culture
Newcastle Events and Festivals Guide 2026, The Best of What's On in Newcastle
Your complete guide to Newcastle events and festivals in 2026. From This Is Not Art and Surfest to Newcastle Jazz Festival and Hunter Valley Wine Country events, what's on and when.
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Newcastle's Major Annual Events and Festivals
Newcastle's events calendar reflects the city's vibrant creative community, surf culture and its role as the gateway to the Hunter Valley wine region. Once characterised primarily by its industrial and steel heritage, Newcastle has built a thriving arts and culture scene that has made it one of regional Australia's most exciting cultural destinations.
October, This Is Not Art (TINA)
This Is Not Art is Newcastle's signature creative festival, held over the October long weekend and celebrating independent art, music, zines, digital culture, film and new media. TINA brings together artists, musicians and cultural practitioners in a participatory, grassroots celebration of independent creativity. It encompasses multiple festivals running simultaneously across the city.
March, Newcastle Surfest and WSL Junior Series
Newcastle has a proud surfing heritage and hosts WSL (World Surf League) events at Merewether Beach. The Newcastle Pro and associated Surfest contest attracts international surfers to one of NSW's finest surfing beaches.
October to November, Newcastle Jazz Festival
The Newcastle Jazz Festival presents local, national and international jazz artists across venues in the Newcastle CBD and surrounds. The festival has grown from a local celebration to a respected entry on the national jazz calendar.
October, Newcastle Writers Festival
The Newcastle Writers Festival brings authors, journalists, poets and thinkers to Newcastle for a weekend of readings, panels and literary conversations at the Newcastle City Hall and surrounds.
Hunter Valley, Year-Round Wine and Events
The Hunter Valley, one hour's drive from Newcastle, is Australia's oldest wine region and hosts wine harvest festivals in March, Jazz in the Vines in October, and the Lovedale Long Lunch in May, events that draw visitors from across NSW and beyond and are closely tied to the wider Newcastle visitor economy.
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