AUSTRALIA SOUNDS AT SXSW
MUSIC
Australia Sounds Brings New Voices to SXSW 2026
Radio Free Alice performing at Australia Sounds Like at SXSW 2025. Photo by Pablo Herrera / TMN.
Sounds Australia returns to SXSW 2026 in Austin continuing its long standing mission to introduce emerging Australian artists to global audiences through curated showcases and industry programming. The initiative has become one of the festival’s most consistent international platforms, helping launch careers that later reshape the global music landscape.
AUSTIN | TMN Editorial
This year’s lineup reflects the diversity and creative energy shaping Australia’s contemporary music scene. Artists performing across the program include The Tullamarines, 2Charm, Mariae Cassandra, Sex Mask and Jamaica Moana, among others representing a new generation of genre fluid creators moving between rock, rap, experimental pop, and alternative sounds.
TMN had the chance to interview some of the emerging Australian bands performing this year at SXSW
The Tullamarines. Led by singer Bella Martinez, the four piece have been tearing through stages since 2023, supporting acts like Osees, Frankie and The Witch Fingers and Farmer’s Wife, and delivering a breakthrough set at Levitation Festival 2024.
Swapmeet. Adelaide four piece blending indie rock experimentation with punk spirit. Debut album coming in 2026.
Mariae Cassandra is an 18 year old Australian artist who began releasing music at just 16. Her emotionally driven songwriting and intimate sound have quickly positioned her as one of the new emerging voices gaining international attention.
Jamaica Moana emerges as one of the most compelling voices in the 2026 program
Jamaica Moana is set to perform this year at the Sounds Australia showcase at SXSW. Photo: courtesy of the artist.
Jamaica Moana stands out as a cultural force whose work expands beyond music into performance, fashion, and community leadership. A rapper, songwriter, creative director, and ballroom icon, she blends rap, R&B, and soul with deeply rooted Māori and Samoan identity while representing Western Sydney’s underground creative ecosystem.
Her presence extends into the ballroom scene where she co founded The West Ball and actively creates space for queer, trans, and BIPOC creatives. At SXSW, Moana’s performances signal not only artistic momentum but the growing visibility of intersectional voices redefining contemporary music culture.
Alongside live showcases, the Australian program continues to function as an industry bridge, facilitating connections between artists, international delegates, and cultural institutions during one of the most influential global gatherings for music discovery.
Event Details
Australia Sounds Showcase
March 12 – 18, 2026
Different venues across Austin
Austin, Texas
More information about the showcase HERE.
