MKTO - Australia & New Zealand Tour 2026
MKTO at 170 Russell, Melbourne
4 September 2026
There was something nostalgic about seeing MKTO back in Melbourne, but the night never felt like it was stuck in the past. The room was packed with people who clearly grew up with their music, and that connection was obvious from the moment they stepped on stage.
MKTO have always had a strong following in Australia. Thank You and Classic became huge here during the early 2010s, with their self-titled album going on to make a real impact on the Australian charts. More than a decade later, those songs still have the same ability to get a room moving, and 170 Russell was full of people ready to sing them back.
Malcolm Kelley and Tony Oller still have great chemistry together. Their personalities come through naturally on stage, with Kelley bringing his rap style while Oller handles the vocals. There’s a nice balance between the two, and it keeps the performance feeling fun rather than overly rehearsed.
The set brought together plenty of the songs that made MKTO such a recognisable name, alongside some of their newer material. Their latest release, WHAT’S UP, shows that they’re still playing around with their sound while keeping the upbeat pop and R&B style that has always been part of MKTO.
Opening the night was Australian artist harrykirby, who brought a more laid-back feel to the room. His set gave the crowd something different before MKTO came out, and he made a strong impression with his own material and easy stage presence.
Once MKTO hit the stage, the energy picked up quickly. The crowd knew the songs, knew the lyrics and weren’t shy about showing it. Classic still sounds like one of those songs that can instantly transport people back to a certain time, while Thank You had the room singing along almost as loudly as the stage.
There was also something nice about seeing a band that had such a big presence in Australian pop culture during the 2010s still able to pull a crowd like this. It wasn’t just people coming along for a throwback night. There were plenty of younger fans in the room too, showing that the music has continued to find new listeners.
After their Melbourne show sold out in 2025, MKTO returned to Australia with a bigger run of dates across the country. The reception at 170 Russell made it pretty clear why. There’s still a lot of affection for this duo here, and judging by the crowd on Friday night, people were more than happy to have them back
Gallery https://musicfestivalsaustralia.com/event-photos/mkto-australia-new-zealand-tour-2026
Thanks to MKTO, Teamwrk Touring, MRG Live and 170 Russell for having us along.
Review & Photos by Naga Kasu for Music Kingdom Australia
