Gnulli Festival

The Gnulli Festival is a vibrant celebration of community, culture and Country held on Yinggarda Country, bringing together locals and visitors to celebrate the people, stories and traditions that make Carnarvon unique. Showcasing the Yinggarda and Baiyungu cultures that shape our region, the festival creates opportunities for connection, learning and celebration while sharing our community with visitors from across Western Australia and beyond.

Across several incredible days, Gnulli Festival transformed Carnarvon into a hub of music, art, culture, food and community spirit. From powerful cultural experiences and live performances to family activities and shared moments on Country, the festival once again demonstrated what makes our region so special.

As we reflect on another successful year, we celebrate not only the events themselves, but the partnerships, volunteers, artists, Traditional Owners, businesses and community members who brought Gnulli Festival to life and helped showcase Carnarvon at its very best.

Yarning Circle

Gnulli Festival began with a meaningful Yarning Circle hosted at Gwoonwardu Mia, creating space for conversation, reflection and connection through storytelling.

Community members joined the cast from Which Way Home by Yirra Yaakin to explore themes of identity, family and the journey of returning home to Country. Through open conversations and shared experiences, the event created a welcoming environment for learning, listening and connecting.

A special thank you to Gwoonwardu Mia for hosting this important gathering and continuing to create spaces where culture, storytelling and community connections can thrive.

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Gwoonwardu Mia Guided Tour with Wooramulla

Festival guests and community members spent the afternoon immersed in culture and storytelling during a special guided experience at Gwoonwardu Mia led by Rennee Turner from Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys.

The tour provided an opportunity to connect with Yinggarda Country through bushfoods, storytelling and shared cultural knowledge, creating a meaningful and immersive experience that deepened connections to place, people and culture.

A sincere thank you to Rennee and Wooramulla Eco Cultural Journeys for generously sharing culture, stories and knowledge with the community, and to Gwoonwardu Mia for hosting this special experience as part of the Gnulli Festival program.

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Which Way Home - Yirra Yaakin Theatre

Day one of Gnulli Festival concluded with the powerful performance of Which Way Home by Yirra Yaakin at Camel Lane Theatre.

The moving production explored themes of family, identity, belonging and returning home to Country, taking audiences on an emotional journey filled with humour, reflection and heartfelt moments. Performed by real-life father and daughter Derek and Shaquita Nannup, the production created a deeply personal and memorable experience for those in attendance.

As the curtain closed on the opening day of the festival, the performance provided a meaningful reminder of the importance of storytelling, culture and connection, setting the tone for an incredible weekend of celebrations still to come.

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Gnulli Street Festival

The heart of Carnarvon came alive as Gnulli Festival Day Two began with a vibrant Street Festival celebrating culture, creativity, storytelling and community connection.

Throughout the morning, locals and visitors explored a diverse program of activities including Storytime Fun with Brooke Blurton, creative workshops led by local artists, native food experiences, weaving, art activities and hands-on cultural experiences. The streets were filled with colour, conversation and creativity as community members of all ages joined in the celebrations.

Cultural dance performances showcased the many cultures that make up our community, while the opening of Portraits of Yinggarda Elders at the Library & Art Gallery provided a powerful opportunity to celebrate stories, knowledge and the strength of local Elders.

The Street Festival captured everything Gnulli Festival represents, community, culture, creativity and connection, creating an energetic and welcoming atmosphere in the heart of town.

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Gnulli Sounds on the Lawn

As the sun set on day two of Gnulli Festival, Gwoonwardu Mia came alive for Gnulli Sounds on the Lawn, an evening of music, dance, language and culture under the Carnarvon sky.

Opening with a powerful Welcome to Country by Yinggarda Elder Kath Ryan, the evening set the tone for a celebration grounded in connection, storytelling and community. Guided throughout the night by MC Matt Moncrieff, audiences were taken on a journey through performances that showcased both emerging local talent and renowned artists from across Western Australia.

The program featured cultural performances from the Gwoonwardu Boys alongside dancers Sahneemah, Gail, Usher, Ashton and Ezaylia, creating moments of pride and cultural celebration throughout the evening. Emerging homegrown artists Mary E and X@RO showcased music developed through BLOODBEATS, while the JNF Band, led by Wes Mongoo and supported by Baiyungu Elder Hazel Walgar, brought incredible energy to the stage.

One of the evening’s standout moments came as Shane Howard and the Great Western Band performed Solid Rock with lyrics developed alongside Hazel Walgar during the 2025 JNF and sung in Baiyungu language, creating a powerful moment of culture, music and shared storytelling.

As darkness settled across Gwoonwardu Mia, performances from Sundown featuring Raymond Edney, Razzy Mak and Red Ochre kept the energy high, with local youth joining the stage and crowds dancing well into the evening. More than just a concert, Sounds on the Lawn created a space where generations, cultures and communities came together through music.

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Coming Home to Carnarvon with Brooke Blurton

Sunday morning provided an opportunity for connection, reflection and honest conversation as Brooke Blurton joined the community at Gwoonwardu Mia to share stories from her memoir, Big Love.

In an intimate and heartfelt discussion, Brooke spoke openly about identity, healing, family, love and the journey of embracing culture and self. Drawing from her own experiences, she shared personal stories of growing up, the love and strength she received from family, and the importance of leading with love even through difficult times.

The conversation created space for meaningful discussions around identity, belonging and connection to culture, including conversations about reconnecting with Aboriginal identity later in life and the lasting impacts of disconnection from Country and community.

Brooke also shared insights into navigating challenges such as lateral violence and social media negativity, speaking candidly about boundaries, empathy and understanding that hurt is often behind the words people share online.

Throughout the morning, Brooke reflected on how special it was to be in Carnarvon during a time of celebration and joy, creating an experience that was not only inspiring, but deeply personal for everyone who attended.

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Gnulli Festival

The 2026 Gnulli Festival concluded with a spectacular celebration at the Fascine, bringing together music, culture, storytelling and community for an unforgettable finale on Yinggarda Country.

As the waterfront came alive, locals and visitors gathered to enjoy an incredible lineup of performances from Shane Howard and the Great Western Band, Proud Mary, Caravãna Sun and Kankawa Nagarra (Olive Knight), creating an atmosphere filled with energy, connection and celebration.

As the evening unfolded, the Fascine transformed into a celebration of culture and place. A breathtaking drone show by Fremantle Biennale illuminated the night sky, followed by a spectacular fireworks display that provided a fitting finale to three days of community celebrations.

More than just an evening of entertainment, the festival finale captured what Gnulli Festival is all about, creating opportunities for people to come together, celebrate culture, share stories and showcase the incredible spirit of Carnarvon and the wider Gascoyne region.

As the final songs played and the fireworks faded over the water, the festival closed not only with celebration, but with a strong sense of pride, connection and community.

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The success of Gnulli Festival would not have been possible without the incredible support of our partners, sponsors, performers, volunteers, businesses, Traditional Owners and wider community who helped bring the festival to life. A special thank you to Chevron as Principal Sponsor, whose support continues to create opportunities for meaningful community connection, cultural celebration and regional activation. We also extend our sincere thanks to Tourism WA and Leichhardt for their valuable support in helping deliver experiences that showcase Carnarvon and the Gascoyne region to both locals and visitors alike. Gnulli Festival is a reflection of what can be achieved when community, culture, business and industry come together with a shared vision. Together, we have celebrated stories, strengthened connections, supported local businesses, showcased local talent and created experiences that will continue to resonate long after the festival has ended. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making Gnulli Festival 2026 such a memorable celebration of community, culture and Country.