DHF 2026 Program

©Artwork by Debbie Beasley

Welcome to Country Hello, everyone.

My name is Shalee James Nakkamarra. I am a local Warumungu woman, with connections to this Manu (Country) through my father and great grandfather.

I acknowledge the Patta Warumungu Manu Waljji (traditional owners) of this Manu (country) and pay my respect to Anyinginyi Marlunguku manu warinyi (the elders) past, present and emerging.

A Welcome to Country is undertaken as a mark of respect and traditional owners welcoming people to the land.

The Patta Warumungu peoples’ traditional rights and interests for Tennant Creek were recognized by the Federal Court in 2007. Justice Mansfield handed down a determination of Native Title, and we signed an Indigenous Land Use Agreement which allowed for the future development of the town, and the recognition of our rights and interests in this land.

On behalf of the Patta Warumungu People of this Manu (Country), I welcome you all to the Desert Harmony Festival.

Desert Harmony is a major yearly event that happens in Tennant Creek to celebrate the many cultures that all thrive together in this town, with the theme of “Yarntarnpa Kululujju Nyinta”, “Living Together as One”.

These words have the backing behind it with the amazing line up of local artists from teh Barkly as well as national acts and the variety of activities happening in town it will be a festival not to be missed.

I thank Barkly Arts, the local organisations and everyone involved to make this year’s Desert Harmony a great success.

Kamata.

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Shalee James

KARGURU NURSERY TOUR Presented by Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre Meet at nursery located at Karguru Land & Environment Centre, Karguru Camp Rd, Tennant Creek

Cost: $20 Bookings: Scan QR or book via the Nyinkka Nyunyu website

Jerry Kelly

Sat Aug 1, 10am11:30am

Keen to join a workshop?

Scan the QR code to save your spot –

about the artist

Bush Tucker, Debbie Beasley, 2026

Debbie Beasley was born at Epenarra Station in 1968 and has been painting with Barkly Regional Arts since the early 2000s. Her work explores bush tucker, soakages, flowers and hunting, and has taken her to the National Indigenous Art Fair in Sydney.

Debbie Beasley

spaces fill up fast!

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JULY 31 FRIDAY

Celebrating the cultural roots of Tennant Creek, Friday will mark the start of Desert Harmony Festival with dancing, music and a bush tucker cook up.

Emily Wurramara

65 Staunton st, Karguru Centre 5pm onwards

DRAG STORYTIME

CASII WILLIAMS FRANK YAMMA EMILY WURRAMARA JOEY PUJJALI DANCERS ROGER KNOX SAMOAN DANCERS

JEWELLERY MAKING

Katherine’s own Constantina Bush brings her glamorous, inclusive storytelling to the Tennant Creek library— captivating tales of love, acceptance 4 and joy from one of the Territory’s finest queens.

BOOMERANG CARVING

Karguru Centre, 65 Staunton St Mon, Aug 3 @ 3pm Tickets: $75 (see page 2) Joseph Williams Jangarrayi

Karguru Centre, 65 Staunton St Sun, Aug 2 @ 3pm Tickets: $75 (see page 2)

Constantina Bush

Tennant Creek Public Library, 41 Peko Rd Sat, Aug 1 @ 10:30am Tickets: Free

Lorraine Gibson Napaltjari

Work with Warlmanpa artist Lorraine Gibson Napaltjari to craft jewellery made with locally sourced natural materials.

Bookings essential

Learn traditional shaping and carving techniques with Warumungu master carver Joseph Williams Jangarrayi, hear stories from Country, and take home a handmade boomerang. Men only.

Bookings essential.

AUG 2 Drifting Clouds

SUNDAY 65 Staunton st, Karguru Centre 3pm onwards

ALICE KINGS | COUNTRY GOSPEL BAND | DRIFTING CLOUDS | FEJO & THE CRUIZERS | JAMESON CASSON | KOBIE DEE | NEWBOYS BAND RAY DIMAKARRI DIXON

AUG 3 MONDAY

Coloured Stone

65 Staunton st, Karguru Centre 3pm onwards

AMY JAMES | BALACLAVA PEACE COLLECTIVE COLOURED STONE | ELEANOR JAWURLNGALI JASON LEE SCOTT | NORTH TANAMI BAND WAMPANA BAND | WORKCAMP BAND

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FRI AUG 1, OPENING NIGHT Join us at Karguru Centre to celebrate the opening of Desert harmony festival 2026 with a delicious bush tucker cookup!

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JUL 31 FRIDAY

AUG 1 SATURDAY

AUG 2 SUNDAY

AUG 3 MONDAY

Karguru Nursery Tour Drag story- with Jerry Kelly time with Constantina (ticketed, pg 2) Bush @ TC Public Library

10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm

3 pm 4 pm 5 pm

Pujjali Dancers Samoan Dancers

Amy James, Jameson 3pm Jewellery Casson, 3pm Boomerang Making Carving Workcamp Country with with band, 3:15pm Gospel Band, Lorraine Joseph Kulumindini 3:30pm Gibson Williams Black Soil, Ray Dimakarri (ticketed, (ticketed, 4pm Dixon, pg 2) pg 2) Jason Lee 4:20pm (men only) Scott,

Fejo & the Cruizers, 5:10pm

Joey, 5:40pm

6 pm

Roger Knox, 6:20pm

4:40pm

Balaclava Peace Collective, 5:25pm

Alice Kings, 6:10pm

Wampana Band, 6:15pm

Newboys Band, 7pm

Eleanor Jawurlngali, 7:05pm

Kobie Dee, 8pm

North Tanami Band, 8:05pm

7 pm

Casii Williams, 7:15pm

8 pm

Emily Wurramara, 8:05pm

9 pm

Frank Yamma, 9:10pm

Drifting Clouds, 9:10pm

PROGRAM ENDS

PROGRAM ENDS

Coloured Stone, 9pm

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10 pm

PROGRAM ENDS

Thanks to our sponsors

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