About our festival
Cultural Partnerships
Culture Ireland
Our ongoing partnership with Culture Ireland has become a valued part of the Festival’s International program. Building on a strong history of collaboration, this relationship has continued to grow over the past two years.
In 2025 and 2026, the partnership will support the introduction and showcase of three new Irish acts to Australian audiences, with performances in Sydney, Melbourne, and at the Festival. This initiative provides a vital platform for emerging artists to build their profiles and develop meaningful industry connections across Australia.
Culture Ireland plays a key role in promoting Irish arts globally, and we are proud to work together to bring exceptional contemporary Irish talent to new audiences.
Fèis Rois
We will proudly launch Fèis Rois’ 40th anniversary celebrations, highlighting a longstanding partnership that has connected Scottish and Australian artists and communities for more than a decade.
Established following initial discussions in 2011–2012 between Una McAlinden and Fiona Dalgetty, the collaboration has evolved into a dynamic biennial exchange. It encompasses joint performances, the creation of new ensemble works, cultural residencies, professional development opportunities, and collaborative storytelling initiatives, including Kin and the Community, led by acclaimed Highland fiddler and composer Duncan Chisholm.
As part of the anniversary, Fèis Rois Chief Executive Fiona Dalgetty said, “We are incredibly proud to mark our 40th anniversary alongside one of our most significant international partners. This relationship has enabled meaningful artistic exchange and created opportunities for artists and communities to connect across continents in a truly lasting way.”
Festival Director Una McAlinden added, “This partnership continues to position the festival as a leading hub for Celtic culture. It has supported more than 100 emerging and established artists to collaborate, share their stories, and develop their practice across Scotland and Australia.”
“We are also thrilled that our 2026 program will welcome the return of two Scottish artists involved in the inaugural 2013 exchange,” McAlinden said. “Gaelic singer Mischa MacPherson and accordionist and singer Amy Henderson have both gone on to establish successful international careers, and it’s incredibly special to welcome them back as part of this milestone celebration.”
C21 Theatre Company
This year we are proud to present Never Always Ever Was, written by Fleur Murphy, as part of our ongoing collaboration with C21 Theatre Company. Premiering at the Festival, the work exemplifies our commitment to fostering sustained international partnerships that support the creation of ambitious new cultural work. This collaboration brings together Irish and Australian artists to explore shared themes of climate change, migration, and legacy through a distinctly cross-cultural lens.
The production unites leading creatives from both regions, including C21 Theatre Company Director Stephen Kelly and Irish artist Richard Clements, working alongside Australian practitioners Amanda La Bonte, Sophie Woodward and Jason Fry. This partnership allows the Festival to facilitate meaningful artistic exchange, enabling artists to collaborate across borders, develop new work, and engage with diverse audiences.
Beyond the stage, this collaboration reflects a broader strategic approach to partnership-building - connecting the arts with sectors such as science and sustainability. It also strengthens ties between Ireland and Australia. Never Always Ever Was represents a key milestone in this relationship, demonstrating the value of long-term collaboration in delivering innovative, internationally relevant work.
Ceoltóirí Naarm
The Melbourne branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was delighted to present a group of their young musicians at the 2023 National Celtic Festival, for the very first time.
This talented bunch, aged 11 to 18, travel from the city, suburbs and regional Victoria each Wednesday night to play Irish music, and to learn a few new tunes. At this year’s festival, they showcased a fantastic, vibrant selection of jigs, slides, hornpipes, reels & more. Bígí linn!
National Eisteddfod
With over 125,000 people in Australia claiming Welsh heritage, it is only natural that there is a great interest in Welsh traditions across the country.The National Eisteddfod and the National Celtic Folk Festival have launched a new partnership in 2019, which promotes Welsh culture on an international stage.
And this partnership was launched through a beautiful collaboration between one of Wales's leading folk musicians, Angharad Jenkins (Calan, DnA, Pendevig) and Jenny M Thomas of the band Bush Gothic, who are known for reinterpreting Australia's darkest and most unfamiliar folk songs, as well as reworking familiar yet non-fashionable songs. During the lockdown period, Jenny and Angharad collaborated in different parts of the world, sharing experiences and songs as Jenny learned about our music here in Wales.
