Beer, dust and goldfish: Birdsville Races wrap for 2026
The horses weren't the only attraction at the Birdsville Races, with plenty of fun to be had in what's arguably the nation's longest pub crawl.
festive event (including carnival)
Fireworks spectacular lights Australia’s Olympic city
The Riverfire event has drawn an estimated 500,000 people to see fireworks set off from bridges, barges and city buildings.
Fijian circus takes off, as crowds build for Riverfire
Crowds are building along the Brisbane River for the Riverfire display, as Fiji's first ever circus shows off under the big top.
Won, done, far-flung: Birdsville Races ride again
The Birdsville Cup might not stop the nation, but it's an annual pilgrimage that brings thousands of revellers to a far-flung outback outpost.
Ferry strike turns up heat on Riverfire festival crowds
The Brisbane Festival kicks off, with extra transport in place to cope with crowds at the city's popular Riverfire event.
Goal-kicking AFLW theatre tackles state of the nation
Playwright Suzie Miller describes Strong is the New Pretty as her state-of-the-nation play, told through the story of the AFL women's league.
Calls grow to extend pill testing beyond festivals
One state will continue drug testing at festivals despite political opposition, after a year-long trial found the service provided unique value.
Happy campers hit the road after muddy muddy festival
Mundi Mundi Bash organisers are helping thousands of campers dig their way out of mud and hit the road home after a wet but wonderful celebration of live music.
Rain makes way for stars as bash ends on a high note
"There's nothing quite like Mundi," Noiseworks and INXS rocker Jon Stevens says as he headlines the closing night of Australia's largest outback festival.
Sun steals show as gates reopen at rain-soaked festival
It's a breathtaking sight over the red desert plains at Australia's largest outdoor music festival - one that almost outshines the event's brightest stars.
Ekka celebrates milestone year with $300m revamp reveal
A major agricultural show will celebrate its 150th year, buzzing with news of an upgrade of almost $300 million to be completed ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
Fuel prices can’t stop the music at outback festival
The rising cost of fuel has failed to deter thousands of music-loving campers hitting the road to travel to outback NSW for the Mundi Mundi Bash.
Garma eyes life after mining and a new land rights era
At the NT's Garma Festival, Yolngu leaders have marked 50 years of land rights, confronted the end of a Rio Tinto mine and push for a future on their terms.
Garma festival shows Yolngu culture in full colour
As leaders talk policy at Garma, Yolngu men, women and children step onto the Bungul ground, using ochre, song and story to show Australians who they really are
Australia leans on Indigenous culture in Pacific pacts
Australia is drawing on First Nations ties in its Pacific diplomacy push as PNG and other islands' leaders back a culturally grounded regional agenda.
Breakaway Arnhem Land council shocks NT Indigenous body
Yolngu leaders have launched the breakaway Dilak Land Council at Garma, stunning the Northern Land Council and reshaping the land rights fight in Arnhem Land.
Didgeridoo rumble as Garma Festival bursts into life
Under a bruised-purple Arnhem Land sky, 13 Yolngu clans have drenched the red dust in ochre, song and didgeridoo as the Garma Festival explodes into colour.
Socceroos fans downhearted but well behaved, say police
Australia has been knocked out of the soccer World Cup after a tense shootout with Egypt, but local fans have accepted the disappointment without incident.
Fans kick on after teen arrested at Socceroos live site
Thousands of fans have packed Melbourne's Federation Square to support the Socceroos, with one person arrested for allegedly setting off a flare in the crowd.
Thousands grin and bare it for swim at crack of dawn
Wearing nothing but a red swimming cap, hardy souls have taken a brisk river dip for an annual winter solstice celebration as part of Dark Mofo festivities.
Bring the yoga mat, this arts festival salutes the sun
The 2026 Brisbane Festival is designed for a city of early risers, with DJ sets and yoga classes part of an arts program that starts at dawn.
Indie Birthday Trip flick finds own way to the cinema
When satirical feature The Birthday Trip was left out of major film festivals, its makers decided they could get it onto the big screen themselves.
Legal landmark celebrated with free Mabo Day concert
Mabo Day will be celebrated with a free concert to mark the watershed legal decision paving the way for native land title claims across Australia.
Mural artists creating downtown city wonderwalls
Darwin has a higher per capita concentration of wall murals than any other major Australian city, making it the street art capital of Australia.
Shower of sparks as singer serenades to the stars
The stars have aligned at an opera festival in the outback, where a star tenor has performed under a meteor shower.
Highway to the highfalutin’: opera hits the outback
Put on your fancy pants and cowboy hats: opera's annual run through a state's outback towns is back. Just look out for flying locusts.
arts, culture and entertainment
award and prize
breaking_news
festive event (including carnival)
human interest
music
television
Delta soars into Eurovision final with sparkling act
Singer Delta Goodrem has led Australia into the Eurovision final with a sparkling powerhouse vocal performance.
Delta Goodrem aims to Eclipse favourites at Eurovision
Delta Goodrem has unveiled the staging for her Eurovision entry Eclipse, as betting markets put Australia in contention but outside the top favourites.
From Slow Horse to smash hit, author heads Down Under
Despite the bestselling Slough House novels and Slow Horses television series, author Mick Herron is pleasantly surprised to have an audience in Australia.
Trump hopes for extension to Ukraine-Russia ceasefire
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners, and President Donald Trump would like to see "a big extension".
Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating truce
Ukraine has targeted Moscow with drones during a short ceasefire, Russia says, while Kyiv accuses Russia of breaking its own truce by striking Ukraine.