Few bands have quietly built international momentum as convincingly as NO CIGAR. Fresh from sold-out shows across the UK and Europe and armed with the acclaim surrounding their third album Under The Surface, the Auckland indie outfit have announced their biggest Australian tour to date, returning this September and October for an expansive 13-date run.
The tour marks the band’s fourth visit to Australia and follows a breakthrough 2025 run that further cemented their growing reputation on this side of the Tasman. What began as a promising New Zealand export has steadily evolved into one of the region’s most compelling live acts, with NO CIGAR’s blend of indie rock, surf-inflected grooves and alternative textures striking a chord with audiences across Australia, Europe and North America.
Rather than limiting themselves to the country’s capital cities, the band are again embracing regional Australia. Inspired by the response to previous performances in towns like Armidale, this year’s itinerary expands to include stops in Newcastle, Moonee Beach, Wollongong and other regional centres, reflecting a band keen to build genuine connections rather than simply tick off major venues.
Under The Surface has proven to be another significant step in NO CIGAR’s evolution. The album expands upon the band’s melodic songwriting while maintaining the loose, groove-driven energy that has become their hallmark. Coupled with an increasingly formidable live reputation, it has helped fuel sold-out headline shows in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Manchester, while earning praise from critics for balancing emotional storytelling with infectious musicianship.
That reputation has been forged on stage. NO CIGAR’s performances are driven less by spectacle than by chemistry, allowing their tightly wound arrangements and restless energy to do the heavy lifting. It is a combination that has cultivated an intensely loyal following and continues to position the Auckland five-piece at the forefront of a new generation of Australasian indie rock.
NO CIGAR Australian Tour 2026
Thursday 10 September – Pulse Bar, Sunshine Coast
Friday 11 September – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
Saturday 12 September – The Northern, Byron Bay
Sunday 13 September – Moonee Beach Hotel, Moonee Beach
Thursday 17 September – The Baso, Canberra
Friday 18 September – UOW Uni Bar, Wollongong
Saturday 19 September – Felons, Manly
Sunday 20 September – Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle
Thursday 15 October – Factory Theatre, Sydney
Friday 16 October – The Triffid, Brisbane
Saturday 17 October – 170 Russell, Melbourne
Friday 23 October – Freo Social, Fremantle
Saturday 24 October – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
Go HERE for tickets.
