Overview
If you've been looking for an excuse to book a Perth trip this year, RAC Arena is making a very strong case for it. The 2026 calendar is stacked with major music, comedy and live-event dates, giving east-coast visitors plenty of reasons to turn a night out into a full weekend away.
While there's a lot happening at the venue across the year, this hit list leans into the headline acts most worth planning around — whether you're after a huge pop night, a long-awaited hometown set or a comedy show that fully justifies a flight west. There's even room for something a little different, because the best arena lineups are never just one-note.
It helps that Perth is an easy city to build a mini break around once the tickets are sorted. You can pair your RAC Arena night with beach time, a day in Fremantle, a wander through Kings Park or a trip to Swan Valley for a winery lunch before heading back into the city. So if you're keen to make a westbound trip feel bigger than a fly-in, fly-out show, start with the dates below. These are the RAC Arena picks worth locking into the calendar now, in the order they're landing across 2026.
Machine Gun Kelly — April 8
Machine Gun Kelly is kicking off the Australian and New Zealand leg of his Lost Americana tour in Perth, bringing his genre-blurring mix of rap, rock and alt-pop to RAC Arena. With a reputation for high-energy live shows and a huge global following behind him, this one looks set to be a big way to start the arena run.
Jimmy Carr — April 21–22
If razor-sharp one-liners and properly dark humour are your thing, Jimmy Carr's Perth return should be high on your list. Demand has already been strong enough to add a second show, so this is clearly one of the comedy dates to lock in early.
Harlem Globetrotters — June 20
Not every RAC Arena highlight this year is strictly a concert, and the Harlem Globetrotters' 100 Year Tour is a good example of that. Expect big tricks, huge energy and plenty of family-friendly spectacle from one of the most iconic names in live sports entertainment.
Laufey — July 25
Two years after her last Australian visit, Laufey is bringing her A Matter of Time Tour to Perth in late July. Supposedly her biggest tour yet, her unique blend of jazz and classically infused pop will be sweeping the nation, and the hearts of everyone at RAC Arena (for one night only).
Jim Jefferies — July 30
Jim Jefferies is bringing his Son of a Carpenter tour to Perth, with the Australian comic promising a night of brutally honest stories, biting commentary and absolutely no soft edges. For anyone planning a comedy-led trip west, this is one of the sharpest names on the bill.
Urzila Carlson — July 31
Urzila Carlson follows close behind with Fatty On a Yacht, a new show built around not fitting in, standing out and laughing through the awkwardness of it all. Her deadpan delivery and fan-favourite status make this an easy pick for anyone keen to line up back-to-back comedy nights at RAC Arena.
Alex Warren — September 12
Feel stuck in the ordinary? The chart-topping sounds of Alex Warren might be just the thing you need. If you missed him last year, or need another dose of his uplifting music to keep you topped up in these dark times, the megastar is bringing his global Finding Friends on the Road tour to Perth this September.
Tame Impala — October 24–25
Tame Impala's hometown return is one of the biggest RAC Arena moments of the year, with Kevin Parker bringing new album Deadbeat back to Perth for a massive two-night run. A second show has already been added, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know about how quickly these tickets are moving.
Lily Allen — November 1
Lily Allen rounds out the run with what's being billed as the biggest headline tour of her career, arriving in Perth with her new live show Lily Allen performs West End Girl. She'll play the new album in full, while also bringing the same sharp, candid pop voice that made her one of the defining artists of the 2000s.
Head to RAC Arena's What's On page to see the full 2026 lineup and snap up tickets.
This article is produced by Concrete Playground in partnership with RAC Arena.
Image credit: Supplied/RAC Arena.