Albany’s Historic Whaling Station is proud to present Reflect, Respect and Reactivate, our year-long program of events and exhibitions for Albany 2026, celebrating the city’s bicentenary through culture, creativity, and community.
Across 2026, we will present special events, cultural performances, Artists in Residence, and exhibitions shaped by three guiding themes: Connecting with our past, celebrating the present, and embracing the future. Together, these experiences invite meaningful engagement with the stories, people, and place that define Albany.
Free Community Event
Benang Koondarm: Tomorrow’s Dream
Saturday 18 April 2026
Gates open 3:30pm | Performance 5:30pm
FREE community event
At the heart of our program is Benang Koondarm: Tomorrow’s Dream, our major feature free community event. This joyful outdoor celebration of Noongar culture, connection, and community will bring people together under the stars in our Amphitheatre for an evening of shared stories, music, performance, and celebration. Supported by City of Albany.
Special Events
Ocean Meets Vine – Taste Great Southern
A Riesling and oyster masterclass with Emma Farrelly and Jerry Fraser
Saturday 7 March 2026 | 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Coast and cellar come together for an intimate masterclass dedicated to one of the finest pairings – oysters and Riesling.
KAARLA WIRREN (Fire Spirit)
Presented by Southern Edge Arts
Saturday 16 May 2026
Gates open 5:00pm | Performance 6:00pm
A powerful new performance celebrating the resilience of people in the face of historic change: strength, spirit, and the fire that connects us all. Supported by City of Albany.
Rapture
Dance | Exhibition | Dinner
Friday 5 June 2026 | From 3:30pm (Performance 5:00pm)
An immersive evening shaped by tides and coastline, featuring woven sculpture, projections, and soundscapes. Supported by the City of Albany.
Artists in Residence
Women in Whaling – Jo Wassell
2 April to 31 May 2026
An Artist in Residence exhibition bringing into focus the overlooked lives of wives and daughters who shaped Australia’s whaling communities through finely rendered portraits and stories. Supported by the City of Albany.
The Boneyard – Erin Coates
3 July to 30 August 2026
A powerful exhibition weaving family history and whaling archives into sculpture and installation exploring human and animal entanglement, memory, extinction, and regeneration. Supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Western Australian Government and the City of Albany.
Exhibitions
Connecting Threads – A History of Albany Woollen Mills
4 February to 28 March 2026
An exhibition by Sally Pell celebrating the wool, the workers, and the quiet stories carried across generations — stitched into blankets, lives, and community memory.
Turbulence
2 to 23 June 2026
Discover artist Lizzie Riley latest work exploring turbulence, drift, and the arrival of calm – where movement softens into serenity, floating toward peace.
We look forward to welcoming our community and visitors throughout 2026 as we reflect on our shared past, celebrate the present, and reactivate our future together.
For full program details and updates, visit our Albany 2026 events page.
