7 November 2026 | Emu Point to Middleton Beach, Albany | Free event
Albany (Kinjarling) will glow with light and unity on the night of 7 November 2026, as thousands of handmade lanterns illuminate the coastline all the way from Emu Point to Middleton Beach (Binalup). Lamp-bearers will gather along the sand, transforming the foreshore into a breathtaking string of lights: a living, ephemeral artwork captured in footage to be shared worldwide.
Carrying the Fire is a participatory artwork and a large-scale community light event. It asks a simple question: what do you carry into our shared future? It is an invitation for Albany residents and visitors of all ages to come together in a shared creative journey, building a sense of belonging and unity across the Great Southern and beyond. As much a celebration of human cooperation as it is a homage to landscape, this is an event that will leave an unforgettable mark on this place and this moment.
About the project
Deeply rooted in place, the community-led project has been developed in consultation with the Albany 2026 Cultural Advice Sub-Committee, co-ordinated by Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation, with Menang cultural consultant and artist Penny Williams central to the creative team from the outset.
Lantern designs by local artists draw on the symbols of Menang Country: the resilient banksia (biyarra), the sheltering kwornt, the regenerative sea star, and the spiritual WA Christmas Tree (moodjar).
Carrying the Fire is initiated, produced and presented by FORM in collaboration with Creative Producer Southern Edge Arts. Supported by Lotterywest and presented as part of the City of Albany’s Albany 2026 program. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the to Festivals Australia program.
