Max McNown is set to return to Australia and New Zealand in February 2027 for his biggest headline tour in the region, following the release of his third studio album, Leave On A Light, on September 25, 2026.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter will bring his new music to audiences across Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Cairns, Auckland and Christchurch. The nine-date run will mark another major step in McNown’s growing international career following a series of sold-out Australian shows.

General ticket sales are scheduled to begin on September 18, following presales for fans, Mastercard holders and Live Nation members.

Leave On A Light Marks a New Chapter

McNown’s third studio album, Leave On A Light, arrives on September 25, 2026, via Fugitive Recordings. The 17-track collection was recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio with producer and longtime collaborator Jamie Kenney.

The project also expands McNown’s creative circle. He worked with songwriter Julian Bunetta, whose credits include Gracie Abrams and Kelsea Ballerini, as well as guitarist Charlie Worsham, who has worked with Luke Combs and Lainey Wilson.

While the album explores a broader musical palette, McNown remains focused on the lyric-driven songwriting that has defined his work.

Much of Leave On A Light is rooted in his personal life, particularly his relationship with his wife and family. McNown has described many of the songs as love songs dedicated to the people who know him beyond his career and provide a sense of peace away from the demands of music.

“In a way, most of the songs on this album are love songs,” McNown says.

The album’s recent singles include “First Born Daughter,” “Comets” and “Take Me Back.” The latter was recorded with Norwegian DJ and producer Kygo, while “Done For” was featured on Spotify’s Hot Country playlist following its release earlier in 2026.

From Street Performances to More Than 900 Million Streams

At 25, McNown has already built an impressive international following.

His journey began after moving to Southern California in 2022, where he taught himself guitar, performed as a street musician and gradually developed an online audience. His debut single, “Freezing In November,” arrived in 2023, followed by the A Lot More Free EP and his 2024 debut album, Wandering.

His first major breakthrough came with “A Lot More Free,” which has surpassed 400 million worldwide streams and earned an RIAA Platinum certification. The song also reached the Billboard Hot 100 and helped propel McNown to the top of Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart.

He then gained even greater mainstream attention with “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes).” The track peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent 36 weeks, and reached No. 6 on the US Country Airplay chart.

McNown has now accumulated more than 900 million streams worldwide, reflecting the rapid expansion of his audience across country, pop and adult contemporary music.

Australia Has Become a Key Market

Australia has played a particularly important role in McNown’s international rise.

In 2025, “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes)” spent 40 weeks on the Australian charts and was named the most-played song on Australian country radio that year. The track has since surpassed 500 million worldwide streams and earned an RIAA Double Platinum certification in the United States.

Following his previous sold-out Australian performances, McNown is now returning for a larger headline run in February 2027.

The tour will take him through Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Cairns, before continuing to Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand. Announced dates include Adelaide on February 4, Brisbane on February 6, Sydney on February 10, Newcastle on February 13 and Melbourne on February 18.

A Country Artist With a Broader Musical Reach

Although McNown’s music is rooted in country and folk songwriting, his recent work increasingly moves between country, pop and adult contemporary influences.

That crossover appeal has helped him connect with a wider audience while maintaining a strong emphasis on storytelling and personal lyrics.

McNown has previously spoken about advice from songwriter Mags Duval, who encouraged him to view songs as mirrors that allow listeners to see their own experiences rather than telling them exactly how they should feel.

That philosophy is reflected in Leave On A Light. While the songs draw heavily from McNown’s own life, they are intended to leave room for listeners to connect the stories to their own experiences.

His growing profile has already taken him to major festivals including Stagecoach and Lollapalooza. He has also sold out two consecutive nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and toured internationally, including dates with country artist Parker McCollum.

With Leave On A Light arriving in September and his biggest Australia and New Zealand headline tour to date scheduled for February 2027, McNown is entering another significant stage of his career — one that sees the young singer-songwriter continuing to move from online breakthrough success toward a broader international presence.

Source: Compiled from various sources