Madonna will tour Australia for the first time in 23 years, with dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in 2016.

The tour will also see the pop icon, known for hits including Like A Virgin, Material Girl and Vogue, perform in New Zealand for the very first time.

The Rebel Heart Tour will kick off in Auckland in early March next year, followed by the Australian dates in Melbourne (March 12-13), Sydney (March 19-20) and Brisbane (March 26-27)

The tour follows the release earlier this year of Madonna's 13th studio album, Rebel Heart.

The hugely successful and provocative artist has sold 300 million records and holds the world record for being the only artist to have 45 number one songs on any chart in Billboard history.

The 56-year-old, born Madonna Louise Ciccone, is known for frequently reinventing both her music and her image.