Newkulele Festival 2026

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Contents

1. When is Newkulele? (21-23 August 2026)
2. What is Newkulele this year? (nah. Can't summarise, you'll have to read the newsletter).
3. Can I perform at Newkulele? (Hint: Apply!)
4. Where is Newkulele happening? (mostly Carrington - heard of it?)
5. Be a member of Newkulele Festival Inc.
6. Newkulele Sponsorship from The University of Newcastle

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2026 Newkulele is coming!

Since 2012 Newkulele has ridden the ukulele wave, bringing you the best of entertainment, education and opportunities to perform. And we've been proud to showcase all this in our beautiful seaside city.

1. When is it?

Lock it in (before you lock in hip replacements, kids, or holidays elsewhere)

Newkulele 2026 is on the weekend of 21-23 August 2026. That's Friday night to Sunday arvo.

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2. What is Happening and Who is doing what?

2026 is the year the Newkulele Festival evolves into something MORE — more instruments, more community, more music!

The Newcastle ukulele scene has always been built on connection, and this year we’re expanding that spirit in a BIG way. While the festival will still be proudly uke-heavy, we’re opening the door to a wider range of instruments, workshops, and performances.

Ever thought about trying African drumming, marimba, brass, or percussion? This could be your year to dive in and experience something new, all curated and fostered by our amazingly vibrant Novocastrian ukulele community.

At its heart, community music is participatory, inclusive, and social. It brings people of all ages and skill levels together to create music, breaking down barriers and fostering connection. It’s about empowerment, accessibility, and making music for everyone — no matter your background or experience.

The 2026 Newkulele Festival will celebrate all of this, alongside fantastic performances, hands-on workshops, and opportunities for both groups and individuals to take the stage.

As part of our exciting program we've asked some Victorian community music superstars to lead us along. We are thrilled that Lyndal and Strat from InvyHornJam have agreed to come along.

So well may you ask ... who is playing?

You are!

It's a community music festival!

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3. Perform! Apply here!

​Get your applications in - they close at midnight on Friday 1 May 2026. We've had heaps of apps, but maybe not yours! Community music groups of all persuasions are encouraged to apply. Trad uke, funky flute, inclusive brass, choral wonderpieces - got something we don't know about?! Apply!

Tickets for workshops go on sale in early May.

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4. Where is it? Carrodise! (or as Newcastle folk call it - Carrington).

We love Carrington. It's in the middle of our working Newcastle Harbour; it's built on the rubble of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake; and it's where our beloved Carrington Bowling Club is (with our beloved Jaci Lapin, Manager Extraordinaire) and the 4 funky halls and cafes that will be our main Newkulele Festival venues for workshops and concerts.

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5. Be One of Us! (Join and/or volunteer)

The Newkulele Festival is an Incorporated Community Association. Members are our lifeblood. Join (only $5) to get your democratic voice heard, or volunteer to vote with your feet, hands and heart.

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6. Thanks to the University of Newcastle for our Friday night concert

Once again we are proud to announce that the UoN is sponsoring us for our Friday night concert. This helps us so much to provide a top quality venue and sound production team at the Conservatorium of Newcastle's Harold Lobb Auditorium. Woooo!!!! Details of our headline acts in our next newsletter.

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