Shepparton Arts Festival announce 2026 dates

Expressions of interest are now open for artists, producers, performers and more.

Ahead of their full program of events for Winter Weekend later this month, Shepparton Arts Festival have announced their 2026 festival dates.

Celebrating their 30th anniversary, Shepparton Arts Festival will take over the regional centre from 20-29 March, 2026.

Shepparton Arts Festival

When: 20 – 29 March 2026

Where: Various Venues across Shepparton district

Keep up to date with all things arts, exhibitions and stage here.

 

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The annual festival is a major arts activation across the township of Shepparton, showcasing the artistry of locals, commissioning major world-class performance pieces, music, literature, visual arts and food across a bold and exciting program. Shepparton Arts Festival aims to bring together people from all walks of life to celebrate the regional centres rich creative community.

With that in mind, their 2026 program has opened its expressions of interests for creatives, community members, storytellers, artists, producers, performers, and everyone in between to submit their idea for the 30th anniversary edition.

Open to returning participants and new, the festival is asking for creative contribution in the form of music, performance, art, dance and so much more. The scope of creativity is undefined as the festival encourages all ideas and expressions. In addition funding for amounts of up to $1,000 may be available to successful applicants from the festival.

Expressions of interest are open until 14 September.

 

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The lead up to Shepparton Arts Festival sees programming throughout winter, featuring collaborations between major arts organisations and collectives. Across the weekend of 23 and 24 August, Shepparton Arts Festival supports the delivery of twelve events, performances and exhibitions. On offer are a Pop-up Choir Workshops for The Big Sing, Bar SAM: Whiteley Art Party in which Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio exhibition is celebrated, Sustainable Artmaking Workshop with Meg Doller, Creative City Networking Sessions, Retail and Commercial Relationships with Artists Q+A from Becky Fortin and Kristen Retallick, Screening of Fashion in Shepparton: Sky Stories, the production of Moonlite as presented by Homophonic!, Australian Welsh Male Choir at Shepparton Brewery, a collaborative exhibition from Amanda Hocking and Creagh Manning – Winners of the 2026 Call to Create and Cardboard Orchestra by Ruby Wyatt Carter. In addition the Regional Arts Fair will be activating McIntosh Centre in Shepparton across the weekend, delivering talks, workshops and shopping experiences.

It’s a glimpse inside the action of Shepparton Arts Festival.

To discover more about the EOI process, to apply for the festival and to find out more about Shepparton Arts Festival, head here.