NSW passes Contemporary Music Act 2026 with three-tier venue scheme
Recognized venues get extended hours and grants, and the act changes how festivals and outdoor noise are handled.
New South Wales has passed the Contemporary Music Act 2026, which sets up a three-tier system for recognizing live music venues and stops “punishing” events declared “large-scale festivals” because they host four or more acts. Minister for Music and Night-Time Economy John Graham announced on September 24 that the act has passed and called it “world-first” legislation, Mixmag reported.
The centerpiece is a Music Venue Recognition Scheme, a “three-tier system” for “dedicated and significant” live music venues. Recognized venues can get extended hours, incentives to host new, original live music, and access to grants.
Outdoor events get new noise assessment systems, aimed at cutting the number of noise breaches at concerts and festivals that often saddle organizers with extra costs.
Other measures include dedicated dispute resolution support for venues and “guiding principles for the industry”. Those principles are meant to ensure “fees are reasonable and risk assessments are not based solely on music genre”.
Graham said: “This legislation provides vital protections for our music industry, an industry which was smashed by lockouts, lockdowns, and overregulation, and it demonstrates the importance of live music to the economy and the cultural fabric of this state.” He added: “This world-first legislation is about building a sustainable future, and helps venues and fans relax, and enjoy their next great gig.”
The venue recognition scheme will launch later this year.
