FUSE: Darebin's multiarts festival

Darebin FUSE Festival is Darebin’s contemporary, multi-arts festival. Every year the festival offers signature events presented by the Darebin Arts Festival and Events unit, FUSE Funded, artist-led events supported by a Community Grants program, and a platform to share events by local artists and creatives as part of the FUSE Open Access initiative. 

Darebin FUSE Festival reflects Darebin’s uniqueness as a vibrant, inclusive, creative and forward-thinking city. During the festival, we invite the community to enjoy our streets, parks, venues, theatres and galleries as transformative zones, infusing Darebin with the power of art, culture and creativity.

Image: Performance by Djirri Djirri Dancers at Ganbu Gulin in Spring 2022, image by Wild Hardt.

Darebin FUSE Festival 2026

5 – 13 September 

Darebin FUSE Festival is back this September, set to light up the municipality with ten days of non-stop creative activity! Enjoy live music, cultural experiences, hands-on workshops, family activities, installations, dance and more, across Darebin’s iconic arts venues. All activities are either free or low cost.

At the heart of the festival are eight programs curated by Darebin Arts, celebrating a broad range of artforms and designed with every age group in mind.

Signature Events

Ganbu Gulin: Burndap, neto! (festival opening)

Come together and celebrate the contemporary artistic practices of First Nations peoples across music and art.

Little Explorers' Art Play

A range of hands-on artistic activities for children using clay in its various forms

Street Sessions

Pop-up live music experiences in Reservoir, Northcote and Fairfield for all in the community

Film Sessions: Family Film Day

A short film plus two feature films for families in a blow-up cinema at Preston City Hall!

Film Sessions: Multicultural Movie Marathon

Three acclaimed films from international filmmakers, with stories from Malta, Morocco, and China. Book one, two, or three FREE screenings.

Film Sessions: First Nations Film Evening

A special community evening showcasing innovative First Nations films

Film Sessions: Festa Italiana

A series of films celebrating all things Italian - especially the Italian-Australian experience and legacy.

Rock-A-Bye Baby

PBS' #1 kid-friendly music event!

THE CUBE

A giant cube full of arts and creative activities all weekend at Preston Market!

Photography Walks

Snap, Stroll & Discover Darebin!

Stamping the Kulin Seasons

A kids' workshop to celebrate Poorneet (tadpole) season through collage and stamps.

Nineteen exciting multi-arts events presented by independent producers, venues and artists across Darebin have received FUSE Funded support via the Community Events Grant program.

FUSE Funded Events

DIY on High

A free multi-venue live music day fest on High Street Thornbury across Cafe Gummo and Cactus Room

Surround Sound - A High Street Collaboration

Four venues. One stage. One beer. One Street. Many Voices.

The Mechanical Heard by Noise Scavengers and )-(u||!c|<

Dive into a universe of sound machines by )-(u||!c|< in a concert of new works by Noise Scavengers and )-(u||!c|<

Mähallä & Capers present Kazdoura / Ταξίδι

A night of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern live music and performances, chess, shared plates, DJs, and late-night dancing.

Delight Social

A program of live music, wellbeing and alcohol-free social connection

O.R.B @ Shotkickers

Psychedelic rockers, O.R.B take over Shotkickers for a night of heavy riffs and cosmic groove.

Live Music Weekend at The Tav

Possible Humans, Fin Healy, Alex & Max + Green Child DJs perform during a packed evening of music at the Merri Creek Tavern

A Queer Jazz Session

A Sunday afternoon of live queer jazz - the debut of one of Darebin’s most exciting new venues, and a room full of music, community, and joy.

Darebin and Dragons

Dark, experimental, noisy multicultural music from local diverse communities, exploring transcendent traditions

Zaman Festival – Music of the Levant & Asia Minor

Zaman Festival is a vibrant cultural celebration showcasing the music of the Eastern Mediterranean and its diasporas

ngalnya dhadjowa by Allara

Yorta Yorta artist Allara presents a reflective performance and creative offering that traces her decade-long journey of identity, cultural reclamation, and intergenerational healing

Social Sanctuary at Northcote Social Club

Alice Skye, Tiana Khasi + Inanna Indigo in a Darebin FUSE Festival Takeover

David Chesworth performs 50 Synthesizer Greats

David Chesworth performs the pioneering home-recorded electronic classic 50 Synthesizer Greats across two intimate High Note performances.

Primavera Artist Market

A beautiful evening of exciting market stallholders, creative workshops, delicious food and live music

EYOHA | ኢዮሃ – Ethiopian New Year Celebration

A community gathering exploring the musical traditions of Ethiopia and the innovative expressions of the diaspora, in celebration of Ethiopian New Year

Fuá do Nordeste: A Brazilian Cultural Immersion

A free, immersive celebration of Northeast Brazilian culture through live music, dance workshops and shared experiences

First Peoples Live at Ragtime

An intimate evening celebrating the voices of First Nations artists in the heart of Preston!

Assemble

A day of exploration, participation, and celebration of dance as a creative tool for liberation, resistance and cultural continuity.

Crossings #3

Music in Exile's potluck spread at High Note — a space of exchange across cultural, musical and culinary boundaries

The Darebin FUSE Festival Open Access program highlights a selection of multi-arts events independently produced throughout the municipality during the festival period, including creative events presented by other areas of Darebin City Council. 

Open Access Events

Gallery Unbound

Gallery Unbound presents Aster Denisenko, Laura Wright & Northside Made Art Exhibitions

Beyond Age Exhibition

Beyond Age is a creative storytelling and portrait exhibition, celebrating life experience, reflection, and resilience.

NorthWords

New Stories. Made Local. Read Live.

Milk Bar Gang, Beijing Baby Album Launch

A celebration of the birth of local art pop band Milk Bar Gang's sensational debut album Beijing Baby.

Shepparton Airplane

Shepparton Airplane land at Shotkickers with The Misanthropes & Velvet Parade

Drum & Percussion Workshop

Drum & Percussion Workshop with Gustavo Moreno

AMPLIFY ARCADE

Live Video Games on the Big Screen + Live Bands & DJs!

Preston Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition

Six extraordinary young musicians appear with the Preston Symphony Orchestra for the 37th annual Youth Concerto Competition.

Darebin Arts and Darebin FUSE Festival acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the Traditional Owners, custodians and cultural leaders of this land. We pay respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge the continuing connection to Land, Water and Culture of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.