Jimmy Barnes anniversary tour: For The Working Class Man announces New Zealand shows

To celebrate his landmark album For The Working Class Man, esteemed rocker Jimmy Barnes is hitting the road for a 40th anniversary tour, which will see the legendary Australian artist stage two New Zealand concerts.

Barnes will play at Christchurch’s Wolfbrook Arena on Friday, April 17, followed by Auckland’s Spark Arena on Sunday, April 19.

The shows will see Barnes play his landmark album in its entirety, as well as some classics from his hit-making back catalogue.

To date, Jimmy Barnes' first solo record has sold more than 500,000 copies in Australia. Photo / Jesse Lizotte

Released in December 1985, For The Working Class Man was Barnes’ first solo record after fronting Cold Chisel and includes his first top 10 solo single I’d Die To Be With You Tonight. The titular track, Working Class Man is considered the unofficial national anthem of Australia.

The album helped define Jimmy’s hugely successful solo career, going straight to number one on the Australian chart, it stayed there for seven weeks. To date, the record has sold more than 500,000 copies in Australia.

Barnes calls the work 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.”

Barnes will be joined for the 2026 tour by his Cold Chisel bandmate Ian Moss.

Barnes has endured a number of health challenges in recent years. In 2023, he had open-heart surgery after contracting bacterial pneumonia. The infection returned in 2024 and he had emergency hip surgery. In February this year he had a permanent hip replacement.

Barnes says he’s made a full recovery and is ready to hit the road again to celebrate the anniversary of For The Working Class Man, saying: "I can think of no better way to mark this milestone than by performing these songs with my New Zealand fans.”

General public tickets on sale Monday, December 8, at 1pm, with numerous presales occurring beforehand.

Jimmy Barnes The Working Class Man Tour

Friday, April 17, 2026 - Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch.

Sunday, April 19, 2026 - Spark Arena, Auckland.

General tickets on sale Monday, December 8, at 1pm. Pre-sales beforehand.

For tickets and information, see jimmybarnes.com