Quandamooka Festival 2026

Two days of music, dance, art, conversation and on-Country experiences at QUAMPI and across Minjerribah.

Quandamooka Festival returns on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026 for a two-day celebration of Culture, Country and Community, centred at the award-winning QUAMPI Arts & Cultural Centre on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).

Saturday’s main-stage program will be headlined by ARIA and NIMA Award-winning singer-songwriter Dan Sultan. The outdoor stage will also feature ceremony, traditional and contemporary dance, and a full day of live music from Three Fires—Radical Son, Jungaji and Candice Lorrae—alongside Quandamooka artists Kaylah Truth and Adam James, and more. Across QUAMPI, visitors can explore markets, workshops, films, exhibitions and conversations with artists, cultural practitioners and community leaders.

Sunday offers a more intimate way to experience the Festival, with QUAMPI Conversations bringing together expert panellists for artist talks and discussions spanning dance, conservation, Caring for Country, culture and creative practice. Visitors will be able to hear directly from visual artists, musicians, dancers, activists, Custodians and scientists, and join guided tours of three new exhibitions at QUAMPI.

The Sunday program also extends across Minjerribah through a diverse range of bookable and self-guided experiences. Guests can choose from whale watching, QUAMPI architecture and design tours, island and cultural tours, aquaculture experiences, learn-to-surf sessions, workshops, walks and conservation activities, including koala tree planting. Visitors can also enjoy local markets, fresh seafood, island views and abundant wildlife throughout the day.

Honouring one of the world’s oldest living cultures, the Festival’s 2026 theme, Sea Country, will flow through the weekend. The program invites visitors to step away from the pace of the city, spend time on Country and experience Quandamooka culture through music, dance, visual art, storytelling, food, workshops and shared conversation.

This year’s Festival artwork was created by Quandamooka artist Mahala Burns, whose printmaking practice reflects her deep relationship with Quandamooka land and Sea Country.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday 12 September — Main Festival Day

• Music: Dan Sultan; Three Fires featuring Radical Son, Jungaji & Candice Lorrae; Kaylah Truth; Adam James & the Dreamtime Swing; Maibre; and Solwata Songs with Georgia Corowa & Luke Captain.

• Dance: Yulu Burri Ba, Gubbi Gubbi, and Kutaw Zoeru Torres Strait Island dancers, alongside contemporary dance and more.

• Across QUAMPI: markets, workshops, weaving, children’s activities, food, films, exhibitions, the QUAMPI café and gift shop.

Sunday 13 September — QUAMPI Conversations & Island Experiences

• QUAMPI Conversations: expert panels, artist talks and intimate sessions focused on dance, conservation, Caring for Country, visual art, music and cultural practice.

• New exhibitions and artist-led experiences featuring Sonja & Elisa Jane Carmichael, Kyra Mancktelow, a Griffith CAIA showcase, cultural heritage material from Queensland Museum, workshops with Mahala Burns, Ocean Arts and more.

• All-day experiences across Minjerribah, including whale watching, architecture and design tours, island and cultural tours, aquaculture tours, learn-to-surf sessions, walks, workshops and koala tree planting. Bookings may be required and capacity may be limited.

ACROSS THE WEEKEND

• Forums, talks and intimate performances exploring film, music, Indigenous design and architecture, traditional and contemporary dance, threatened species, Caring for Country, Olympic legacy, the Cultural Olympiad, and First Nations trade and investment.

• Markets, workshops, weaving, children’s activities, food, café and gallery experiences.

The full program, session times and booking information will be available soon at www.QuandamookaFestival.com.au