Giiyong Festival to Become Biennial as Twofold Aboriginal Corporation Launches Giiyong Ganya
Twofold Aboriginal Corporation has announced that Giiyong Festival, first established in 2018, will become a biennial event, with a new alternate-year program, Giiyong Ganya, to be presented for the first time this year on Saturday 28 November 2026 at Jigamy on Thaua Country, just north of Eden NSW.
Giiyong Ganya 2026 is an Aboriginal-led cultural event that brings together live performances, storytelling, workshops and cultural experiences for Aboriginal artists, community and the broader public - in a smaller, more intimate format than its parent event, Giiyong Festival. The new event is grounded in supporting local artistic development and cultural exchange, creating opportunities for connection through culture and Country.
The event will take place at Jigamy, between Pambula and Eden on the Far South Coast of NSW. The site has deep cultural significance as a place of gathering, ceremony and cultural practice for generations of Aboriginal people. Owned and managed for more than 40 years by Twofold Aboriginal Corporation, Jigamy remains a living cultural landscape rich in story, knowledge and connection.
‘Ganya’ means camp, or home, in the language spoken by south coast Elders. With ‘Giiyong’ meaning welcome, the phrase can be interpreted as welcome home, or welcome to camp.
Giiyong Ganya 2026 has been intentionally designed to reflect the long-standing cultural practice of gathering around the fire. For generations, Aboriginal people have come together in this way to share music, storytelling and knowledge. The event will respectfully recreate that experience through an in-the-round concert format that places artists, storytellers and audiences within a shared cultural space. The program will also include afternoon workshops and cultural activities, with intimate live performances in the evening.
Twofold Aboriginal Corporation Co-CEO and Cultural Advisor Alison Simpson said Giiyong Ganya would offer audiences a more personal cultural experience while continuing the spirit and purpose of the larger Giiyong Festival.
“Giiyong Ganya will create an intimate atmosphere for audiences, allowing people to connect more deeply with the artists, storytellers, culture and Country,” Ms Simpson said.
“It is important to note, this is not a festival format. Transitioning Giiyong Festival to a biennial event will allow us necessary lead time to fundraise and plan, ensuring the much-loved larger event has a sustainable future. In contrast, Giiyong Ganya is intended to feel more personal and is an opportunity to listen, learn and reflect.”
“In the lead up to the event, Twofold Aboriginal Corporation will be delivering cultural and creative learning opportunities for our local Aboriginal community, helping support emerging artists, creatives and cultural leaders.”
Learning opportunities and cultural exchange for the local Aboriginal community and the broader public are a focus of Giiyong Ganya 2026. Image from Traditional Stone Tools Workshop with Wolgalu Footprints from Giiyong Festival 2025 by David Rogers.
Already locked in are skills development programs from Grow the Music and Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance. Together they will deliver educational opportunities for Aboriginal people in the fields of STEM digital projection and music - all with performance outcomes at Giiyong Ganya.
“We have listened to our Giiyong Festival audience, who are keenly seeking deeper cultural connection. A lot of thought has gone into how we can best deliver this to a broader audience. Giiyong Ganya has been designed by, and will be delivered by, Twofold Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with local cultural knowledge holders, artists and the Giiyong team.“
Giiyong Ganya 2026 will welcome the local Aboriginal community alongside the broader public, creating a respectful space for cultural exchange, learning and shared experience. More information will be available on this website and our social media in coming months.