For ten unforgettable days, creativity across Darebin will be celebrated through back-to-back live music, performances, cultural celebrations, installations, hands-on workshops, film screenings, and immersive art experiences, with free and low-cost events across September 5-13.
Darebin FUSE Festival comprises eight signature programs produced and curated by Darebin Arts' Festival & Events team to embody the aims and ethos of the festival, as well as 19 FUSE Funded events supported through a community grants program, and a selection of open access events created by artists across the City of Darebin.
Across the breadth of the festival, the Deadly Darebin program is a strand that highlights the innovation and cultural leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives.
The festival opener and program highlight each year, this year's Ganbu Gulin is titled burndap neto! or One Mob: deadly, now! and celebrates the evolution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts into contemporary practices that are bold, innovative and intrinsically collaborative.
Ganbu Gulin, curated by First Nations programmer Ethan Savage with Wurundjeri Curatorial advisor Stacie Nicholson-Piper, is an event for Darebin's diverse communities to come together and appreciate the artistic and cultural expression of First Nations peoples across music and art.
"With an emphasis on creative and contemporary artistic practice, the theme for Ganbu Gulin and the Deadly Darebin program positions legacies of resistance and empowerment as they manifest in contemporary artistic pursuits, allowing for artists and creatives to embolden their self-determined practices through performance and expression of cultural pride," Mr Savage explained.
This year, the stage will be transformed by neo-soul powerhouse MO'JU, along with vibrant local indie-rock band Liv & The Dream. MC Kimmie Lovegrove will bring her light-hearted warmth to proceedings, Elijah Money will lead a kids' bracelet and charm-making workshop, and Aunty Brenda returns with arts and crafts for the whole family.
Visitors will be welcomed onto Wurundjeri Country with a Smoking Ceremony led by Uncle Bill Nicholson, and a performance from intergenerational Wurundjeri dance group the Djirri Djirri Dancers will encourage all attendees to connect with the land that we walk on.
A full weekend of live performance, creative workshops, food, fun and interactive activities is also brought together in Born in a Taxi's site-specific arts space, THE CUBE.
Over three days, part of the carpark at Preston Market will be transformed into a vivid hub for Darebin FUSE Festival.
Darebin residents and visitors of all ages are invited to experience the centrepiece, THE CUBE. This freestanding, transparent arts space is set to host a smorgasbord of performances and interactive creative activities over the weekend.
THE CUBE is never the same twice: Born in a Taxi's visually striking portable arts space is a unique hub for site-specific public programming and has appeared at some of Australia's biggest arts and cultural events and festivals Born in a Taxi are internationally recognised artists and leaders in physical theatre, site-specific performance and public programming, participatory works, and real-time co-creation.
Darebin FUSE Festival is excited to embark on an artistic journey celebrating the creativity of Darebin's community. Darebin FUSE Festival in 2026 comprises eight signature programs curated by Darebin Arts; 19 FUSE Funded events supported via a community grant process and presented in Darebin by independent presenters, venues and creatives; and a selection of Open Access events presented throughout the municipality by independent artists and producers.
The FUSE Funded program of events was selected by an independent panel following an open application Expression of Interest period.
The program is made up of multi-arts events that encourage community connection and creative innovation.
The Darebin FUSE Festival Open Access program highlights the ways in which local artists and creatives to activate Darebin in unexpected, delightful ways.
This program will also feature creative work and activity programmed by other departments within Darebin City Council.
Darebin FUSE Festival attendees can look forward to a unique blend of art forms that includes live performances, installations, workshops and public programs.
Darebin Fuse Festival will take place from the 5th -13th of September 1pm - 4pm Darebin Arts Centre and Ray Bramham Gardens.
For more fashion, arts, culture and lifestyle news subscribe for free to the Style Up newsletter.
