The Young Australian Music Audiences Report 2026

A new research report published by The Push has revealed nearly-half of young Australians under 18 say age restrictions have stopped them from attending live music.

The 2026 Young Australian Music Audiences Report has found that 45% of 16-17-year-olds have been unable to attend live music because of venue licensing restrictions and a lack of dedicated under-18 venues or events in their area.

In addition to this, young Australians (16-25yo) have stated that ticket prices are the biggest barrier to attending live music overall.

The Push notes in the report that there is wide enthusiasm from the age bracket for increased access and funding in live music and is pushing for greater government investment in youth-focused music infrastructure.