Enter Shikari are heading back to Australia this May, and according to Chris and Rory, the countdown is officially on… measured in “sleeps”.
Speaking with Metal On Tap ahead of the band’s massive 2026 Australian headline run, the pair joked about counting down the final nights in their own beds before enduring the brutal long-haul flight to Australia. But after years of touring, they admit the trip down under has become a lot easier.
“It’s actually got a million times easier,” Chris explained. “I remember the first time we came over to Australia and it felt like such an ordeal. Whereas now it’s kind of okay. I just sit there and watch movies and not know what time it is.”
For Rory and Chris, who both now have kids, the flight even comes with an unexpected perk.
“Peace and quiet for a little while,” Rory laughed.
The tour also comes at an exciting time for the band after their surprise album drop, a move that completely ignored the modern music industry’s obsession with algorithms, endless singles and drawn-out promotion cycles.
“We just wanted people to digest this album in its entirety with no interference from us whatsoever,” Rory said.
Chris added that the surprise release changed the way fans approached the record.
“Normally people know what the focus tracks are and the rest are maybe considered filler. But this time there was no focus track. It was just a block of music and people had to decide what they liked themselves.”
It’s a bold move in a streaming era where albums are often half-released before launch day, but the band say the process was far less stressful and much more rewarding creatively.
“It was the most relaxed release ever,” Chris admitted.
The approach also reflects how Enter Shikari write music in the first place.
“We’ve never written an album and thought, ‘that song’s good enough for filler’,” Chris explained. “Every song we try to make the best song on the album.”
That philosophy may also shape the setlist for the upcoming Australian tour, although the band admitted they still haven’t fully locked in what songs they’ll play.
“We’re not exactly sure what we’re going to play in Australia yet,” Rory laughed.
One thing they are certain about is how much they love touring Australia. Rather than sticking to the usual Sydney and Melbourne run, Enter Shikari are making a genuine effort to hit more cities this time around.
“Australia has always been so good to us that we want to try and hit as many places and get to as many people as we can,” Chris said. “We want to tour there more. We want to be bigger there so we can come more often.”
The band reflected on previous Australian tours, including memorable performances at Good Things Festival and Knotfest Australia, saying the crowds and atmosphere convinced them to put more focus on the country moving forward.
“There’s something about the Australian sense of humour,” Rory added. “Everyone just seems really funny. It’s always really fun.”
The interview also took an unexpected turn into food discussion, with Chris passionately defending Australian sushi as better than what he experienced in Japan.
“In Japan it’s a bit too fishy,” he joked. “In Australia it’s a bit more to the Western palette.”
Controversial? Absolutely. But honestly… fair enough.
With their explosive live show, surprise album release and a huge Australian run ahead, Enter Shikari sound more energised than ever. Just don’t expect them to be moving too quickly after the show ends.
“You feel pumped for about 45 minutes,” Rory laughed. “Then you get very tired very quickly.”
ENTER SHIKARI AUSTRALIAN HEADLINE TOUR 2026 WITH SPECIAL GUESTS GRANDSON
- Thursday 14 May – Metropolis, Fremantle
- Saturday 16 May – Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide
- Sunday 17 May – Forum, Melbourne
- Tuesday 19 May – Pier Bandroom, Frankston
- Thursday 21 May – King St Bandroom, Newcastle
- Friday 22 May – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
- Saturday 23 May – The Tivoli, Brisbane
- Sunday 24 May – Blackflag Brewing, Coolum (*grandson not appearing)
Tickets available via
Destroy All Lines
