Kate Ceberano Announces 2026 Australian Made Encore Tour and John Farnham Tribute Performance

Kate Ceberano is set to light up Australia again with a 31‑date Australian Made Encore Tour that launches in September 2026, immediately followed by a high‑profile tribute to John Farnham on 20 September at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. The tour revives a format that first appeared in 1986‑87, when the original Australian Made festival showcased local talent such as INXS, Jimmy Barnes and Divinyls.

The 59‑year‑old singer explained that the decision to bring the tour back stems from a long‑standing belief that music should serve a purpose beyond commercial success. "When an artist again serves a purpose that’s even greater than themselves and their own music, that is the ultimate gift," she told nine.com.au. She added that the Farnham tribute is "a symbol of a great Australian character" and a chance to support a cause close to her heart.

Titled The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend, the tribute concert will feature a lineup that includes Jimmy Barnes, Tina Arena and Keith Urban, among others. The event is a fundraiser for Head and Neck Cancer Australia, an organization that provides support services, research funding and public awareness for patients and families affected by head and neck cancers. Farnham, 77, who was diagnosed with oral cancer in August 2022 and has undergone surgery and reconstruction, is recovering from his battle with the disease.

Ceberano’s 2025 Australian Made Live Tour was a commercial success, and a live album released in August that year debuted at number 65 on the ARIA Charts. She described the 2025 run as an "unexpected runaway success" and said that "coming back to do it again, and push it further, felt irresistible." The new tour will build on that momentum with expanded arrangements and new material, according to the artist’s statement on her official website.

In June 2026, Ceberano was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at a standalone ceremony in Sydney. She expressed gratitude for the honour but emphasized that her career has always been driven by a desire to give voice to people who feel uncertain or in pain. The Hall of Fame celebration also included inductees such as Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Spiderbait, The Living End and Vika & Linda.

The Australian Made tour’s history dates back to a 1986‑87 festival that ran through the six state capitals, designed to counter the dominance of international acts and showcase Australian talent. The 2026 tour is the first time Ceberano has taken the name “Australian Made” to the stage in more than three decades.

The tribute concert will also serve as a platform for Ceberano to celebrate her upcoming 60th birthday. She said she feels "in this kind of moment where all the skill sets that I’ve been trying to put together has finally choreographed into this one power move." The event will therefore be both a personal milestone and a public statement about the role of music in community support.

Farnham’s career, which began as a teen pop idol in the late 1960s, has spanned five decades and includes hits such as "You’re the Voice" and "Age of Reason." His recent decision not to perform at the tribute concert is due to ongoing recovery from his surgery.

Head and Neck Cancer Australia, the charity that will receive proceeds from the tribute concert, has been active in fundraising events across the country, focusing on support services for patients, research funding and public awareness.

Ceberano’s return to touring after the success of her 2025 live album and her Hall of Fame induction positions her as a veteran artist who continues to use her platform for charitable causes. The combination of a large‑scale tour and a high‑profile tribute concert underscores the ongoing relevance of live performance in the Australian music industry.

The Australian Made Encore Tour will run through September, with dates announced on Ceberano’s official website. Ticket sales for the tribute concert are expected to begin in early August, with proceeds directed to Head and Neck Cancer Australia.

These events highlight the intersection of music, community support and the legacy of Australian artists, demonstrating how established performers can leverage their careers to support health causes and celebrate milestones.