Yabun Festival will return to Victoria Park on Gadigal Land on Monday 26 January, bringing a full day of music, culture and community to Sydney’s inner west as one of Australia’s most significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led gatherings.
Running from 10am to 7pm, the free event is expected to again draw tens of thousands of people, following an estimated crowd of 65,000 in 2025. Founded in 2003 as a continuation of the Survival Day gatherings of the 1990s, Yabun remains 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned and led, grounded in resistance, truth-telling and cultural celebration.
Presented by Gadigal Information Service, the operators of Koori Radio, Yabun has become a fixture of the national calendar, combining live performance, cultural practice and political conversation in a shared public space.
“Yabun is a powerful expression of who we are as First Nations people. I’m incredibly proud to produce the event and to work alongside our community, artists and Elders to create a space that honours history, truth-telling and connection,” said producer Kearna Sweeney. “Delivering such a significant event that is grounded in culture and community is a true privilege.”
Yabun 2026 music offerings
Music remains at the heart of Yabun — the word means “music to a beat” in the Gadigal language — with the 2026 program led by Yolngu artist Baker Boy (Danzal Baker OAM), whose bilingual hip hop has made him one of Australia’s most recognised First Nations performers on the global stage.
He will be joined by soul and blues powerhouse Emma Donovan and ARIA Award-winning artist Budjerah, alongside Gomeroi rapper Kobie Dee, family band Drifting Clouds from Gapuwiyak, Barkindji singer-songwriter Nancy Bates, Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta woman Kaleena Briggs, and Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson with Stiff Gins. Tasman Keith and Wire MC will present GrillaGrilla, with Binda Warren and more artists rounding out the line-up.
Across multiple stages, the program blends contemporary music with deep cultural storytelling from across the continent.
Aboriginal Dance, Ceremony And Cultural Performance
Dance and ceremony will again feature prominently, with performances throughout the day on the Corroboree Grounds.
Official dance groups include the Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dancers, led by Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman Rayma Johnson, and the Gumaraa Aboriginal Dance Group, representing the Dharawal and Yuin Nations. They will be joined by Winanga-y Dreaming, Barkintji Baaka Dance Group, Burrundi Theatre Dancers and Marra-Wanggan Dancers, bringing powerful movement, song and storytelling connected to Country.
Yabun Talks And Panel Discussions Expand In 2026
Yabun’s role as a space for truth-telling and conversation continues with expanded discussion areas across the festival.
New forum Yabun Yarns will join the long-running Speak Out sessions, creating two dedicated spaces for dialogue and reflection. Speakers include Yaegl woman Associate Professor Pauline Clague, a leader in Indigenous film and storytelling, and Nathan Moran, CEO of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, who brings extensive experience in land rights, housing and community governance.
First Nations Fashion, Food And Community Spaces
New for 2026 is the Fashion Stage, showcasing First Nations designers and models and highlighting Indigenous fashion as a living expression of culture and identity.
Markets across the site will feature First Nations artists, businesses and community organisations, alongside cultural workshops and activations throughout the day.
Food remains a major drawcard, with the Kookabrutha Earth Ovens team returning alongside live cooking demonstrations from Mark Olive and Clayton Donovan.
Family-friendly programming will again feature through the Jarjums space, offering workshops, storytelling and creative activities for children, while a dedicated Elders Space will provide shaded seating, refreshments and accessible facilities.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Yabun continues to play an important role in the city’s cultural life, and honouring survival of the world’s oldest living culture.
“It is a day of culture, performance and truth telling,” said Moore. “In my time as Lord Mayor, I have been really pleased to watch crowds at Yabun Festival grow, and with it our community’s understanding of resistance and mourning. The City of Sydney is proud to support this important event and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. “
With its largest program to date, Yabun Festival 2026 offers a full day of music, culture and connection — honouring history while celebrating the ongoing strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
You can learn more about Yabun Festival here.
