Quandamooka Festival will return to Minjerribah in September with two days of music, dance, art, cultural activities and on-Country experiences.
The 2026 festival will run on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, centred at the QUAMPI Arts & Cultural Centre at Gumpi (Dunwich) on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
ARIA and NIMA Award-winning singer-songwriter Dan Sultan will headline Saturday's main-stage program.
Three Fires, featuring Radical Son, Jungaji and Candice Lorrae, will also perform alongside Quandamooka artists Kaylah Truth and Adam James, Maibre, and Solwata Songs with Georgia Corowa and Luke Captain.
Traditional and contemporary dance will feature throughout the program, including performances from Yulu Burri Ba, Gubbi Gubbi and Kutaw Zoeru Torres Strait Island dancers.
Quandamooka man and QYAC Chair Cameron Costello said the festival will celebrate Quandamooka culture while welcoming visitors to Minjerribah.
"Quandamooka Festival is a gathering on Country—an opportunity to celebrate the strength and creativity of our people while welcoming visitors to listen, learn and experience Minjerribah with us," Mr Costello said.
Markets, workshops, weaving, children's activities, food, films and exhibitions will also run across QUAMPI during the main festival day.
Sunday's program will shift towards smaller discussions, artist talks and cultural experiences through the QUAMPI Conversations program.
Panels and sessions will explore dance, conservation, Caring for Country, visual art, music and cultural practice, bringing together artists, musicians, dancers, activists, Custodians and scientists.
Visitors will also be able to take guided tours of three new exhibitions at QUAMPI.
New exhibitions and artist-led experiences will feature Sonja and Elisa Jane Carmichael, Kyra Mancktelow, a Griffith CAIA showcase, cultural heritage material from Queensland Museum, workshops with Mahala Burns and Ocean Arts.
Activities will extend beyond QUAMPI on Sunday, with experiences available across Minjerribah.
Whale watching, architecture and design tours, island and cultural tours, aquaculture experiences, learn-to-surf sessions, workshops, walks and conservation activities will form part of the program.
Koala tree planting will also be offered, while visitors can explore local markets, seafood, island views and wildlife throughout the day.
The 2026 festival theme, Sea Country, will run across the weekend and focus on Quandamooka culture, Country and community.
Organisers said the program was designed to give visitors an opportunity to spend time on Country and experience Quandamooka culture through music, dance, visual art, storytelling, food, workshops and conversation.
QUAMPI Arts & Cultural Centre is a waterfront gathering place for the Noonuccal, Ngugi and Goenpul clans of the Quandamooka People.
Located at Gumpi, the centre is a short walk from the SeaLink ferry terminal and can also be reached by local bus from the passenger ferry terminal.
The festival is free and family-friendly, with accessible ramps, an Elders' space and volunteer support available.
Quandamooka artist Mahala Burns created this year's festival artwork, with her printmaking practice reflecting her relationship with Quandamooka land and Sea Country.
Forums, talks and smaller performances will also run across the weekend, covering film, music, Indigenous design and architecture, traditional and contemporary dance, threatened species and Caring for Country.
Other discussions will explore Olympic legacy, the Cultural Olympiad, and First Nations trade and investment.
Quandamooka Festival 2026 will be held on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13 at QUAMPI Arts & Cultural Centre, 14-16 Ballow Road, Gumpi (Dunwich), Minjerribah.
Entry is free, with registration available through Oztix, while some Sunday experiences require bookings and have limited capacity.
