Dance. Weave. Listen. Yarn. Eat. Explore.
Find a spot on the grounds and chill to the music, wander through the remarkable Chau Chak Wing Museum collections, grab something delicious from the festival food stalls, sit down for a weaving workshop, join the dancing—or simply soak up the atmosphere with family and friends.
And when you're ready for a break, there's always the museum café on the scenic balcony—a beautiful spot for a classic Sunday lunch, good coffee and eats while overlooking the university grounds.
Stay for an hour or make a day of it!
History, lived experience, climate, and our shared Pacific story come together in two powerful conversations you won’t want to miss
12:20 - 12:50 pm
PART 1: a conversation between three powerful speakers and facilitated by Koori Radio’s Gaven Ivey (aka Nain). Join us to hear from acclaimed author of the bestseller Blackbirding Ryan Butta; Lily Roberts, President of the Tuvalu Association, whose heritage connects blackbirding histories with the Pacific climate emergency, and Aunty Raechel Togo (Ivey), a proud third-generation Australian South Sea Islander and Yugambeh Elder from Mackay, who brings her lived experience, cultural knowledge and the intergenerational story of her people into the discussion.
Guiding the conversation is accomplished Bundjalung and Australian South Sea Islander media producer, broadcaster and Koori Radio Program Manager Gaven Ivey (aka Nain)
2 - 2:40 pm
PART 2: Hear from Buka Islander and Elder Aunty Sana Balai about her short film recalling the loss of family members to blackbirding and the search for descendants of those who survived. Premier screening.
Hosted by Dr. Dashiell Moore, a who researchers English and writing at the University of Sydney, focussed on Australian, Caribbean, and Pasifika writing.
Cook Islands Lei & Headdress Making
Make an ‘ei katu with Cook Islander experts. Sit, create and connect as Cook Island makers share the beautiful art of traditional floral crown called ‘ei katu. Learn, yarn and make your own piece to wear as you enjoy the festival.
Kastom Aboriginal Weaving
Slow down, sit in circle and experience the beauty of Aboriginal weaving with Amethyst Downing, a First Nations Wandi Wandian woman, multidisciplinary artist and Creative Director of Kyanite Amethyst Creative Co. Share in skills, stories and connection through this enduring cultural practice, guided by knowledge passed through Elders and kin-based knowledge holders.
Djembe drumming lesson
Acclaimed Ghanaian-born dancer and choreographer Lucky Lartey brings the pulse of West Africa to Sugar Fest with rhythm, movement and live percussion. Kids, adults and families join the circle and experience the infectious energy firsthand!
Hear the extraordinary voice of award-winning vocalist, recording artist and composer Emily Blake, a proud descendant of Bundjalung, Tongan and Australian South Sea Islander heritage, whose music moves effortlessly through Soul, R&B, Jazz, Hip Hop and Islander choral traditions. With more than two decades in the Australian music industry, Emily brings a voice rich in culture, story and soul to the steps of the Chau Chak Wing Museum.
Get ready for one of the day’s must-see live acts as The Lady Beans bring their powerhouse 7-piece all-female collective to Sugar Fest with an irresistible fusion of reggae, soul, hip hop and world music. Rooted in cultural diversity, shared stories and seriously infectious rhythm, these women serve up rich harmonies, deep grooves and the kind of live energy that gets a whole crowd moving.
Joshua Yow Yeh aka HeShyy hits SugarFest 2026! Bringing movement, beats and storytelling with purpose, Joshua Yow Yeh is an Australian South Sea Islander, Bundjalung and Bayali multidisciplinary artist flipping the script through dance, hip-hop, film, music and choreography. A developing artist at NAISDA Dance College, Joshua’s work, including his multidisciplinary project DECOL, takes on colonisation, culture and identity through the lens of a new generation. Catch Joshua live at Sugar Fest 2026, bringing fresh energy, culture and serious movement to the stage. Old stories. New beats. Culture in motion.
Sugar Fest will host the first NSW showing of the short film TULALA PUT NI HAN I TAMLAN (Our Journey Back Home), the powerful and poignant story of relatives on the journey to reuniting after a century of separation because of blackbirding enslavement. Produced with University Queensland Art Museum, the film is directed by Nurdewi Djamal, and written and narrated by international arts worker, curator and writer Aunty Sana Balai of Buka island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and of Brisbane's Buka-Bougainville community. Following the film will be a Q&A with Dr Dashiell Moore, University of Sydney.
This event is proudly supported by the City of Sydney Council, the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, the David & Jenni Sutherland Foundation and Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson).
Ryan Butta – acclaimed author and storyteller, exploring Australia's Blackbirding history and the stories that continue to shape our understanding of the nation.
Lily Roberts – President of the Tuvalu Association, speaking to Tuvalu's shared Blackbirding history and the urgent realities of the Pacific climate emergency, displacement, culture and connection to homeland.
Aunty Raechel Togo – Australian South Sea Islander descendant and living witness to an extraordinary family history carried across generations, sharing an ASSI descendant perspective on survival, memory, identity and the enduring legacy of Blackbirding.
