Magnetic Island Artists Feature in PUNQ 2026

North Queensland’s place-based contemporary arts festival PUNQ is back in 2026 with an ambitious program of local and national multidisciplinary artists, bringing bold new perspectives to the region’s distinctive spaces, stories, histories and futures.

From 23 September to 11 October 2026, the biennial festival unfolds in immersive journeys across natural and built environments in Gurambilbarra / Townsville, Yunbenun / Magnetic Island, Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country / Hinchinbrook and Gudjal Country / Charters Towers.

PUNQ 2026 invites audiences to see North Queensland through a different lens, using contemporary art to spark cultural exchange, challenge expectations and create new connections between people and place.

From unexpected interventions in the landscape to immersive experiences that invite audiences to participate, the festival celebrates the region’s unique character while showcasing the breadth and creativity of contemporary artistic practice.

The 2026 program features a diverse mix of free and ticketed experiences, including ambitious new works, immersive installations, live events, thought-provoking performances and unexpected encounters across the region.

Audiences can explore major new commissions, such as Jarrowia, Butchulla and Gunggari artist Zane Saunders’ Preface, combining live performance, sculpture, sound and video, in partnership with leading contemporary dance company Dancenorth Australia and supported by the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).

Other commissions include The House of Floating Flowers 浮き花の家 (Ukibana no ie) by Mari Hirata, developed in partnership with Artisan at the Japanese House in Ingham, which invites introspection under a delicate paper-cut sugarcane installation.

Meanwhile, A Radical Art History exhibition and digital archive unfold four decades of artistic ideas and cultural collaboration in association with James Cook University.

Across Yunbenun / Magnetic Island, audiences can discover immersive experiences, including quiet moments of reflection with Life Support by Squeak + Bubble with Sheryl Lowe, Jill Chism's Placeless, and Jenny Mulcahy's The Mark.

Saturday 10 October 8am - 5pm

PUNQ 2026

Join us on the closing weekend of PUNQ Festival at Magnetic International Resort, where we transform the resort reception into a vibrant marketplace celebrating the creativity of Yunbenun / Magnetic Island and North Queensland.

Discover original artworks, limited-edition prints, handmade objects and artist-designed wares. Bringing together local artists and makers from across North Queensland, the market offers an opportunity to meet the people behind the work and purchase directly from those who create it.

Set against the tropical backdrop of Yunbenun / Magnetic Island, the market invites art lovers, collectors and curious visitors alike to explore unique works, support regional creative practice and be part of the vibrant atmosphere of PUNQ Festival.

About The Artist

Alison Dowel · Sue Reid · Tina Nemec · Kit Holloway · Hannah Aiello · Felicity · Dyana Rogers · Rosalind Sailor · RhythmArt — Christina Monneron & Andreas Ibold

In Gudjal Country / Charters Towers, Gangulu artist Sabrina-Rose Toby presents her first solo exhibition, Still, We Hold, while throughout Gurambilbarra / Townsville, audiences can experience a range of progressive contemporary projects, from exhibitions and installations to projection works and performance.

Across the region, public billboards will elevate works from six North Queensland artists, creating an expansive and accessible open-air gallery.

Designed to engage and inspire, PUNQ offers visitors and locals the opportunity to experience North Queensland in new and unforgettable ways.

PUNQ 2026 also holds particular significance as Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts marks 40 years of championing artists and the arts in North Queensland, including producing the biennial festival.

PUNQ 2026 Artistic Director and Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts Director Kate O’Hara said this year’s festival is more ambitious than ever, offering an onsite opportunity for artists and audiences to see North Queensland differently.

“What excites me about PUNQ 2026 is the extraordinary range of experiences artists are creating across the region. Audiences can encounter contemporary art in a former bank, lie beneath an intricate paper-cut sugar cane installation in a Japanese house, discover work embedded in the landscape of Yunbenun / Magnetic Island, and experience performance, projections and public artworks across North Queensland,” Ms O’Hara said.

“PUNQ celebrates the rich and complex creative practice of regional Queensland, and the important contribution these artists, stories and perspectives make to Australia’s broader cultural landscape.”

“The program brings together local knowledge, visiting artists and distinctive places, creating genuine cultural exchange rather than simply presenting work in conventional arts spaces. We want people to travel through the region, spend time in these places and encounter the stories, ideas and creative practices that make North Queensland unlike anywhere else,” Ms O’Hara said.

Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said PUNQ 2026 platforms and celebrates Queensland artists and is a highlight on the state’s cultural calendar.

“Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, PUNQ 2026 is proudly championing local artists, providing them with space to experiment, evolve and exhibit their work,” Minister Langbroek said.

“Through PUNQ, local audiences and visitors are invited to see the north anew with natural and built environments transformed through art, offering unique insights into the stories, histories and communities of this extraordinary region.”

Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said the Townsville City Council is proud to support the biennial festival that continues to showcase the region’s creativity, talent and innovation.

“Events like PUNQ play an important role in strengthening our community, supporting local artists and contributing to region’s cultural and economic success,” Cr Dametto said.

“One of the great strengths of PUNQ is its ability to connect communities across the region. Creative experiences bring people together, activate public spaces and foster a strong sense of community pride.

“By presenting work in galleries, public spaces and unexpected locations, the festival encourages people to explore, engage and experience North Queensland in new ways.”