New Annual

Ten day festival of art, music and ideas in Newcastle. Save the Date 🧡 25 Sept — 04 Oct 26

09/04/2026

🎭Take your practice up a level. Literally. Petite Suite 2026 invites artists to rise above the ordinary – creating upstairs encounters inside the iconic rooms of Ori Hotel for New Annual 2026.

Brand X and New Annual are seeking artists for site-responsive, interactive and devised performances to transform hotel suites into elevated, unexpected performance spaces.

Ready to level up your next work?

👉 Apply before 15 April for your chance to perform in this unique event https://www.brandx.org.au/petite-suite-2026-call-out

Image credit: Petite Suite, 2021. Photography by Tanja Bruckner. Create NSW

ID: A performer is draped across an unmade bed, looking at the screen of an open laptop, as part of Petite Suite 2021.

01/04/2026

🎭 Applications are now open for Petite Suite 2026 – where artists ditch the stage for something far more intriguing.

Brand X and New Annual invite artists working in site‑responsive, interactive, and devised performance to transform the rooms of The Oriental Hotel Ori Hotel into immersive, up‑close mini worlds for audiences during New Annual Festival 2026.

Seven artists or collectives. Seven rooms. Seven minutes each. Your turn?

👉 Apply before 15 April for your chance to perform in this unique event https://www.brandx.org.au/petite-suite-2026-call-out

Image credit: Petite Suite, 2021. Photography by Tanja Bruckner. Create NSW

ID: Acting out a scene as part of Petite Suite 2021, a couple stand at a window mid-kiss, while being intently watched by the audience.

18/03/2026

Applications are now open for Petite Suite 2026!

Brand X and New Annual invite artists working across site-responsive, interactive and devised performance to submit an application to Petite Suite, a residency hosted by The Oriental Hotel, Newcastle NSW, as part of New Annual festival, 2026.

Applications close: 10am, Wednesday 15th April 2026.

Read the guidelines and apply now: https://www.brandx.org.au/petite-suite-2026-call-out

Image credit: Petite Suite, 2021. Photography by Tanja Bruckner.

This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

22/01/2026

Calling all Newcastle artists! Expressions of Interest for New Annual festival ’26 are now open.

Here’s the highlights:
💰 Up to $40k funding on offer per successful project.
📍 Professional local artists connected to Greater Newcastle are encouraged to apply.
🎨 Projects can be interdisciplinary art forms, visual arts, dance, theatre, music, or multimedia.
📅 Successful works will be presented at the 2026 New Annual festival in Newcastle, 25 Sep – 4 Oct.
⏰ Applications close midnight 12 Feb 2026

Apply now at newannual.com 🔗

11/01/2026

Want to be part of Newcastle's flagship arts festival in 2026?

Successful applicants can gain up to $40k in funding for new creative works presented as part of New Annual festival ‘26 🎨

⏰ Applications close midnight 12 Feb 2026

Apply now at https://newannual.com/explore/stories/made-new-2026 🔗

New Annual festival, 25 Sep - 4 Oct 2026. Newcastle, NSW 🧡🩷

28/11/2025

Whale Chorus — the theatre company behind Meet Me at the Baths at New Annual 2025 — is presenting a site-specific production of HAMLET from 4 – 7 December, live at Fort Scratchley!

Enter through the great gates and discover Hamlet’s story. 14 local actors will present curated scenes and transform historic Fort Scratchley into the gothic coastal castle of Elsinore. This is Hamlet as you’ve never seen it before. Book now: https://collections.humanitix.com/hamlet-at-fort-scratchley
📸 Lee Illfield

20/11/2025

New Annual 2025 – what a time to be alive! We’re already busy dreaming up an unforgettable 2026 festival 🫶🔥

SAVE THE DATE 25 SEP - 4 OCT 2026. Thank you to our 2025 partners for their ongoing support NSW Government in association with Multicultural NSW, Create NSW, Transport for NSW & Destination NSW ✨

Our presenting partners The University of Newcastle, Australia & Equip Multimedia 🧡

11/11/2025

Spooky Men’s Chorale. No notes 👏

Newcastle City Hall housed an almost sold-out performance by the iconic Spooks - a night filled with joy, brilliant wit, rich harmonies and choral singing that had the audience grinning from ear to ear 🎶🧡

The Spooky Men's Chorale

08/11/2025

Consider us converted... to the dancefloor 🕺

Dancefloor Conversion Therapy landed in Newcastle for New Annual — and it absolutely lived up to its five-star reviews, selling out every show and delivering a banging after-party and intimate disco 🔥

Huge thanks to Jonny Hawkins for taking us on an intimate 😉 and unforgettable journey, and to Bernie’s Bar for keeping the good times rolling across opening weekend 🫶

06/11/2025

A moment for the dream team 👏

Our SOAK MC's, Bonnie Anne & Matt - Across five magical nights, you kept the energy high, the laughter flowing, and the spirit of SOAK alive 🧡

We're already thinking about next year - who's up for SOAK 2026? 👀

23/10/2025

Thank you for taking a seat on the Baths' beloved aquamarine bleaches and letting Whale Chorus Theatre Company immerse you in stranger-than-fiction stories inspired by real Novocastrians 🌊💙

A huge shoutout to Playwright Ang Collins, Director Janie Gibson & the powerhouse Whale Chorus cast for bringing tales of love, loss, healing and change into a heart-warming production that touched the hearts of over 2,000 Novocastrians throughout New Annual.

Let's dive in again sometime soon!

💬 If you loved our events at Newcastle Ocean Baths (and beyond), please visit our website and complete our short survey to help us make New Annual 2026 even better 🧡🩷

📸: Ange Maloney Photographer

Address

Newcastle, NSW
2300

Website

http://newannual.com/

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