Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes has extended his Working Class Man 40th Anniversary Tour to New Zealand with two shows in 2026. The performances will celebrate the landmark 1985 album For The Working Class Man, performed in full alongside other classics. Barnes will be joined by Cold Chisel bandmate Ian Moss for the Christchurch and Auckland concerts.
Tour Overview
Jimmy Barnes is marking the 40th anniversary of his breakthrough solo album For The Working Class Man, released in December 1985. The album topped the Australian charts for seven weeks and sold over 500,000 copies, featuring hits like "I'd Die To Be With You Tonight," "Working Class Man," and "Without Your Love." Barnes, who has 16 solo No. 1 albums and six with Cold Chisel, described the record as pivotal: "For The Working Class Man was such a significant album in my life. I got to make the record with some amazing people, and it really set up the rest of my solo career. I’m so excited to be celebrating For The Working Class Man with one of my dearest friends and favourite artists. And I can think of no better way to mark this milestone than by performing these songs with my New Zealand fans."
The tour kicked off in Australia last week and includes upcoming dates like Bimbadgen in the Hunter Valley on December 6, 2025, and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on April 10, 2026, before heading to New Zealand.
New Zealand Dates
- Friday, April 17, 2026: Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch
- Sunday, April 19, 2026: Spark Arena, Auckland
Barnes will perform the album from start to finish, from "I’d Die To Be With You Tonight" to "Paradise," plus selections from his extensive catalog. Ian Moss, known for his No. 1 solo album Matchbook and recent live release Live At Anita’s, will join him onstage.
Ticket Information
Presales begin Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 11 a.m. local time for Mastercard, One NZ, and artist fans, running until Friday, December 5 at 11 a.m. A Live Nation presale starts Friday, December 5 at 12 p.m. until Monday, December 8 at 12 p.m. General tickets go on sale Monday, December 8 at 1 p.m. local time via livenation.co.nz or jimmybarnes.com.
To commemorate the anniversary, a remastered edition of For The Working Class Man has been reissued, available in formats including double 'flame' colored vinyl, CD, cassette, and a limited-edition box set with a stripped-back "Working Class Man" and Barnes' spoken-word reflection.