If you’re heading Central Australia in April this is a must.
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, the annual award-winning Aboriginal-led light festival, returns to Alice Springs from 10–19 April for its 11th edition.
The event illuminates the world’s oldest living culture through large-scale light installations and a vibrant program of workshops, demonstrations, music and storytelling.
This free, all-ages celebration of Aboriginal cultures will premiere new installations inspired by this year’s theme, Language, inviting visitors to experience the Red Centre in an entirely new light.
A highlight of the 2026 program is the outdoor Dome — a dedicated space to pause, watch and reflect on culture through film and animation.
It is complemented by a curated series of optional ticketed experiences beyond the main festival grounds, including the Merne Mwerre Bushfood Experience, rare watercolour masterclasses with artists from Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, and the Desert at Dusk experience at Alice Springs Desert Park.
Across 10 special nights on Arrernte Country, Parrtjima will showcase more than 36 First Nations artists and over 50 performers and speakers, set against the dramatic backdrop of the ancient Tjoritja / MacDonnell Ranges.