culture

Emerging talent voices and the next wave to watch

Darwin's fresh crop of artists, writers and performers is gaining momentum ahead of the July festival season.

By Darwin Culture Desk · Published 20 July 2026

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Emerging talent voices and the next wave to watch — Photo: Syced / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Darwin's Next Wave program has named its 2026 cohort of 12 emerging artists who will debut new work at city venues from July 20.

The selections arrive as the Northern Territory government boosts arts grants by 12 percent for the financial year ending June 2027, reflecting rising demand for stories rooted in local Indigenous, Southeast Asian and multicultural experiences.

Performances and readings will take place at the Darwin Entertainment Centre on Mitchell Street and at the Northern Territory Library inside the Parliament House precinct on Mitchell Street.

Program details and local reach

Among the cohort are three poets from the Nightcliff area and a visual artist based in the Parap industrial strip who will exhibit at the Darwin Fringe Festival satellite events. The program also partners with the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation to pair two emerging painters with mentors for studio sessions at the Waterfront Precinct.

Applications closed June 30 after 87 submissions arrived from across Greater Darwin, including from Palmerston and the rural area. Tickets for the showcase series start at $18, with a full pass available for $95 through the Darwin Entertainment Centre box office.

Where to see the work next

Residents can catch preview excerpts at the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets on July 18 and July 25. Full details and booking links appear on the City of Darwin website under the culture tab, with sessions listed for both the main theatre and the library auditorium.

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