Laneway Festival Director Steps Down After 16 Years

A Chapter Closes: Jessie Parker Steps Down from the Helm of Laneway Festival

The live music world is marking a significant moment as Jessie Parker, the director of Australia and New Zealand’s Laneway Festival, announces her departure after a remarkable 16-year tenure with the touring event. Parker shared the news this week, indicating that she will be stepping down at the end of the month, closing a chapter defined by growth, ambition, and immense festival success.

Her journey with the festival organization is a testament to dedication. Parker began her involvement as an event assistant and steadily ascended the ranks over the decade, eventually serving as General Manager before being named Festival Director for Australia and New Zealand in May 2025. This progression established her as one of the highest-ranking female executives in the live-music industry across the region.

Reflecting on her time leading the operation, Parker described the experience as a wild and rewarding journey. She noted the privilege of evolving from managing site accreditation and communications to overseeing six simultaneous touring events across the continent.

The transition comes as Laneway celebrates one of its most impactful years. The 2025 festival marked a spectacular high point, attracting 200,000 attendees to sold-out shows in major cities including Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. The lineup featured massive global acts such as Charli XCX, Clairo, BICEP, and Olivia Dean.

This successful run garnered significant industry recognition, with Laneway winning the inaugural ARIA Award for Best Festival and being named Music Event of the Year in New Zealand. Beyond the stage, Parker emphasized her pride in the crucial behind-the-scenes work, citing her contributions to bodies like the Australian Festivals Association board and the NSW Music Festivals Roundtable during a transformative era for live music.

While Parker is excited about the opportunities ahead, she remains focused on the legacy of the work accomplished. The departure signals a pivot for the festival organization, which remains part of the TEG group, co-founded by Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio.

This transition occurs during a period of necessary adjustment for the touring festival landscape. Laneway is currently scaling back its planned 2027 run, opting to focus its presence in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland, rather than visiting Adelaide or Perth next year. This strategic pullback reflects the broader challenges facing the Australian festival sector amid recent cancellations and closures.

Despite the shift in touring plans, the spirit of the festival endures. The 2026 lineup, headlined by artists like Chappell Roan, Wet Leg, Wolf Alice, PinkPantheress, Geese, and Lucy Dacus, demonstrates the enduring power of live music, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.