This long weekend, Mandurah and Pinjarra will host more than 200 artists at the Plein Air Down Under Festival Weekend, Australia’s largest outdoor painting festival, as it returns for its eighth year.
From Saturday 26 to Monday 28 September 2026, artists will be sat, brush in hand, painting scenes of Mandurah’s waterways and coastal scenery, as well as the heritage town of Pinjarra, ‘en plein air’, a French term meaning ‘in the open air’.
Plein Air Down Under attracts artists from across Australia and beyond who compete for more than $13,000 in awards and prizes.
Spectators get the best of the action, with Feature Artists giving free live painting demonstrations in oil, watercolour and pastel, plus live music and free have-a-go art activities for all ages.
This year’s Feature Artists are Greg Barnes (USA), Leon Holmes (Mandurah) and Andy Dolphin (Mt Barker), who will each lead a masterclass. They are joined by Guest Artists Leanne Pearson (Quinns Rock), Georgia Mansur (NSW) and Linda MacAulay (Victoria), each teaching a one-day workshop.
A crowd favourite is Mandurah’s Quick Draw Two-Hour Painting Competition on Monday 28 September, where artists of all ages race the clock to finish a painting in two hours, before judging, awards and fast-paced easel sales.
“Over the long weekend, the areas outside the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre and Pinjarra town centre become open-air studios and everyone is welcome to wander through them,” said Barbara Thoms, festival manager of Plein Air Down Under.
“People are fascinated by painting en plein air, and most artists are happy to stop and have a chat.
“To see a blank canvas come to life, to watch an artist at work, is always truly inspiring,” she said.
Established in 2019 by the not-for-profit Mandurah Plein Air Artists Inc, Plein Air Down Under offers a unique opportunity for artists to paint and exhibit their works in stunning outdoor settings.
“I’ve painted in some beautiful parts of the world, but there’s nothing like setting up an easel in your own backyard with 200 other artists beside you,” said Leon Holmes, a Mandurah-based artist and 2026 Feature Artist.
Watching is free.
Artist registrations are open to all skill levels: $10 for youth aged 18 and under, and $120 for adults.
