August · Northern Territory · North-East Arnhem Land
Garma Festival
Australia's largest Yolngu cultural gathering, held in north-east Arnhem Land over four days in early August.
Garma is the most significant indigenous cultural festival in Australia, bringing together Yolngu clans, senior politicians, artists and visitors for four days of ceremony, discussion and education.
Garma is a four-day cultural festival held in early August in Gulkula, a traditional Yolngu ceremonial ground in north-east Arnhem Land. It has been running since 1999 and is organised by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, named for the Aboriginal rock band that grew out of the region. The festival brings together members of the Yolngu clans of Arnhem Land with senior Australian politicians, academics, artists, journalists and invited visitors for four days of discussion, cultural performance and education.
The festival includes formal sessions on contemporary indigenous issues such as constitutional recognition and treaty, plus evenings of bunggul (traditional dance) performances by Yolngu clans in ceremonial body paint around a bonfire. Attendance is limited to around 2,500 people per year and is strictly ticketed, with some tickets reserved for traditional owners and invited guests.
Access to Arnhem Land requires a permit, which is arranged as part of the ticket package. Most visitors fly into Nhulunbuy (Gove) Airport and are transported to the Gulkula site by the festival organisers. Camping is the standard accommodation on site. Garma is widely considered the most important indigenous cultural event in Australia and the single best chance for non-indigenous visitors to be welcomed onto Aboriginal country under traditional protocols.
While you are there
