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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.

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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.

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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.
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Exploring an icon: inside the massive upgrade to Broome’s famous Cable Beach

(Credit: Tourism WA)

    Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
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    With unhurried mornings, long, sun-filled afternoons, evenings shaped around sunset, this iconic beach offers an all-day experience (and it’s about to get even better).

    As the sun slowly rises over the languid waves and fine sand of Broome’s Cable Beach, the morning colours shift from rich apricot to pale gold and frosty pearl. Remnants of life reveal themselves in the subtle shadows – crab claw marks, towel impressions, footprints. Life here is unhurried, but don’t be fooled. This town is continually shifting like the desert dunes that surround it.

    And with a $75 million upgrade – offering easier and more inclusive access for people of all abilities – it’s getting even better.

    Cable Beach upgrade foreshore redevelopment stage 1
    Discover the Cable Beach redevelopment.

    The addition of comfortable and welcoming spaces has begun (and will continue). This means visitors will be able to spend longer enjoying this beautiful environment, while knowing that the upgrade will create a more environmentally protected setting that preserves the natural character visitors come for. Come sunset, soak it in all the better thanks to the already improved foreshore areas, made for lingering while the light changes. And for the kids, a new splash park and accessible dry playground will make it easy to while away the hours.

    Think you know what a day at this beach is like? Think again.

    Morning colours

    car on cable beach at sunrise
    Cable Beach comes alive after sunrise. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    As the sun colours the sky, Cable Beach shows signs of life (and not just the aquatic kind). Locals and visitors alike float in the cool water as it laps the shore, landlubbers explore the coast on foot, runners pace and beachside yoga classes bring quiet movement to the day.

    When the sky is blue and the sun is firmly in position, head down to the well-known Cable Beach House for a long, slow breakfast overlooking the ocean. Think fresh tropical fruit, eggs cooked your way and strong coffee in the warm morning breeze.

    Afternoon adventures

    camel train on cable beach in broome at sunset
    Join a camel train at sunset. (Credit: C J Maddock)

    When you’re ready to explore, carve a path along the Minyirr Park Trail – a gentle 1.5-2km track through coastal bushland with spectacular views of the dunes. Refuel at the nearby Spinifex Brewery for lunch with its low-key, outdoor beer garden. There’s even an outdoor playground if you’re travelling with young humans.

    Walk off your lazy lunch by watching (or joining) one of the beach soccer or volleyball games, or even try Silent Beats Broome – a silent walking disco through the dunes. Or book a spot on the famous camel trains, watching the sun drop below the horizon along the way. They’re a constant reminder of the fascinating history, landscape and cultural mix in this part of the country.

    Evening degustation

    server at Cable Beach Club
    Stop into the Cable Beach Club. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    As the day closes, watch the world-famous Cable Beach sunset from the appropriately named Sunset Grill at Cable Beach Club. This open-air terraced dining spot overlooking the beach is the kind of place where the view takes centre stage.

    While you sip on a lychee, lime & lemonade mocktail or a local beer, enjoy the bustle of life and nature outside as the day comes to an end.

    For dinner, nab a table at the Bali Hai Cafe, where they offer pan-fried crispy barramundi, Abrolhos Island scallops and deep-sea snow crab. When you’re ready for bed, check in to Pinctada Hotel Broome – a lush, tropical resort with palm-dotted gardens and a large, lagoon-style pool to cool off in.

    Beyond the beach

    Beyond the wide, open beach and never-ending sky of Cable Beach, there are many more reasons to visit North West Australia. These are just a few.

    Unmatched experiences

    Shinju Matsuri Festival's popular Long Table Dinner on cable beach
    Join Shinju Matsuri Festival’s popular Long Table Dinner. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    Engage with the history of the land and its people on an Indigenous cultural tour exploring everything from the local wildlife to the tastes of bush tucker. To understand the importance of pearling to this town, take a tour of Chinatown, or head outside of town to the live pearl harvests at Willie Creek or Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, one of Australia’s oldest pearl farms.

    Learn why Japanese pearlers were central to Broome’s pearling success and visit the largest Japanese cemetery in Australia, where 900 Japanese pearlers were buried – a testament to the risks and rewards of this dangerous profession.

    And book ahead every spring for when communal tables, freshly cooked local fare and festoon lighting fill the beach for the extremely popular Long Table Dinner on Cable Beach. It’s a highlight of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, along with the Floating Lanterns Matsuri, where you can personalise a lantern and gently release it into the sea to honour those you love.

    Dining discoveries

    Matso’s Broome Brewery
    Settle in for Matso’s famous ginger or mango beer. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    Further your culinary adventure at the laid-back Sunday Sesh at Matso’s Broome Brewery. Chow down on smoked crocodile or Aussie barramundi while kicking back to a local DJ as the heat of the day fades.

    For more tunes, the beautiful outdoor Bay Club at the Mangrove Hotel is a great choice for dinner with live music, DJs or an event that stretches on into the early hours. Still hungry? Pop by Johnny Sausage for Italian-influenced meals paired with impeccable wines.

    Natural beauties

    Gantheaume Point cabnle beach broome
    Experience the striking colours of Gantheaume Point. (Credit: Tourism WA)

    Avoid the crowds and head to Town Beach for a quieter vantage point to see the phenomenal Staircase to the Moon – a natural illusion where the rising full moon is reflected on the tidal flats, creating a shimmering ‘staircase’ stretching up to the sky.

    Just south of Cable Beach are the deep red cliffs and dramatic ocean views of Gantheaume Point, where 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints can be seen, revealed at low tide. Or head to Roebuck Bay to visit the internationally significant wetlands, where vast tidal flats are home to shorebirds and coastal fauna.

    Between October and March, watch turtles nesting and hatchlings emerge from the sand. You’ll be holding your breath as they make their way down to the shoreline, ready to start their life in one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes.

    For more on Cable Beach and Australia’s North West, visit australiasnorthwest.com.