Australia’s dusty red desert is set to sparkle more than ever in 2025 thanks to the return of our nation’s biggest light and art spectacular – Parrtjima, A Festival in Light – from April 4 to 13. It’s not too early to submit those leave requests and start planning your trip, as registrations for this must-see First Nations celebration are already open. And the best part? Entry is completely free.
Parrtjima (pronounced Par-chee-ma) takes its name from the Arrernte word Parrtjima, which means ‘lighting up’ in two ways – both illuminating an object and shedding light on a subject. Billed as the only Aboriginal light festival of its kind in the world, Parrtjima shares timeless stories of the world’s oldest continuous culture through innovative art installations and large-scale projections. This all ties into the festival’s tenth-anniversary theme, ‘Timelessness’, which will celebrate the enduring connection between generations through sound and storytelling.
Shining bright under the starry skies of Alice Springs (Mparntwe), curator Rhoda Roberts AO is set to bring back crowd-favourite installations, including the MacDonnell Ranges Light Show, which illuminates almost two kilometres of the 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges. Also returning is the interactive Grounded installation, which projects animated artwork onto the red sand of Alice Springs Desert Park with a spectacular accompanying soundscape.
In 2025, Parrtjima will host its first-ever orchestral performance, set to unfold as an open-air performance during the closing weekend. The captivating 75-minute music and light spectacle will feature the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, alongside celebrated Central Australian desert divas Catherine Satour, Casii Williams, Bronwyn Stuart and more.
Festivalgoers can also look forward to an unforgettable opening weekend concert by Aussie country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley, alongside the return of the Blak Markets and bush food workshops. As always, we expect live music performances each night, with the full program to be revealed soon.