There’s a new reason to plan a day trip to Ballarat this autumn. From 1–10 May 2026, the regional city rolls out its first Ballarat Craft and Design Week, a precinct-wide program that leans into making, storytelling and creative exchange.
At the centre of it all is the historic Ballarat Mining Exchange, where much of the action unfolds. The event builds on the success of Craft Lab, which since 2021 has supported individual makers and drawn more than 7500 participants each year.
This new format takes things further, opening the door to designers, manufacturers and material producers, and reinforcing Ballarat’s status as a UNESCO Creative Cities Network city of Crafts and Folk Art.
The 2026 theme is Bound, with a program that explores textile, memory and restorative practices. Inside the Mining Exchange, visitors can move through five curated, immersive spaces that focus on touch, interaction and a strong sense of place.
The headline exhibition, Bound – an exhibition of collaboration, turns the venue into a series of rooms that shift in mood and material. Expect everything from ’80s-inspired sculptural glass lighting to a moonlit textile forest and sustainable fashion presented as armour.
Elsewhere, Why Are You Here? takes over The Unicorn Collection with a large-scale installation inviting locals and visitors to share stories of belonging through film, sound and textiles.
There’s also a strong behind-the-scenes element. Open studios across the region offer rare access to working spaces, from stone carving to graphic design and textiles. Hands-on workshops round out the program, with options ranging from beginner sewing to traditional underbust corset making at the Rare Trades Centre, alongside free talks and ticketed masterclasses.
Designated a UNESCO Creative City in 2019, Ballarat continues to position creativity at the core of its identity.
Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves says, “This initiative strengthens Ballarat’s position as a national leader in craft and design. It expands the conversation beyond individual practice to embrace innovation and collaboration, creating new ways for artists to connect with our community.”
The central exhibition is free, fully accessible and just a short walk from the station, making it an easy, culture-filled escape from Melbourne.
Visit creativeballarat.com.au/craft-design-week-2026 for the full program and workshop bookings.
