6 Top End festivals guaranteed to add depth and vibrancy to your next business event

Art, culture, music and food – what more do you need?

From the rocky escarpment country of Kakadu to the stunning coastal communities of the Tiwi Islands, the Top End of the Northern Territory is a tropical destination for conferences and incentives that offers a laid-back atmosphere combined with state of the art facilities. When planning your event, don’t overlook the value that a Top End festival can bring to your program, either as part of your main schedule or for pre/post touring options. Between March and October you’ll find an abundance of festivals and events happening across the region. Here are just a few that are bound to add depth and authenticity to your visit.

A Taste of Kakadu

Described as a ‘cultural food fest 65,000 years in the making’, A Taste of Kakadu is Australia’s premier traditional food festival. Held in the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park this event is hosted by local Indigenous Bininj/Mungguy people in collaboration with the country’s top Indigenous chefs, and serves up a delicious array of culinary and cultural experiences.

Pairing timeless traditions with contemporary cuisine, A Taste of Kakadu is a thoughtfully curated collection of cultural experiences in a world-class Top End setting, including:

Pop-up outdoor dining events
Menus handcrafted by celebrity chefs
Forage walks with Kakadu’s Traditional Owners
Canape cruises on picturesque billabongs
Traditional ground-oven feasts
Ancestral stories and cultural workshops
Cooking masterclasses with Traditional Owners

There’s no better time for conference and incentive groups to visit Kakadu. Perfectly positioned for pre and post conference touring, you can combine all that Kakadu has to offer – diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes and luxury boutique wilderness lodges – with exclusive cultural and culinary experiences only available through A Taste of Kakadu. For more information about this festival, click here.

Barunga Festival

A gathering of culture, music and community in the Katherine Region.

Held each June on Jawoyn Country near Katherine, the Barunga Festival is one of the Northern Territory’s most iconic Indigenous cultural gatherings. Hosted by the Bagala people in partnership with the Northern Land Council and local community organisations, Barunga is a vibrant, grassroots celebration of Aboriginal culture, sport, music and storytelling.

For conference and incentive groups, Barunga offers a meaningful opportunity to connect with Aboriginal culture and community in an authentic, participatory way:

Listen to talks and community forums on cultural leadership, governance, and reconciliation.
Attend workshops on bush medicine, language, basket weaving and spear making, led by Traditional Owners and community Elders.
Experience nightly live music from some of the country’s most exciting Indigenous artists and traditional performers.
Participate in sport and cultural activities, including the beloved Barunga AFL and basketball competitions that unite communities from across the Top End.

Located approximately 80 km southeast of Katherine, the festival site is accessible by road and offers a unique blend of remote community atmosphere with welcoming hospitality. Corporate and group packages can be arranged, with access to camping facilities, meals, and opportunities for CSR engagement through cultural participation, volunteering, and support of local programs.

Barunga Festival is more than a cultural event – it’s a celebration of resilience, pride and the living cultures of Aboriginal Australia.

For more information, click here.

Tiwi Island Football Grand Final and Tiwi Cultural Festival

In a place where Australian Rules Football and art are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric, it’s only fitting that these two passions unite in a powerful celebration of Tiwi identity and community. The Tiwi Cultural Festival alongside the Tiwi Islands Football Grand Final is one of the region’s most anticipated annual events.

Hosted by the Tiwi Land Council and Tuwurrampila Cultural Heritage Committee, the Festival brings together Elders, artists, families and visitors to honour Tiwi culture, creativity, and community spirit.

For conference and incentive groups, this two-day Festival provides an unforgettable opportunity to engage meaningfully with Tiwi culture while supporting community-led initiatives. Whether through participation in workshops, attending the football, or visiting art centres and local stalls, delegates are immersed in the richness of Tiwi life.

From a corporate social responsibility (CSR) perspective, your involvement can go even further. NT Business Events can help integrate CSR initiatives into your group’s itinerary, whether that’s through in-kind contributions, sponsorship, volunteering, or other forms of support that leave a lasting positive impact.

The Tiwi Cultural Festival not only strengthens intergenerational knowledge-sharing and economic opportunity but also invites visitors to gain a deeper appreciation of Tiwi land and sea care practices, artistic traditions, and cultural resilience.

For more information, click here.

Garma Festival

Described as Australia’s Indigenous equivalent of the World Economic Forum, and hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Garma is a vibrant annual celebration of Yolngu (Aboriginal people of North East Arnhem Land) culture. Incorporating visual art, ancient storytelling, music and dance, this internationally significant event is also a platform for important forums, education and training programs relevant to cultural tourism, craft, governance and youth leadership.

Conference and incentive groups keen to learn from and engage with Yolngu people can develop a deep appreciation of Aboriginal culture:

by listening to speakers and presentations at the Key Forum gathering,
by attending workshops and classes on language, kinship and bush foods and medicine,
through traditional song and ceremonial Bunggul dance each evening; and
via film screenings, outdoor art exhibits and countless other hands-on activities.

This event is held in remote bushland about 40 kilometres drive from Nhulunbuy in North East Arnhem Land in August. Corporate groups are well catered for with a special dinner under the stars and their own deluxe camping area designed to encourage team interaction and discussion. Tickets include access to the 4-day event, airport shuttles, all meals, assembled tents and bedding. For more information, click here.

This event is much more than a festival, it is a grass-roots community development platform, where individuals and organisations focused on the practice, preservation and maintenance of Aboriginal culture can come together and share their knowledge.

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair

From north to south, east to west, the Northern Territory is a living breathing art gallery – the biggest in the world. Rich in art and culture which dates back more than 65,000 years, the NT is home to some of the most talented Aboriginal artists in the world. Their work is celebrated in a new Arts Trail which spans the length and breadth of the Territory. Whether it’s ironwood carvings on the Tiwi Islands, rock art in Arnhem Land, pandanus weaving in Katherine, watercolours in Hermannsburg or the Western Desert Papunya Tula art movement, the Territory is brimming with art and culture.

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair is an important part of the Arts Trail network, showcasing the work of more than 70 remote Aboriginal community art centres and over 2000 emerging and established artists. Held in August at the Darwin Convention Centre, this event is the perfect opportunity for conference and incentive groups to see and buy ethically sourced art from across the Northern Territory, including paintings on canvas, bark and paper, sculptures, didgeridoos and fibre art.

With cultural performances and storytelling, children’s art activities, artist talks, workshops and demonstrations this event will make a meaningful cultural contribution to your program. For more information about the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, click here.

Darwin Festival

It’s not just meetings and workshops that make a business event memorable, it’s the ‘one of a kind’ activities that happen away from the meeting room that leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re connecting with Darwin’s cultural and artistic diversity or enjoying outdoor concerts and eateries, the Darwin Festival will leave a lasting impression. The Darwin Festival combines warm outdoor festivities with a program rich with local, national and international performers delivering a smorgasbord of cabaret, theatre, dance, visual arts and outdoor concerts. Gather your group at Festival Park – the heart of the arts – for a tasty dinner and drinks from the iconic bamboo food stalls and pop-up bars while listening to the soundtrack of local heroes on the Bamboo Bandstand or head to The Lighthouse – the festival’s premier open air, big-top style venue – to see and hear some of Australia’s hottest bands up on stage.

For 18 spectacular days and nights, at venues across Darwin, locals and visitors, families and friends, unite under the stars in one of Australia’s greatest celebrations of The Arts. While the rest of the country shivers through a cold dark winter, conference and incentive groups attending the Festival enjoy warm sunny days, cool comfortable nights and world class entertainment in Darwin’s laid back, relaxed atmosphere.

Darwin Festival takes place in August in the heart of the city, where you’ll find a generous selection of venues and accommodation for your next conference or business event, all within walking distance of the Festival. For more information, click here.

It doesn’t end there

These are just a handful of the exciting and eclectic range of festivals and events happening in the Top End. Regardless of your group’s interests or demographic, there’s something for everyone. Click here for a full list of festivals and events in the Northern Territory. Otherwise, reach out to the NT Business Events for local advice and help planning your visit or incorporating any of these events into your business event.

Spectacular Top End Festivals