In pictures: Garma 2026, a festival for 'everyone'

Posted Tue 4 Aug 2026 at 11:48amTue 4 Aug 2026 at 11:48amThe Garma Festival takes place across four days in Gulkula on Gumatj country in a stringybark forest at the top of an escarpment in north-east Arnhem Land. In Yolŋu Matha, Garma refers to a two-way learning process and the theme of this year's festival was "bukmak", a Yolŋu word meaning "everyone".Garma brings together Yolŋu elders, political leaders, artists, academics and business representatives for four days. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)In Yolŋu Matha, Garma refers to a two-way learning process. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Each afternoon before the evening buŋgul members of different clans prepared for the ceremony. (ABC News: Billy Cooper )The theme of this year’s Garma Festival was "bukmak", a Yolŋu word meaning "everyone". (ABC News: Billy Kennedy )Young people danced in the buŋgul grounds with their clans and elders. (ABC News: Maren Preuss )According to tradition, Gulkula is the site where the sacred ancestral figure Ganbulabula first created the yidaki (didgeridoo). (ABC News: Billy Cooper)During the nightly buŋgul performances members of different Yolŋu clans perform songlines that have been passed down through generations. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Garma runs a youth forum where young people can connect and share their thoughts and dreams. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Young people watched and danced at the buŋgul grounds each afternoon. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy)Members of different Yolŋu clans prepared for the buŋgul ceremony each day with paint. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Members of different Yolŋu clans prepared for the buŋgul ceremony each day. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Yolŋu clans have been performing buŋgul ceremonies for thousands of years. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)While politicians spoke at a keynote forum, on the other side of Garma the youth forum was underway. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Each afternoon of Garma Festival, attendees gathered for the buŋgul, a Yolŋu cultural ceremony. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy )A ceremonial dog dance welcomed Bluey onto country. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)The buŋgul stories have been sung and danced for thousands of years. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Every day there is an AFL game on the grounds at Garma. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Through the buŋgul ceremonies, Yolŋu culture can be shared with younger generations. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão gave a keynote address in which he drew parallels between Arnhem Land Timor-Leste. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Foreign Minister Penny Wong used her keynote address to emphasise her "shared vision for the Pacific region”. (ABC News: Billy Cooper )More than 5,000 people were expected to attend Garma Festival this year. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)The clans of Arnhem Land come together each evening on the dance grounds each evening at Garma for the buŋgul ceremony. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy )Yolŋu superstar Baker Boy aka the Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land headlined the festival on Sunday night. (ABC News: Lachlan Bennett )According to tradition, Gulkula is the site where the sacred ancestral figure Ganbulabula first created the yidaki (didgeridoo). (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Garma brings together Yolŋu elders, political leaders, artists, academics and business representatives for four days. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)Additional photos by Marcus Kennedy, Maren Preuss and Lachlan Bennett.