Heartland Festival 2026

Staging the World

Staging the World invests in the future of Australian theatre by creating space for Bla(c)k, Indigenous and artists of colour to develop their practice, expand their networks and strengthen their artistic leadership.

The Western Line 2026

Developed through the National Theatre of Parramatta’s acclaimed True West program, The Western Line is a major new Australian work by Tusitala and People Weaver, Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu. The play follows a man travelling from Circular Quay to Western Sydney, tracing a journey that is deeply personal and connected to his ancestors.

Write Together, Rise Together

Facilitated by Australian Plays Transform, these sessions provide a quiet, focused space for playwrights of all experience levels to write alongside each other and connect with their fellow playwrights. No pitches, no pressure – just you, your words, and a little accountability.

Heartland : Exchange

Bringing together artists from across the Heartland Festival 2026, Heartland : Exchange is an opportunity to gather, connect, and share stories around the themes of place, belonging, and cultural safety.

Supper Club

Supper Club is a delicious Heartland Festival event: one night, five short works, and a room full of fresh ideas, big energy and great vibes. Think of it as a tasting plate of new performance – bite-sized, bold and full of flavour.

Ruins / أطلال

Ruins is a powerful and visually striking work created by Clockfire Theatre Company and produced by Rare Earth Creative that explores grief, migration, memory and the search for home. Following Amelia Alissa's journey to Lebanon after the death of her father, the work weaves together personal and intergenerational stories to examine identity, belonging and cultural inheritance.