Newcastle’s beaches, ocean baths, laneways, parks and landmarks are being transformed for 10 days in a celebration of art, music and ideas.

Run by the City of Newcastle from 25 September to 4 October, the program for the sixth New Annual festival includes over 400 artists, 40 events and seven new commissions.

Building on the success of New Annual 2025, which attracted more than 50,000 attendees and contributed nearly $3.5 million to the local economy, this year’s festival celebrates Newcastle’s arts scene through ambitious new commissions and nationally and internationally acclaimed artists working alongside local creatives.

Festival highlights

Highlights for design-oriented audiences include a monumental site-specific art installation at Canoe Pool by Izabela Pluta titled Cavitation, and Angela Tiatia’s Muse exhibition at the recently expanded Newcastle Art Gallery. The exhibition is the first major retrospective celebrating the local artist’s 20-year career, drawing together her work spanning video, photography and installations.

For the early birds, Dixon Park Beach is hosting a sunrise communal listening experience each morning. Part meditation, part story, Sea Stories is a love letter to the ocean by theatre maker Roslyn Oades. Continuing the ocean theme, a companion open air photography exhibition titled Ocean Rituals by Penelope Green complements the experience.

Taking the festivities into the evening, SOAK Live at the Baths brings live music sunset sessions to the Newcastle Ocean Baths, allowing you to enjoy the tunes from the water.

A uniquely ‘Newcastle’ festival

“New Annual could only belong to Newcastle. Every major work is shaped here – by its coastline, communities, histories and unmistakable character – creating experiences that couldn’t happen anywhere else,” says festival director Tory Loudon.

“This year’s program reflects a city that’s creative, confident and constantly evolving. It brings together remarkable local artists with leading voices from across Australia, all responding to this place with generosity, curiosity and imagination. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or have lived here your whole life, I hope New Annual has you seeing Newy in a completely new light.”

Explore the full program, including ticketed and free events, on the festival website.

Top image: All In, Dance Makers Collective. Photo: Joshua Morris.