Major Lazer Returns to Australia for Melbourne NYE Festival Headline Slot
Major Lazer will headline the second annual New Year's at the Bowl festival in Melbourne on Dec. 31, marking their first Australian performance since 2015. The lineup also includes Don West, DJ Seinfeld, Flight Facilities, CC:Disco!, Helena Hauff, and Todd Terje, with an unannounced special guest for the midnight countdown. The event spans three stages at Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Kings Domain gardens, with tickets available via presale Sept. 7-8 and general sale following.
The festival spans three distinct performance zones, with the Bowl hosting main-stage acts, the Garden dedicated to live music, soul and disco, and the Sundial offering a 360-degree club environment. PBS FM's Milo Eastwood will serve as host and provide music throughout the day, with programming running from afternoon into the early hours of 2027.
Major Lazer's current configuration includes Walshy Fire, Ape Drums and vocalist America Foster, who joined in 2025. The group's commercial peak came with "Lean On," which spent 48 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Cold Water" featuring Justin Bieber. The Sidney Myer Music Bowl has hosted events continuously since 1959, and promoter Mike Ross emphasized the venue's natural fit for New Year's celebrations.
This booking could signal renewed momentum for international electronic acts touring Australia after extended gaps, potentially influencing how promoters schedule major festival headliners in the region. For Melbourne audiences, the event may strengthen the city's reputation as a New Year's destination, drawing visitors and boosting local hospitality spending.