Ben Folds 2026 Australian tour: Presale, dates, venues, and more explored

American singer-songwriter and pianist Ben Folds is officially heading back to Australia in early 2026 with a brand-new tour titled Ben Folds & A Piano.

The newly announced eight-date theatre tour is being presented by Frontier Touring and Chugg Entertainment. It promises a stripped-down, intimate performance experience. Folds will be performing solo with only his piano.

The tour is set to kick off on February 18, 2026, in Brisbane and wrap up in Perth on March 1, 2026. It is Ben Folds' first Australian headline shows in five years, following a string of rescheduled performances in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ben shared the AU leg announcement via an official Instagram post, which read:

"Ben Folds returns to Australia in 2026 for a series of solo concerts featuring stories and songs. Tickets on sale next week. More information at benfolds.com/tour"

Folds rose to fame in the mid-1990s as the frontman of the genre-blending rock band Ben Folds Five. It was known for hits like Brick, Song for the Dumped, and Army. Since going solo in 2001, he has released multiple studio albums, including Rockin' the Suburbs, Way to Normal, and most recently, the Christmas-themed Sleigher in 2024.

Additionally, Folds is well known for collaborations with orchestras and his advocacy for music education in the US. He served for eight years as the first-ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in Washington, DC. His latest live album, Ben Folds Live With the National Symphony Orchestra, debuted at the top of the Billboard classical charts in 2025.

Complete list of dates and venues for Ben Folds' 2026 AU run

All shows are all-ages events except for the Brisbane show, which is 18+. At the time of writing, no supporting acts have been announced for any of the shows.

Below is the full list of tour stops and dates:

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 – Brisbane, QLD @ The Fortitude Music Hall (18+)
Friday, February 20, 2026 – Sydney, NSW @ State Theatre
Saturday, February 21, 2026 – Thirroul, NSW @ Anita’s Theatre
Sunday, February 22, 2026 – Canberra, ACT @ Canberra Theatre Centre
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 – Adelaide, SA @ Thebarton Theatre
Thursday, February 26, 2026 – Melbourne, VIC @ Palais Theatre
Friday, February 27, 2026 – Bendigo, VIC @ Ulumbarra Theatre
Sunday, March 1, 2026 – Perth, WA @ Riverside Theatre

Ticket information and presale details

Frontier members presale

Starts: Monday, August 11, 2025, at 10 am local time
One must be a Frontier Touring member to access the presale. Fans need to sign up at frontiertouring.com