New Annual Festival in Newcastle

This September, Newcastle’s flagship arts festival, New Annual, is set to return over ten days with a roster of innovative art and live performances in the heart of the city. 

From September 27 to October 6, a stacked program of national touring artists and local talent is set to take over the city, starting with the epic First Night Street Party. Head down to King Street for DJ sets, local bands, food trucks, and unmissable performances from headliner Gamilaraay man Mitch Tambo and the soul-stirring Tower Divas.

There’s also Wayfinder, a new show from contemporary dance centre Dancenorth Australia, that fuses dance with music and visual arts; Truth to Power Café, a live performance exploring the topic of power through art and audience contributions; The Birth & Death of Stars, a theatrical world-music experience from MZAZA; The Cord, a contemporary dance performance by acclaimed First Nations choreographer, Jasmin Sheppard; Concertante, an intimate performance of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto by Omega Ensemble; and performances by Newcastle’s Youth Orchestra. 

There are also plenty of free events in the line-up including ‘Scrub Club’, a ten-day participatory project at Quandamooka artist Megan Cope’s Ngumpi Kinyingarra Oyster House, where you can contribute to future oyster reef art projects. Plus, Belongings, an immersive installation sharing the stories of six local refugees and an immersive theatre show celebrating humpback whale migration through a parade of giant illuminated LED puppets and community art.

Make a weekend of it with a staycation at one of Newcastle’s five-star hotel Crystalbrook Kingsley, QT Newcastle or the brand new Little National. Or, extend your stay and bring the kids along as the festival falls over the school holidays. Find out more here.