A major new cultural gathering is set to transform Melbourne’s south-east, with Kindred People Festival bringing together First Nations artists, Elders and global voices across five days from 1 to 5 September 2026.
Held across Monash University campuses on Boonwurrung Country, the festival will reimagine university spaces as sites of ceremony, creativity and cultural exchange, led by Indigenous knowledge systems and storytelling.
Curated by Gunditjmara man Tom Molyneux and guided by an Indigenous Steering Committee, Kindred People will present performances, talks, workshops and large-scale gatherings designed to centre First Nations perspectives while fostering global dialogue.
At the heart of the program is kummargi yulendj gadhaba, a two-day speakers series meaning “knowledge rising up together” in Boonwurrung language. The program focuses on shared thinking, conversation and cultural exchange between First Nations leaders and communities.
The festival opens on 1 September with Wurrungi Biik, a dedicated protocols day led by Boonwurrung Elder Professor N’arwee’t Carolyn Briggs AM, setting the cultural foundation for the days ahead through welcome, care and connection to Country.
Opening night also features the world premiere of The Scarecrow and Waa by Na Djinang Circus, a First Nations-led contemporary circus work drawing on Kulin Country storytelling.
Across the week, audiences will experience major premieres including Decolonising the Bells by Noongar composer Aaron Wyatt in collaboration with Speak Percussion, and Two Blood by Australian Dance Theatre, co-created by S. Shakthidharan, Daniel Riley and Jasmin Sheppard.
International works will also feature, including He Huia Kaimanawa from Aotearoa, exploring the revival of Te Reo Māori through performance, and UPU, a Pasifika theatre work making its Melbourne premiere after acclaimed international seasons.
The festival concludes on 5 September with Djeembana Yalinwa, a community-focused day of music, markets and gathering, headlined by Electric Fields.
Professor N’arwee’t Carolyn Briggs AM plays a guiding role in shaping the festival’s cultural direction, ensuring Boonwurrung knowledge and protocols remain central throughout.
Kindred People presents a living program of performance, ceremony and knowledge exchange, inviting audiences to experience culture not as exhibition, but as connection and practice across Country. For more information visit kindredpeople.monash.edu
