netherlands)
• Obongjayar (Nigeria/UK)
• Orange Blossom (France)
• Osadía (Spain)
• Oumou Sangaré (Mali)
• Roberto Fonseca (Cuba)
•R osas – Rosas danst Rosas, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker (Belgium)
• Sama’ Abdulhadi (Palestine)
• SAN DRAGAN (Myanmar/China/AUS)
• Stan’s Café – Of All The People In All The World & The Commentators (UK)
• Troy Cassar-Daley (AUS)
• Xylourides (Greece)
• YASHA (Japan/AUS)
•Y othu Yindi (AUS)
• Yuka Okazaki (Japan/France)
• The Zawose Queens (Tanzania)
• Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange (AUS)
Tickets and more information can be found at: womadelaide.com.au