The Bagala Aboriginal Corporation has announced the Barunga Festival will return to in-house management in 2026, delivering direct community leadership of the event.
The previous festival delivery partner, Campaign Edge Sprout, has worked alongside the community over the past three years to strengthen the cultural integrity of this iconic event.
Sprout were successful in the application of three years of funding from Tourism and Events NT in Bagala's name, in good faith.
Sprout also ensured a safe and professional delivery of the festival, engaging and inspiring industry and partners, through a shared purpose and vision, to elevate the festival to a national standard.
During this period, the Barunga Festival received significant industry acclaim, including honours at the Australian Event Awards in 2023, the Chamber of Commerce Community Event of the Year in 2023, NT Music Event of the Year in 2024, and finalist recognition at BEA World Festival in Rome in 2024.
Sprout was initially engaged to deliver the festival on behalf of Bagala by Dr Bush Blanasi in 2023 for the 35th anniversary of the Barunga Statement, and continued to build it in 2024 and 2025.
During this time, Sprout secured funding and underwrote the event to ensure suppliers, contractors and partners were supported throughout delivery.
In 2025, the festival recorded its first operating surplus, with Sprout returning $100,000 plus $16,000 in merchandise revenue to Bagala Aboriginal Corporation.
Sprout director Anya Lorimer said the team was proud of its contribution to the festival's recent chapter in its long history.
The Sprout team value the stakeholders, sponsors and people we have met along the way who all contributed to the spirit of Barunga.
"The Barunga Festival is both all-consuming and complex to deliver, and it has been a privilege to work alongside the community. Together we strengthened operations, relationships and sustainability," she said.
"We wish the Bagala Aboriginal Corporation every success for the future."
Looking ahead, Sprout continues to grow its presence as one of Darwin's leading marketing and event delivery agencies, with several new Northern Territory projects already in development.
These include early planning for a major new event concept at Mindil Beach, reigniting Territory Taste and a culturally significant project in partnership with the Jawoyn Aboriginal Association.
Further announcements will be made as planning progresses throughout 2026.
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