hero media

WA to host Australia’s biggest outdoor light installation in 2026

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
It’s one of three major arts events taking over the coastal city next year.

Western Australia’s port city of Albany already sparkles thanks to its white-sand beaches, national parks and historic streetscapes. But come 2026, that glow will shine even brighter with Lighting the Sound, an immersive installation set to transform the coastal township like never before.

What is Lighting the Sound?

Presented by independent cultural organisation FORM Building a State of Creativity, Lighting the Sound will be a live, large-scale illumination by internationally acclaimed Finnish artist, Kari Kola. Primarily designed to light up the sky above Albany’s harbour, it will also direct the viewer’s gaze towards the ocean, as well as Torndirrup National Park and the Vancouver Peninsula.

Albany in Western Australia
Torndirrup National Park and the Vancouver Peninsula will be illuminated. (Image: Amazing Albany)

The open-air experience marks a significant moment of reverence for the city, which was voted one of Australia’s top 50 towns in 2022. Firstly, it marks Kari Kola’s debut Down Under, who has a portfolio that extends from Impact with Light at Stonehenge (2018, UK) to Savage Beauty in the Connemara Mountains (2020, Ireland).

Therefore, it’s no surprise that Lighting the Sound is set to be the largest outdoor light installation of its type ever staged, comparable to the likes of Vivid Sydney and Wintjiri Wiru. But this kaleidoscopic display of colour also aligns with the bicentenary of European arrival on Menang Noongar Country, a poignant opportunity for pause and reflection.

Impact with Light, Kari Kola, Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England, 2018.
Impact with Light, Kari Kola, Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England, 2018. (Image: Courtesy of FORM Building a State of Creativity)

“Everything starts from the history and the site: the Menang tribe, the bloodroot plant (Menang) and the remarkable history of cooperation. I will create red roots reaching toward the sky, connecting the land with the cosmos," says artist Kari Kola.

“This project respects the time, place and history and is done only for Albany, so it’s real site-specific work and cannot be repeated on any other location. The landscape provides an ideal setting; the presence of water adds a reflective dimension, allowing us to create a vast panoramic experience for the audience."

Giants of Mandurah in Western Australia
FORM have previously worked on projects like Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah. (Image: Duncan Wright)

FORM is responsible for ensuring WA remains a connected participant in the global creative economy, previously working on projects like Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah and Field of Light by Bruce Munro. The Perth-based company, alongside Kari Kola, has already undertaken several site visits and is also consulting with Menang Elders to secure approvals for installations.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

But wait – there’s more!

Lighting the Sound is part of a wider project called Balgang Albany – a trio of signature events hosted by FORM in the waterfront city throughout 2026. Following Kari Kola’s spectacular light show, Albany Is kicks off mid-year. Intended as a legacy project, it comprises an audio app that locals can use to share what Albany means to them.

To round out Balgang Albany, one of the largest single performative gatherings the state has ever seen will unfold through Albany’s hills. Titled Carrying the Fire, the community procession is an homage to human connection and the natural world, where both locals and visitors are invited to walk into the night together, glowing lamps in hand.

Savage Beauty, Kari Kola, Galway, Ireland, 2020.
Savage Beauty, Kari Kola, Galway, Ireland, 2020. (Image: Courtesy of FORM Building a State of Creativity)

“FORM is honoured to join with the people of Albany in commemorating Albany 2026, a milestone in the enduring story of the region’s extraordinary peoples and cultures. This is our opportunity to collaborate in sharing and celebrating the unique qualities and heritage of both Menang people and more recent arrivals to this special part of Western Australia," says FORM CEO Tabitha McMullan.

The details so far

Balgang Albany is a year-long cultural and arts program beginning in 2026. The first event, Lighting the Sound, will run across three weekends in March. It will be followed by Albany Is (dates yet to be confirmed) and Carrying the Fire in November. Further information is set to roll out in the lead-up to the events, which are being supported by Tourism Western Australia and the state government.

Out-of-state visitors can fly direct to Perth from any Australian capital, as well as several regional hubs, then make the five-hour drive to Albany. Turn it into a road trip along WA’s South West Edge route, which takes in some of the state’s best hidden beaches. Once you arrive, you’ll find plenty of accommodation options waiting for you.

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
View profile and articles
Hikers in Albany hiking the Lighting the Sound-Twilight Uredale Hike
Albany

This WA coastal walk takes you to pristine beaches and a spectacular light show

Lighting the Sound - Twilight Uredale Hike guides you to a world-first, large-scale outdoor light installation.

Read more
Aerial view of Albany's Historic Whaling Station at Discovery Bay, Albany
Albany

Top Towns for 2022: Discover the many things to love about Albany

Danielle Norton pens a love letter to Albany, a port town on Western Australia’s southern coast that endears itself with its bookstores, bakeries and beaches to see why it landed at no.22 on your list of Top 50 Aussie Towns.

Read more
ANZAC Centre, Albany, WA (Lee Griffith).
Albany

10 historical things you can do in Albany, Western Australia

Soon after the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, when troops were called to mobilise from both Australia and New Zealand, Albany – a tiny, unassuming town in south-west WA – was chosen as the unlikely locale for the biggest fleet the Commonwealth had ever assembled.

Read more
A man and a truffle-hunting dog with a truffle
South West WA

Hunt for some of Australia’s best truffles on this dog-led adventure in WA

Get your truffle fix this autumn and meet Australian Truffle Traders' resident hunting pups.

Read more
hero media

Theatre, art and music: Our top picks from this year’s Perth Festival lineup

Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy

    Lynn Gail Lynn Gail
    Continue
    Blend the addictive energy of dance, creative cinematic movies, captivating theatre, and energising music during Perth Festival.

    Perth Festival has extraordinary roots. Born as a summer community experiment back in 1953, the brainchild of Professor Fred Alexander, it’s now Australia’s longest-running international art-based festival. From its first event at University of Western Australia, it now spans across Noongar Boodjar country (Perth City) bringing worldclass performances into the hearts of ardent festivalgoers. Hundreds of curtain calls, including numerous free events, are set to linger and leave a lasting impression on those who seek thrills that fill life’s in-between spaces. Featuring unmissable highlights from 6th February to 1st March, we’ve done the legwork for you – here’s what’s on, and where:

    1. East Perth Power Station

    East Perth Power Station during Perth Festival
    See East Perth Power Station come alive. (Image: Jessica Wyld Photography)

    Abandoned, run-down and shutdown in 1981, East Perth Power Station, located on the banks of the stunning Swan River, was reinvented in 2025 as an entertainment venue for the Perth Festival. Pack a picnic, bring the family and kick back under paperbark trees at Casa Musica – a free event featuring a melting pot of world-class musicians from Australian shores and around the globe. The diversity will have you bopping until the final encore.

    A decade after David Bowie’s passing, his powerful music lives on in the electrifying show, Rebel Rebel. Powerhouse vocalists join Perth Symphony Orchestra for one incredible night showcasing the singer-songwriter’s iconic hits. Illuminate your world through the eyes of First Nation Noongar artist, Lance Chadd Tjyllyungoo in a free event. His distinctive paintings and Dreamtime stories decorate the Power Station’s walls depicting spiritual beliefs. Or settle in to watch British indie pop singer-songwriter, Nilüfer Yanya.

    2. St Mary’s Cathedral

    Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth
    Take in Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth. (Image: Anja Schutz)

    Step into the lofty ceilings of Perth’s grandest cathedral, St Mary’s, and soak up choral harmonies. Dating back to 1865, the stained-glass reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper are a talking point, add talented maestros, and the stage is set to enthral.

    The international line-up is impressive. Master Irish fiddler, Martin Hayes takes to the stage with exquisite lyrical compositions from his native land. Åkervinda, an award winning Swedish quartet, weave stories of love, loss, and resilience into harmonious Nordic folk songs. The USA Grammy Award-winning vocal group, Roomful of Teeth, break all the rules. Hear their voices echo through the arched vaulted ceilings.

    3. Lotterywest Films

    guests at Lotterywest Films as part of Perth Festival
    Discover the Lotterywest Films program. (Credit: Jessia Wyld Photograpghy)

    One of the festivals longest-running favourites, Lotterywest Films run a rich tapestry of cinematic features showing until 29th of March. Pack a picnic, cushions, popcorn and pop a cork under a Somerville Pine Tree as the sun sets and screenings begin. Cinema lovers, choose your poison from thrillers, deep-dive documentaries, tearjerkers, raunchy rom-coms and side-splitting comedies. The program is fantastically full, the filmmakers the best in the business, and the outdoor setting, unequalled.

    4. The Embassy

    guests at The EMbassy as part of Perth Festival
    Step into the old world glitz of The Embassy. (Image: Franz Bato)

    Modelled on Perth’s historic Embassy Ballroom, a devilish dance venue that operated in the 1900s, The Embassy in Perth Town Hall, serves sophistication in its A-list shows. Set your sequins a’sparkle at the, What’s TINA Got to Do With It extravaganza where guest artists play tribute as they belt out the glitzy star’s hits. The returning act, Ali Bodycoat & The Embassy Big Band, will have you jiving as you take to the dance floor reimagining a bygone era. Who doesn’t like chocolate? Black-bearded drag sensation, La Gateau Chocolat puts the raw in cacao. World-renowned for his feisty range of storied songs, he reveals the inner-man come artist through his deliciously sweet and intimate act.

    5. Unusual locations

    still from The Trial theatre
    Watch a star-studded cast in The Trial. (Image: Cole Baxter)

    We’ve all heard of the hit show, The Office, but a spinetingling operatic thriller acted out in disused office space? Philip Glass’ nail-biter, The Trial, has a star-studded line-up. Together they deliver a dramatic ordeal showcasing Oscar-winner Christopher Hampton’s libretto; the suspense lingers after the final bow.

    Sit back under starry skies and soak up dynamic dance at Ballet at the Quarry: Incandescence.  Four exclusive classical and contemporary acts illuminate the amphitheatre’s stage as Perth City twinkles at nightfall. Mystery excites the mind. West Australian Opera returns again with another ‘secret opera’. Be led from an undisclosed meeting point and let the music lead to the secret.

    6. A View From A Bridge

    A View From A Bridge special event at Perth Festival
    Share your innermost thoughts at A View From A Bridge.

    Free, connecting strangers, and inclusive to everyone, artist, Joe Bloom’s collaborative project, A View From A Bridge has one prop – an old red telephone. Talk into the receiver, share thoughts, innermost feelings, memories, hopes and dreams as Bloom captures you from afar. The freedom to speak through the telephone movement has a worldwide following. A range of clips will be shown online.

    What else to do in Perth

    Shadow Wine Bar in perth
    Taste the best of Perth at eateries like Shadow Wine Bar.

    Endless blue skies crown Perth during February, making it the perfect time to explore Australia’s most western capital city. The city might be compact, but it packs a punch when it comes to what’s on. Perth Cultural Centre houses the city’s art-scene venues: Western Australian Art Gallery, WA Museum Boola Bardip and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).

    After exploring the city’s alleyways, hidden corners, and main hub, savour worldclass food in Perth’s vibrant eateries. Award-winning restaurants, rooftop bars, and cafes can be found throughout; the leisurely eat-and-drink scene is literally mouthwatering, so book extra nights.

    Start planing your 2026 trip to Perth Festival at perthfestival.com.au.