Olivia Dean, Laufey and Benson Boone: The Best 2026 Shows at Afterpay Arena

There’s nothing quite like a big arena show. Losing yourself in live music alongside thousands of like-minded people is one of those rare experiences that stays with you. And over the course of 2026, some of the world’s most talked-about artists will bring major concerts to Afterpay Arena.

Formerly Qudos Bank Arena, the 21,000-seat Sydney Olympic Park venue has taken on a new name under a five-year partnership with Afterpay. It’s the first major venue in Australia where you can use Afterpay throughout the visit – from booking the ticket to buying food and merch on the night, with Square handling payments inside the arena.

As always, the venue will host sports events like basketball and UFC, as well as entertainment shows including stand-up comedy, family-friendly ice productions and even The Wiggles. But its program of upcoming live music concerts is a major drawcard.

From global pop stars to classical acts, here are six Sydney shows worth adding to your 2026 calendar.

Laufey

Known for blending classical music, jazz and pop, two-time Grammy Award winner Laufey has a habit of selling out; her last Australian tour, in 2024, included a night at the Sydney Opera House. The Icelandic Chinese singer is credited with making jazz land with a whole new generation, and she brings her A Matter of Time tour, her biggest Australian show to date, to Afterpay Arena’s stage for two nights on Friday August 7 and Saturday August 8.

Conan Gray

Conan Gray has sold out Madison Square Garden, Kia Forum and Wembley Arena, and now he’s coming Down Under. With more than 12 billion streams to his name, and three consecutive top-15 albums on the Billboard 200, the pop songwriter – and Met Gala regular with a serious eye for style – performs songs from his fourth studio album, Wishbone, his biggest-selling record yet. He plays one night in Sydney on Thursday October 1.

Olivia Dean

The British singer-songwriter behind soulful pop, warm balladry and lyrics that land somewhere tender is heading to Sydney. Olivia Dean made her Australian debut at Laneway earlier in her rise and has since graduated to arenas on the back of her second album, The Art of Loving. Expect the fan favourites – Man I Need, Dive, The Hardest Part, Nice to Each Other – alongside the widescreen visuals and big, cathartic singalongs her show is built around. She plays on Friday October 9 and Saturday October 10.

Zara Larsson

Swedish singer-songwriter and global pop superstar Zara Larsson returns to Australia for the first time in a decade. Nearly 10 years on from breakout hits Lush Life and Never Forget You, she’s touring her fourth studio album, Midnight Sun – a record that swings from lovestruck to cocky to vulnerable across its runtime. Demand was strong enough that her Sydney show was bumped up to Afterpay Arena after selling out its original room. She plays on Friday October 23.

Hans Zimmer Live

Few shows come more cinematic than this one. The multiple Oscar- and Grammy-award winning composer is pushing into new live performance territory with a fresh arena production, Hans Zimmer – The Next Level. The show puts Zimmer himself on stage directing a 19-piece band, live vocalists and sweeping electronic staging he’s described as a roller-coaster ride. Already sold out across Europe, the production tours Australia in 2026, with two Sydney shows at Afterpay Arena on Wednesday October 28 and Thursday October 29.

Benson Boone

Grammy-nominated American star Benson Boone brings his Wanted Man tour to Sydney this November. The singer went stratospheric off the back of viral hit Beautiful Things and followed it with a chart-topping second album, American Heart, which hit number one in Australia. As part of a nine-show Australian run, Boone plays three nights at Afterpay Arena: Tuesday November 17, Wednesday November 18 and Thursday November 19.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Afterpay. At Afterpay Arena shows, eligible ticket purchases can use Pay in 4, which splits the upfront cost into four instalments over time. You can also use Afterpay for food, drink and merch inside the venue on the day.