Media release: Grammy Award® winner Ruthie Foster announces 2026 Australian Tour

Grammy Award®-winning singer, songwriter and powerhouse vocalist Ruthie Foster announces her return to Australia in April-May 2026, following this week's Blues on Broadbeach line-up reveal, where she will perform three full-band festival sets. Her national run will offer Australian audiences a rare chance to experience the full breadth of her artistry — from the intimate, soulful chemistry of her long-running duo collaboration with pianist Scottie Miller to the electrifying, high-energy shows featuring her full band.

Renowned worldwide for her extraordinary voice - often compared to the great Aretha Franklin - and her masterful guitar work , Foster has become a beloved and increasingly in-demand presence on Australian stages. With every visit, she wins over more hearts, captivating audiences with her fusion of blues, gospel, folk and soul, delivered with warmth, authenticity, and flawless musicianship.

Her 2026 tour marks Foster's most extensive Australian run since winning her long-awaited first Grammy Award® for Mileage (2024), following five prior nominations. The album, produced by Tyler Bryant and released through Sun Records, has been embraced globally for its honesty, vulnerability and richly layered storytelling.

Exclusive Western Australian Shows with Eric Bibb

Foster will open the tour in Western Australia in duo mode with Scottie Miller, with two exclusive double-headline concerts alongside fellow blues icon and good friend, Eric Bibb, who will be touring with his band.

These rare pairings of two blues masters will be held at Princess Royal Theatre at Albany Entertainment Centre on April 23 and Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on April 24.

On April 26, Ruthie will perform her standalone headline show at Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, bringing international superstardom to the Darling Scarp at the eastern limits of Perth's metropolitan area.

A Tour Showcasing Ruthie Foster in Two Distinct and Beautiful Forms

Across the full run, Australian audiences will have the opportunity to experience Ruthie Foster in two equally compelling live formats:

• Duo Performances with Scottie Miller - cherished for their warmth, spontaneity and deep musical connection, these shows highlight Ruthie's voice and storytelling in their most intimate, emotionally resonant form.
• Full Band - Ruthie's band will join her on the second leg of the tour, bringing the rhythmic power and celebratory spirit of her acclaimed catalogue to life with a rich, dynamic ensemble at select shows.

Audiences at Melbourne's Memo Music Hall and Brunswick Ballroom, Gippsland's Meeniyan Town Hall and Avoca Beach Theatre in New South Wales, along with Blues on Broadbeach festival goers will experience Ruthie in full-band mode, while regions on the first leg will enjoy the soulful immediacy and vocal brilliance of her duo shows. Altogether, the tour offers a rare, holistic look at Foster's remarkable range and musical depth.

Ruthie Foster - 2026 Australia Tour Dates

APRIL
23 Princess Royal Theatre, AEC Albany (Eric Bibb double-bill)
24 Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (Eric Bibb double-bill)
26 Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre
28 The Ark (on The Square), Launceston
30 Little Sisters, Sisters Beach

MAY
1 Burrinja Cultural Centre, Upwey
2 Geelong Arts Centre
3 Flinders Civic Hall
5 The Gov, Adelaide
8 Brunswick Ballroom (with band)
9 Memo Music Hall, St Kilda (Two shows - with band)
10 Meeniyan Town Hall  (with band)
14-16 Blues On Broadbeach (with band)
17 Avoca Beach Theatre (with band)
 

About Ruthie Foster

Raised in a gospel-steeped family in rural Gause, Texas, Ruthie Foster grew up surrounded by harmony, heritage, and the uplifting power of spiritual music. Influenced by her mother, grandmother, and the great gospel groups of the era, her early musical life shaped a voice of incomparable depth and soul.

After serving in the U.S. Navy—where she performed with the Navy band Pride—Foster signed a development deal with Atlantic Records, sharpening her songwriting in New York City before returning home to Texas. Over time she forged her signature blend of blues, gospel, folk, and soul, releasing acclaimed albums including Runaway Soul, The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, The Truth According to Ruthie Foster, and the Grammy®-winning Mileage.

Her collaborations with Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and countless others testify to her versatility and revered standing within the global roots community.

With Mileage, Ruthie Foster continues to uplift, inspire, and reflect the world back to itself through songs built on an unshakeable spirit.

Prepare to Be Moved

From the soulful directness of her duo shows to the joyful fire of her full-band performances, Ruthie Foster's 2026 tour celebrates the many dimensions of one of the most gifted voices in contemporary roots music.

LINKS:

Website - ruthiefostermusic.com
Facebook - facebook.com/ruthiefostermusic
Instagram - instagram.com/ruthiefostermusic
YouTube - youtube.com/user/ruthiefoster
X - x.com/_ruthiefoster_
TikTok - tiktok.com/ruthiefostermusic
Threads - threads.net/ruthiefostermusic
Spotify - open.spotify.com/artist/2lL4ckeM1A2Qo2Fe64dP0F
Apple Music - music.apple.com/us/artist/ruthie-foster/63828964

LISTINGS INFO & TICKET LINKS

Thursday, April 23 - Albany, Western Australia 
Eric Bibb & Band + Ruthie Foster (double-headline)
Princess Royal Theatre, Albany Entertainment Centre, 2 Toll Place Albany
7.30pm
Tickets
artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au

Friday, April 24 - Bunbury, Western Australia 
Eric Bibb & Band + Ruthie Foster (double-headline)
Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, 2 Clair St, Bunbury
7.30pm
Tickets
bunburyentertainment.com

Sunday, April 24
Ruthie Foster - Perth, Western Australia
Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, 48 Canning Rd, Kalamunda
7.30pm
Tickets
kalamundapac.com.au

Tuesday, April 28
Ruthie Foster - Launceston, Tasmania
The Ark (on The Square), 11 Frederick St, Launceston
7.30pm
Tickets
ioperformanceco.com

Thursday, April 30
Ruthie Foster - Sisters Beach, Tasmania
Little Sisters General Store, 1/3 Honeysuckle Ave, Sisters Beach
7.30pm
Tickets
little-sisters.com.au

Friday, May 1
Ruthie Foster - Melbourne, Victoria
Burrinja Cultural Centre, 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey
7.30pm
On sale Nov 26
burrinja.org.au 

Saturday, May 2
Ruthie Foster - Geelong, Victoria
Geelong Arts Centre, 50 Lt. Malop St, Geelong
7.30pm
On sale Nov 27
geelongartscentre.org.au

Sunday, May 3
Ruthie Foster - Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Flinders Civic Hall, 56 Cook St, Flinders
4.00pm
Tickets via TryBooking

Tuesday, May 5
Ruthie Foster - Adelaide, South Australia
The Gov, 59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh
7.30pm
Tickets
thegov.com.au

Friday, May 8
Ruthie Foster & Band - Melbourne, Victoria
Brunswick Ballroom, 314 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
7.30pm
Tickets exclusively via Moshtix | brunswickballroom.com.au

Saturday, May 9
Ruthie Foster & Band (Two shows) - Melbourne, Victoria
Memo Music Hall, 88 Acland St, St Kilda
4.00pm & 8pm
Tickets  |  memomusichall.com.au

Sunday, May 10
Ruthie Foster & Band - Gippsland, Victoria
Meeniyan Town Hall, 97 Whitelaw St, Meeniyan
6pm
Tickets via Oztix | lyrebirdartscouncil.com.au      

May 14, 15 & 16
Ruthie Foster & Band - Gold Coast, Queensland
Blues On Broadbeach
bluesonbroadbeach.com   

Sunday, May 17
Ruthie Foster & Band - Central Coast, New South Wales 
Avoca Beach Theatre, 69 Avoca Drive, Avoca Beach
7.30pm
Tickets via Humanitix  |  avocabeachtheatre.com.au