Reflect, Respect and Reactivate
Reflect, Respect and Reactivate is an exciting program of events for Albany 2026 at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station. Included in the year-long program will be special events, cultural performances, artists in residence, and exhibitions. The program aligns with three broad themes: Connecting with our past, celebrating the present, and embracing the future.
Flagship Free Community Event
Benang Koondarm: Tomorrow’s Dream
A Night of Culture, Connection and Celebration
Saturday 18 April 2026
Gates open 3:30pm | Performance 5:30pm
A joyful outdoor celebration of Noongar culture, connection, and community under the stars in our Amphitheatre. Enjoy food trucks, cultural market stalls, festival activities and immersive experiences that honour Country and celebrate the spirit of tomorrow’s dream.
Supported by City of Albany.
Special Events
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.
Dance | Exhibition | Dinner
Friday 5 June 2026
From 3:30pm (performance 5:00pm)
An intimate evening shaped by tides and coastline with woven sculpture, immersive projections and soundscapes.
Supported by City of Albany.
Artists in Residence Program
2 April to 31 May 2026
An Artist in Residence exhibition by Jo Wassell bringing into focus the overlooked lives of the wives and daughters who shaped Australia’s whaling communities through finely rendered portraits and stories.
Supported by City of Albany.
3 July to 30 August 2026
An Artist in Residence exhibition by Erin Coates weaving together family history and whaling archives to create sculpture and installation work exploring human and animal entanglement, memory, extinction, and regeneration.
Supported by DLGSC, Western Australian Government and City of Albany.
Boodja – A Goreng Woman’s Journey by Jennifer Woods
3 to 29 November 2026
An Artist in Residence exhibition by Goreng artist, Jennifer Woods, whose paintings are grounded in Boodja (Country) not just as landscape, but as living presence.
Supported by City of Albany.
Gallery Exhibitions
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.
School Holiday Activities
7, 8 & 9 April 2026
14, 15 & 16 April 2026
Our popular Nocturnal Tours are back these April holidays for six nights only. Meet our amazing Aussie animals and passionate wildlife keepers on this twilight tour.
Wildlife Discovery Quest Activity
3 to 19 April 2026
10am – 5pm
Explore and learn on a fun school holidays Wildlife Discovery Quest designed especially for little adventurers and their families.
Wander through our Wildlife Park together as you search for six animals hidden along the trail.
Discover Our Past 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 the finest of pairings – oysters and Riesling.
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.
