Stunning new light installations and a rich program of hands‑on workshops, talks, art and music will connect audiences with Aboriginal culture at Parrtjima 2026. This year's program brings the festival theme of Language to life, exploring how knowledge is carried across generations through story, song, mark making, textiles and Country.
Held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) from 10-19 April, the free 10‑night festival once again transforms the desert into a celebration of culture, creativity and modern technology under the starry skies of Arrernte Country.
Major new works developed in collaboration with leading First Nations artists sit at the heart of the 2026 program. Corban Clause Williams of Martumili Artists presents The Language of Soaks, drawn from Kaalpa (Kalypa, Canning Stock Route Well 23), exploring the lifeblood role of hidden water sources across desert Country. Darrell Sibosado's The Language of Goolarrgon Bard translates carved knowledge into glowing contemporary forms that honour Kimberley design and ancient trade routes.
Reggie Uluru's The Language of Wati Ngintaka invites visitors into an immersive landscape of Perentie forms, light and sound, honouring the Wati Ngintaka story (The Perentie Lizard Man Creation Story) carried by Reggie for decades, reflecting a deep connection to ngura (home and place of belonging) and the responsibility to care for it. Returning in 2026 is Nina Fitzgerald's reimagined textile installation, bringing together artists from Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, Ikuntji Artists, Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists and Papunya Tjupi Arts, with twelve illuminated female figures celebrating women's knowledge and cultural continuity.
Festival favourites are back, including the iconic MacDonnell Ranges Light Show, transforming the Ranges into a living canvas of light, sound and story, and Grounded, the much‑loved animated projection series featuring new works by emerging artists from across Northern and Central Australia.
A diverse program of free workshops and demonstrations offers hands‑on cultural experiences, from Nina Fitzgerald's From Story to Screen screen‑printing session to Rayleen Brown's Flavours of Country and The Art of Native Spice, exploring native botanicals and bush ingredients. Creative workshops continue with Creature Makers alongside Yarrenyty Arltere Artists and Clay Stories with Hermannsburg Potters, offering immersive spaces to listen, make and connect with Western Aranda culture.
Family‑friendly sessions include Arrernte Voices with Children's Ground, introducing simple Arrernte words through music and movement, while Sand Painting invites visitors to explore the significance of markings in sand through glowing lightboxes. The Parrtjima Dome will debut a curated program of short films and animations by Central Australian artists and leading Indigenous filmmakers, creating a contemporary campfire experience under the desert sky.
The opening weekend also marks the return of the Parrtjima Night Markets, offering a vibrant opportunity to support Aboriginal artists, makers and businesses. The live music program will once again be a highlight each night with the likes of Electric Fields, 3%, BARKAA, Drifting Clouds and Emma Donovan taking to the main stage.
