The Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival is encouraging visitors to slow down, stay longer and discover more, with an expanded 2026 program that transforms a day trip into a memorable multi-day escape.
Returning from 12–27 September 2026, the Festival builds on its reputation as NSW\’s longest-running and largest-scale regional sculpture festival, with an enhanced calendar of events and activities designed to immerse visitors in the extraordinary combination of contemporary sculpture, spectacular landscapes, and authentic country hospitality.
The Festival opens with a free Opening Night Celebration on Saturday 12 September, 4:30–6pm, at the Wollombi Tennis Club, where the Festival\’s sculpture prizes will be awarded. The trail begins at the Festival Hub at Grays Inn, Wollombi, with guided tours departing daily at 11am.
Alongside the sculpture trail featuring more than 180 works across Wollombi, Undercliff Winery and Laguna, visitors can enjoy artist talks, guided walks, creative workshops, live music, local food events and community activities throughout the festival\’s sixteen-day program.
Festival Executive Director Sheena Duncan said the expanded program reflects a natural evolution of the festival, founded in 2002, to encourage visitors to experience the Wollombi Valley as more than a daytrip.
\”In 2026, we\’ve created even more reasons for visitors to linger longer and immerse themselves in the Wollombi Valley. The combination of world-class sculpture, historic villages, heritage buildings and an enhanced program of activities create a complete experience that makes this festival unique.\”
The Festival\’s ‘Linger Longer’ initiative also supports the broader visitor economy, encouraging guests to stay for multiple nights, enjoy regional dining experiences and uncover the hidden gems that make the Wollombi Valley one of regional NSW\’s most distinctive cultural destinations.
Less than two hours from Sydney and 90 minutes from Newcastle, the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival offers an ideal spring escape where art, nature and country hospitality come together in one unforgettable journey. Further program announcements will follow in the coming weeks.
