Applications are now open for season 2.
The season 2 concert will take place at Sydney’s City Recital Hall on Thursday night, November 6. Free tickets are available at That’s the Ticket website.
ABC Showcase announced returning with a new season in 2026.
Guy Sebastian has replaced Harry Connick Jr as mentor for season two.
The Piano hits a high note with new mentor Guy Sebastian joining season two
The Piano returns for a standout second season, with new mentor Guy Sebastian joining classical pianist Andrea Lam and host Amanda Keller. The series premieres Sunday 15 March at 7.30pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available on ABC iview.
The idea is simple: everyday pianists sit down at public pianos across the country, share their stories and play, revealing the power of music to transform lives.
What these pianists don’t know is that two renowned expert musicians are observing them: Andrea Lam, one of Australia’s greatest classical concert pianists, and joining her this season is Australian music royalty and multi-instrumentalist Guy Sebastian.
Behind the scenes, our mentors quietly take in every performance before selecting one pianist from each location to join them for a special finale concert on one of Australia’s most iconic stages, Sydney’s City Recital Hall.
Hosted by Amanda Keller, The Piano sets out to discover extraordinary community pianists, people who aren’t seeking stardom, but play purely out of passion. Some of the most remarkable street piano moments have already been captured on film and gone viral online. But who are these everyday musicians behind the world’s favourite instrument?
PRODUCTION CREDIT: Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A EUREKA, A FREMANTLE COMPANY production for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Major production investment from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Executive Producers: Bethan Briegel-Jones, Gemma Murphy. ABC Commissioning Editor: Julie Hanna. ABC Head of Arts, Music and Events: Kath Earle.
EPISODE 1 OF 6
SUNDAY 15 MARCH 7.30PM
The Piano returns for a new season, this time with a new, familiar face joining renowned classical pianist Andrea Lam as mentor - Australia’s favourite multi-instrumentalist Guy Sebastian. Over 100,000 people pass through Sydney’s Circular Quay daily, many clutching ice creams, train tickets, selfie sticks and briefcases. But today a public piano played by everyday pianists is the star attraction.
As tourists come and go and crowds gather, secretly stashed away are acclaimed musicians Guy Sebastian and Andrea Lam who watch on in awe and with a very special invitation tucked up their sleeve for one lucky amateur player. The chance to perform in concert at Sydney’s prestigious City Recital Hall.
EPISODE 2
SUNDAY 22 MARCH 7.30 PM
Over a million people visit Brisbane’s bustling Queen Street Mall each week, but today, everyday
pianists will transform the space into one of pure joy, raw talent and inspiration.Being observed in secret by acclaimed musicians Guy Sebastian and Andrea Lam, the pianists sharing their extraordinary gifts in Brisbane include 16-year-old CJ Jones from Launceston, who reveals how he’s overcome crippling loneliness by connecting with his piano. Louis is a classical enthusiast. Cheryl performs her own composition. Twenty-three-year-old Willow arrives with one goal in mind and many more.
EPISODE 3
SUNDAY 29 MARCH 7.30 PM
For the first time, The Piano arrives at Sydney International Airport, one of Australia’s busiest gateways.
Unaware they are being watched, everyday Australians step forward to play, while acclaimed musicians Guy Sebastian and Andrea Lam observe quietly from the Lost and Found Office.
From deeply personal compositions to music that preserves language and culture, each performance reveals how music carries memory, identity and meaning across generations. Travellers slow. They stop. They gather. And for a moment, they are transported, not by planes, but by emotion.
TV Week interview with Amanda Keller (she’s on the front cover this week)
The article mentioned at the top at Amanda’s two sons visited her at Broadway shopping centre (episode 4).
EPISODE 4
SUNDAY 5 APRIL 7.30PM
Host Amanda Keller and our piano take over Broadway Shopping Centre in inner-city Sydney, where shoppers swap retail therapy for Rachmaninoff.
While unsuspecting pianists perform for the passing crowd, internationally acclaimed concert pianist Andrea Lam and multi-award-winning singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Guy Sebastian hide in a store nearby, hearing every story and every note, waiting to invite one performer to the special end of season concert.
EPISODE 5
SUNDAY 12 APRIL 7.30PM
The Piano arrives at its final destination before the concert - Melbourne’s vibrant Dandenong Market, where colour, culture and community collide in one of the city’s most diverse public spaces.
Among the aroma of fresh produce and the hum of traders calling out their final bargains, host Amanda Keller welcomes a new group of everyday Australians, each drawn together by their uniquely personal connection to the piano.
EPISODE 6 - Final
SUNDAY 19 APRIL 7.30PM
Five chosen pianists from across the series have been invited to perform at the prestigious City Recital Hall in Sydney.
Mentors Guy Sebastian and Andrea Lam have just one week to turn these amateur musicians into concert pianists before they all meet each other and see the venue for the very first time.
Nerves and anticipation are building, then finally, it’s the concert, where our five everyday pianists share their stories and their performances with a crowd of thousands, all the while celebrating the magic of the piano.
The season finale featured on Gogglebox tonight, and several people (including Kevin, Bob, Jared and Holly) were visibly moved by the performances.