Darebin Arts and Darebin FUSE Festival will present events that celebrate the depth, diversity and excellence of the artistic practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives on the 2026 Deadly Darebin program.
Throughout the festival, the Deadly Darebin stream features a broad range of both free and low-cost events that invite local audiences to engage with contemporary First Nations storytelling and artistry through live performance, music, film, creative workshops, community gatherings and immersive experiences across Darebin.
The FUSE Festival 2026 Deadly Darebin program spans the festival's signature event programming and FUSE Funded event lineup. Deadly Darebin programming has been led by First Nations Programmer Ethan Savage.
The 2026 Deadly Darebin lineup includes Ganbu Gulin, First Nations Film Evening, Social Sanctuary FUSE Festival Takeover and much more.
Ganbu Gulin: Burndap, neto, will take place on Saturday September 5, 1pm - 4pm at Darebin Arts Centre & Ray Bramham Gardens. It has been curated by First Nations Programmer Ethan Savage, with cultural and curatorial advice from Stacie Nicholson-Piper.
Ganbu Gulin is co-presented every year in collaboration with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
"As One Mob, we are Deadly, NOW!" is this year's theme for Ganbu Gulin, which will open Darebin FUSE Festival.
Ganbu Gulin is an invitation for Darebin's diverse communities to come together and celebrate the contemporary artistic practices of First Nations peoples across music and art.
As part of Darebin FUSE Festival's commitment to the local Aboriginal community, the event will begin as attendees are welcomed onto Wurundjeri Country with a Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Bill Nicholson.
A performance from intergenerational Wurundjeri women's dance group the Djirri Djirri Dancers will encourage all attendees to connect with the land that we walk on.
The music and cultural lineup features performances by extraordinary Aboriginal artists, including Wiradjuri and Filipinx artist MO'JU, who will transform the stage and Liv & The Dream, led by Arrernte singer-songwriter Olivia Meg, who will capture hearts with their poignant indie-folk-rock-country fusion.
Ngarrindjeri comedian, writer and actor Kimmie Lovegrove will bring her signature warmth and humour to proceedings as MC.
Wiradjuri multidisciplinary artist Elijah Money will lead a charm and bracelet-making workshop, and crowd favourite Aunty Brenda Fahey returns with arts and crafts activities for all the family. The event will also feature educational and creative market stalls.
The First Nations Film Evening will take place on Tuesday September 8, at Thornbury Picture House.
With the event being free to attend, community members are invited to a special evening celebrating innovative First Nations films.
The first film in the program is Motherhood in the Colony, a Bukjeh and GARUWA Film in association with Common Ground.
Through intimate storytelling, the film brings together eight First Nations and Palestinian women, unravelling stories of colonial trauma, and mothering as an act of resistance. Up next is Our Warrior: The Story of Robbie Thorpe, from director Anthony Kelly.
The documentary film looks back at Uncle Robbie Thorpe's childhood and family, the emergence of his radical politics in the formative years of Black Power in Australia, his apprenticeship in the 1970's under Dr Bruce McGuiness, and his emergence as one of the most uncompromising activists in Australia today.
Social Sanctuary FUSE Festival Takeover will be held on Monday, September 7.
Presented by Northcote Social Club as part of the FUSE Funded program, NSC have lined up a stellar roster of fan favourite local artists and some exciting new talents breezing through town.
This special FUSE Festival presentation of Social Sanctuary features multi-award-winning Wergaia and Wemba Wemba musician Alice Skye, future soul / RnB artist Tiana Khasi, and soul/jazz/folk/indie band Inanna Indigo, fronted by Wotjobaluk artist Indigo Mckeon.
Darebin FUSE Festival will take place from the 5th - 13th of September at various locations acorss Darebin.
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