Experience Newcastle's best during 2026 New Annual

Kicking off on Friday 25 September, Newcastle is about to come alive with art, music, and ideas for New Annual 2026.

Across 10 dynamic days, the City’s iconic creative venues and much-loved public spaces will host exhibitions, workshops, performances and public installations, culminating in a packed final day on Sunday 4 October.

We've pulled together a handful of highlights below, along with even more ways to experience the very best of Newcastle during your stay. Get inspired, then start planning your stay... we'll see you in Newy soon!

In partnership with Newcastle Art Gallery, First Night Art Party officially kicks off the festival on Friday 25 September at 5pm with a free evening of music, movement and art on Laman Street. Three powerhouse female performers, Aleksiah, Djanaba, and Ngaiire, will take to the main stage, alongside roving performers, drop-in workshops, food trucks and a pop-up bar. Visitors can also step inside the gallery to celebrate Angela Tiatia’s MUSE and enjoy a range of immersive, hands-on experiences. 

After an incredible debut in 2025, SOAK: Live at the Baths returns for four nights of sunset sounds at the iconic Newcastle Ocean Baths. Running from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, these short and sweet performances showcase a diverse lineup of artists, including Hermitude, Claire O’Brien, The Illume Girls, Steph Russell, Kobie Dee, 92WRLD, and Karen Lee Andrews.

Bring a picnic, a towel or rug, and get ready to soak it all in. SOAK is free and unticketed, so arrive early to secure a spot close to the action. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, wear your swimmers and swim right up to the stage.

If you like your theatre loud and music-filled, Auto Tune by Re:group Performance Collective transports audiences back to the early 2000s in a raucous piece of gig-theatre. Think Nokias, Silverchair, teen obsessions, drinking and questionable decisions. The twist? The central character, Michael, can auto-tune away awkward moments and cringe-worthy jokes. But do those same powers extend to life’s more serious misadventures?

Stay after each performance for a free gig by local bands in the Civic Theatre Playhouse. The lineup includes Triple J Unearthed High winners, Trophy Wyfe, along with Glycerine, Filthy E & the Clean Teens, and Jet Lag.

Calling all beach loving early risers, Sea Stories by Roslyn Oades & Collaborators offers a sunrise experience unlike any other in Newcastle. Bring a chair or picnic blanket and your sunnies, then collect your headset and settle in to greet the morning in this soul-stirring audio experience.

Drawing on the stories of water-loving Novocastrians and blending music, local voices and the evolving morning light, Sea Stories is the perfect opportunity to settle in, slow down and connect with the rhythms of the ocean. Bookings essential.

Keep those creative juices flowing and join one of the many workshops on offer as part of New Annual, including the Stories of Water & Earth: Nardi Simpson Workshop; Grumble Boogie movement and dance session with Betty Grumble; photography workshops with the legendary photographers Tony Mott or Damien Frost and Edwina Richards; writing for stage with the RE:GROUP crew; and the hands-on textile joy-fest, Curtain Call: Strut Your Stuff.

Outside of the New Annual program, make time to explore the city’s incredible art galleries and vibrant street art, or book a creative experience such as LEDA Gallery’s Drink & Draw, a Paint and Sip session at Pinot & Picasso, or one of the many painting, drawing, and sewing workshops at Hudson Street Hum. For clay lovers, there are Studio Sessions at Grounded by Designs, Clay and Sip experiences with the Art Department, or Intro Wheel Throwing classes at The Clay Room. 

Celebrate the heart and soul of community at Global Table with Jennifer Wong, a free, family-friendly celebration of culture and connection in Wheeler Place.

Curtain Call’s Strut Your Stuff is a joyful celebration of creativity, sustainability, and self-expression, where discarded textiles are transformed into wearable art and everyone is invited to create a look and take to the runway.

Press Play by Tantrum Youth Arts is a youth-powered theatrical extravaganza that hurtles audiences through a wildly reimagined 50‑year ‘history’ of Tantrum, Newcastle’s much‑loved youth theatre company. 

Curious Legends return this year with Lenny’s Country, a vibrant, free and family-friendly celebration of local Indigenous culture at Carrington Foreshore. Brought to life through the company’s signature illuminated puppetry and the storytelling of local Worimi Elder and artist Auntie Debbie Dates, this unforgettable even is not to be missed.

Dive headfirst into the wild, seductive and anarchic energy of Loca Vida as the beloved Spiegeltent returns to Civic Park. Strut & Fret’s signature brand of delightful chaos, spectacle and world-class artistry takes centre stage in this heady, lavish, and daring production that is not to be missed. 

Another nighttime highlight is All In by Dancemakers Collective. Hailed as a boundary-breaking dance celebration, audiences are sure to be wowed by this large scale immersive choreographic experience. Three local dance groups perform alongside incredible professional contemporary dancers, bringing together a dynamic cross-section of styles. And the big question… will you join them on the dancefloor afterwards for an all-in social dance? 

Complement your evening arts program with visits to some of Newcastle's best bars and live music venues. The city is home to a wealth of cool, creative drinking spots that perfectly channel New Annual vibes and keep the good times flowing.

The Koutetsu, is a dark and moody Japanese speakeasy specialising in expertly crafted cocktails; Coal and Cedar channels the Prohibition era, complete with a concealed entrance behind a barber shop and a password required for entry; while Mad Poet is a newer addition to the West End bar scene, with a dedicated focus on good wine, charcuterie and, above all, live music. Other highlights include The Underground, Granddad’s Bar and Coyote at Papalote.

With events scattered across the city, New Annual is the perfect excuse to dine out on some of Newcastle's best dishes.

There's plenty to choose from within the main activation area in the Civic Precinct, right in the centre of the city. Dine in style at the Roundhouse Restaurant on the top floor of Crystalbrook Kingsley – with 360-degree views of the harbour, city and beyond.

Nearby, you'll find a range of restaurants serving vibrant flavours and equally colourful experiences that embody the creative spirit of New Annual year-round. Check out, Ginger Megs, Foghorn, Light Years and the newly reopened George Darby Hotel. Closer to the harbour, the Honeysuckle Dining Precinct is a foodie’s delight, with the likes of St Lucia, Blanca Honeysuckle, and Oceane Hotel dishing up sumptuous share plates, bold flavours and vibrant atmospheres.

Darby Street and Beaumont Street are Newcastle's renowned 'Eat Streets', so be sure to add them to your must-visit list. Or, if you're heading towards the baths, you may want to drop in at the likes of Humbug, QT Jana Restaurant or Bistro Penny.

With so much to see at New Annual, you'll want more than just a day to explore. Book yourself a stay somewhere among the festivities so you can truly make the most of the festival and your time in Newcastle.

QT Newcastle – Treat yourself to a stay at this 5-star offering in the city's East End, just a short walk or light rail from the major festival hub in the Civic Precinct, and close to a wide selection of Newcastle's best bars and restaurants. Plus, the unique boutique style of the hotel is very on theme for New Annual.

Crystalbrook Kingsley – Located on the festival's doorstep in the heart of the city's cultural precinct, you'll be in among all the action at the iconic Crystalbrook Kingsley. Enjoy a 5-star stay with easy access to the Civic Theatre, Civic Park, Wheeler Place and Museum Park where much of the festival program is taking place.

Beyond these 5-star beauties there are a range of hotels, motels, apartments, and boutique homes, plus hostels and a holiday park only a ferry ride away at Stockton. 

Don't forget to swing by our Visitor Information Centre for even more inspiration and local tips for how to get the most out of New Annual and your time in Newcastle! And be sure to tag @visitnewcastleaus in your snaps on Instagram to share the fun with us!