Parrtjima, the annual award-winning Aboriginal-led light festival, returns to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) from 10–19 April for its 11th instalment, illuminating the world's oldest living culture through large-scale light installations and a dynamic program of workshops, demonstrations, music and storytelling.

The free, all-ages festival celebrates Aboriginal cultures and will premiere new installations inspired by this year's theme, Language, inviting visitors to experience the Red Centre in a whole new light.

New to the program is the outdoor Dome — a dedicated space to pause, watch and reflect on culture through film and animation — complemented by a curated series of optional ticketed experiences beyond the main festival site. Highlights include the Merne Mwerre Bushfood Experience, rare watercolour masterclasses with artists from Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, and the special Desert at Dusk experience at Alice Springs Desert Park.

This year, the festival will showcase the work of more than 36 First Nations artists as well as more than 50 performers and guests across live music, dance, workshops, and talks.

For 10 special nights on Arrernte Country, Parrtjima brings the world's oldest living culture to life with captivating light displays and modern technology, all set under the star-studded skies of Central Australia and the awe-inspiring, 300-million-year-old Tjoritja/MacDonnell Ranges.

“This year invites us to come together at Parrtjima, where language and culture continue to illuminate age‑old traditions in new and powerful ways. This program echoes the enduring legacy of Country and the stories that connect us across generations.

“We welcome everyone to come stand on the red earth, feel its heartbeat beneath your feet, and look up as Arrernte Country comes alive across the majestic MacDonnell Ranges,” said Tourism and Events NT Advisory Board Chairperson Paul Ah Chee.

New installations
The Language of Soaks by Corban Clause Williams is drawn from the work Kaalpa (Kalypa, Canning Stock Route Well 23) and explores the complexity of soaks and waterholes as the lifeblood of desert Country. Translated into a large-scale installation, the work reflects the role of these hidden water sources in sustaining people, animals and culture over millennia. Mr Clause Williams is one of the most prominent emerging artists of the younger generation at Martumili Artists and he often describes painting as a bodily experience, one that returns him home. 

The Language of Goolarrgon Bard by Darrell Sibosado translates traditional carved knowledge into glowing, layered artworks that honour the legacy of Kimberley design while pushing it into new, immersive spaces. The work acknowledges ancient trade routes and enduring connections between Western and Central Australia, honouring those who came before and affirming Mr Sibosado's identity as a Bardman and his deep connection to Goolarrgon Country. Sibosado's works appear in collections of the National Gallery of Australia; National Gallery of Victoria; Art Gallery of South Australia; Queensland Art Gallery of Western Australia; Fondation Opale, Lens, Switzerland; and Cartier Foundation, Paris, France.

The Language of Wati Ngintaka (Perentie Lizard Man) is a powerful and immersive installation that honours Reggie Uluru and his unbroken lineage of ancestral narratives, land-based knowledge and moral teachings carried through oral tradition. Within the installation, visitors move among multiple Perentie forms, each with its own unique markings and presence. A gentle internal glow and layered soundscape draw audiences into the narrative, creating an immersive experience where story, sculpture, light and sound work together. Mr Uluru is one of the most senior living custodians and artists from Mutitjulu, whose cultural knowledge and storytelling continue to guide generations across Anangu Country.

Activations

Arrernte Voices celebrates Arrernte as a living Central Australian language, carried through generations and continuing to shape life on Country where Parrtjima takes place. Positioned throughout the festival site, illuminated language stations invite visitors to pause, listen and participate. By tapping a drum, audiences activate an Arrernte word, that appears through programmed light effects and accompanied by the spoken word in language. Visitors are encouraged to engage with language in a meaningful and accessible way. More than a learning tool, the installation affirms language as living knowledge, inviting audiences to listen closely, speak with care, and carry Arrernte words with them beyond the festival.

The Language of Textiles by Nina Fitzgerald is a reimagined installation first presented in 2021. Across Central Desert communities, language is not only spoken – it is painted, woven and embedded in Country through pattern, gesture and making. For Parrtjima 2026, this understanding of language as a living, visual practice is brought to life in this collaborative work that features Central Desert art centres Yarrenyty Arltere Artists, Ikuntji Artists, Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists, and Papunya Tjupi Arts.

Free workshops and demonstrations

From Story to Screen: Nina Fitzgerald guides participants through the fundamentals of the screen printing process before printing their own Parrtjima t-shirt.

Flavours of Country: Learn about cooking with native bush spices with a live cooking demonstration with renowned local cook and native ingredient expert Rayleen Brown.

The Art of Native Spice: This intimate workshop with Rayleen Brown explores native botanicals and bush spices. Guests will leave with their own spice jar, along with printed bush food information and interpretive notes.

Creature Makers: This soft sculpture workshop with Yarrenyty Arltere artists is a hands-on, creative workshop inviting participants to explore soft sculpture alongside artists known for their joyful, upcycled practice. Each participant receives a make-your-own kit and explores colour, texture and stitch techniques before leaving with a unique soft sculpture of their own.

Clay Stories: Unhurried and immersive, this workshop with artists from Hermannsburg Potters creates space to listen, make and connect. Participants leave with a sculptural piece of their own and a deeper understanding of Western Aranda culture and language.

Say it in Arrernte! This is a playful, family-friendly introduction to Arrernte language, where music, movement and storytelling come together. Designed for children and carers, by Children's Ground, this interactive session introduces simple Arrernte words and phrases through song, repetition and shared participation.

Another program highlight is sand painting, which offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore and learn the significance of markings in sand. On selected evenings, some of the festival's artists and respected elders will be alongside participants to share stories of their Country through drawing directly into the sand.

In addition, the markets return during the opening weekend, and much-loved festival favourites Grounded and the iconic Ranges Light Show will once again dazzle audiences over 10 nights, reimagined by Artists in Motion.

The powerhouse free live music program includes Electric Fields, 3%, BARKAA, Drifting Clouds and Emma Donovan.

Parrtjima is delivered by Tourism and Events NT in partnership with We Are Gather.

Free registration is available at parrtjima.com.au, where visitors can also explore itineraries, travel packages and planning tools for their Red Centre journey.

Images and video HERE

Quote from Tourism and Events NT CEO Suzana Bishop

“Set against the extraordinary landscapes of the Red Centre, Parrtjima opens the door for everyone to connect and engage with Aboriginal culture in a way that stays with you long after the lights fade.

“Parrtjima is also the perfect opportunity not only to visit Alice Springs and the surrounding landscapes, swimming holes and attractions, but also to do one of the most iconic road trips you can take in Australia.

“Driving between the magical trio of Alice Springs, Uluru and Kings Canyon is truly an unforgettable experience.

“You don't need a four-wheel drive either – the main roads are sealed so it's easily accessible for everyone.”

“The Red Centre allows you to hear, see and touch Country, community and cultural creativity, offering a deeper lens to understand and honour the world's oldest continuous living culture.” -Ends-

About Parrtjima
Multi-award-winning Parrtjima is an Aboriginal-led event that proudly showcases the oldest continuous cultures on Earth through modern technology against the backdrop of the incredible MacDonnell Ranges – a 300-million-year-old natural canvas. Parrtjima (pronounced Par-Chee-ma) means 'lighting up' and conveys two meanings: physically illuminating an object with light and 'lighting up' as in to shed light and understanding on a subject.

Media contacts:

Andrea Kerekes, Access PR andrea@accesspr.com.au 0418 427 412

Kate Parker, Access PR katep@accesspr.com.au 0431 910 269