Nashville-based singer-songwriter Max McNown has announced his biggest headline tour of Australia and New Zealand yet, set for February 2027, alongside the reveal of his highly anticipated third studio album, Leave On A Light.

The 25-year-old artist, who previously sold out his last Australian tour, will bring his live show back across the Tasman on a considerably expanded run this time, now including two New Zealand dates for the first time.

The Full Tour Schedule

McNown's 2027 Australia and New Zealand tour spans nine shows across nine cities:

Date

City

Venue

Tuesday 2 February

Perth

Ice Cream Factory

Thursday 4 February

Adelaide

Hindley Street Music Hall

Saturday 6 February

Brisbane

Fortitude Music Hall

Wednesday 10 February

Sydney

Hordern Pavilion

Saturday 13 February

Newcastle

Howlin' Rock N Rodeo

Thursday 18 February

Melbourne

Festival Hall

Saturday 20 February

Cairns

Fred Moule Pavilion

Monday 22 February

Auckland

The Civic

Wednesday 24 February

Christchurch

Christchurch Town Hall

The tour is presented by Live Nation, though the Perth, Newcastle and Cairns dates are being run independently.

How to Get Tickets

Tickets go on general sale Friday 18 September at 12pm, but there are several earlier access windows worth knowing about if McNown is high on your list:

Presale

Access Window

Artist Presale

Wednesday 16 September, 11am – Friday 18 September, 11am

Mastercard (AU) / Westpac Mastercard (NZ) Presale

Wednesday 16 September, 11am – Friday 18 September, 11am

Live Nation Presale

Thursday 17 September, 11am – Friday 18 September, 11am

All times listed are local to each show's city.

A Genuinely Rapid Rise

McNown's success story is a fairly striking one for a relatively new artist. After teaching himself guitar and busking around Southern California just a few years ago, the Oregon-born musician built an online following before breaking through with his single "A Lot More Free," a track that has since surpassed 400 million streams worldwide and earned RIAA Platinum certification in the US.

His follow-up single performed even better. "Better Me For You (Brown Eyes)" achieved RIAA Double Platinum certification, racked up more than 500 million streams globally, and became McNown's highest-charting Billboard Hot 100 entry to date at number 26, a position it held for 36 weeks.

The track also became the most-played song on Australian country radio in 2025, topping Countrytown's Hot 50 for the year, a detail that helps explain why Australian audiences in particular have responded so strongly to his music.

New Album Details

McNown's third studio album, Leave On A Light, arrives on 25 September via Fugitive Recordings. The 17-track project was recorded at Nashville's renowned Blackbird Studio with longtime collaborator and producer Jamie Kenney.

For this album, McNown expanded his usual creative circle, working alongside acclaimed songwriter Julian Bunetta, known for his work with Gracie Abrams and Kelsea Ballerini, and guitarist Charlie Worsham, who has worked with Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson.

What the Album Is Actually About

McNown has described the record as being built around gratitude and the people who provide stability amid a rapidly changing life.

"In a way, most of the songs on this album are love songs," McNown said. "They're a tribute to my wife and my family, the people who care about who I am outside of music and give me a place of peace and unconditional love to come home to."

He also shared some insight into his broader philosophy around songwriting itself, crediting fellow songwriter Mags Duval for a piece of advice that's clearly stuck with him.

"Songs aren't meant to tell people how they should feel, they're meant to serve as mirrors," McNown said. "I hope this album encourages people to look inward and brings them toward a greater appreciation for what they have right now."

A Big Year Already

This tour announcement comes off the back of a genuinely packed year for McNown. He's made his Stagecoach festival debut, performed at Lollapalooza, sold out two consecutive nights at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, and toured alongside country star Parker McCollum, all while continuing to release new music, including recent singles "First Born Daughter," "Comets," and a collaboration with DJ Kygo titled "Take Me Back."

Why This Tour Matters

With more than 900 million streams worldwide and a rapidly growing international fanbase, McNown's expanded Australia and New Zealand run, particularly the addition of Auckland and Christchurch dates, signals a clear vote of confidence in the strength of his fanbase across both countries following his previous sold-out Australian tour.

For New Zealand fans specifically, this marks a notable first: McNown's earlier tour didn't include local dates, making February's Auckland and Christchurch shows the singer-songwriter's live debut in the country.


This article is based on a media release issued on behalf of Max McNown and Live Nation.