Festivals & events | Things to do | Northern Territory, Australia

Download the 2024 NT events guide

When you come to an event in the NT, you get a whole lot of different.

Stay longer on a trip to the NT to discover the ancient landscapes of Kakadu or Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park; taste bush tucker-infused plates at an award winning dining experience or follow the internationally recognised art trails throughout the Top End and Red Centre.

Premier NT festivals & events

fabALICE Festival

Alice Springs Region

27 – 30 March 2025

A unique showcase of Drag, Family, Comedy and Cabaret events, celebrating the inclusivity and diversity of the Red Centre.

Parrtjima 2025 - A Festival in Light

Alice Springs Region

4 – 13 April 2025

Parrtjima is the meeting place where old meets new.

BASSINTHEGRASS

Darwin Region

Saturday 17 May 2025

BASSINTHEGRASS is the Territory’s biggest and longest-running tropical music festival!

Barunga Festival

Katherine Region

6 – 9 June 2025

Barunga Festival is a must for anyone seeking an authentic Aboriginal cultural experience.

Tatts Finke Desert Race

Alice Springs Region

6 – 9 June 2025

The iconic Finke Desert Race is an off-road, multi terrain two day race for bikes, cars and buggies through desert country from Alice Springs to the small Aputula (Finke) community.

Darwin Festival

Darwin Region

7 – 24 August 2025

Get ready to celebrate at Darwin Festival, 7–24 August 2025!

MXGP of Australia

Darwin Region

19 – 21 September 2025

In September 2025, Darwin will roar into life as MXGP rips it up Down Under for the first time in nearly 25 years.

Inspiration for your trip

Top End: Best Aboriginal cultural festivals

The Aboriginal experiences on Country and the vibrant forms of artistic expression are constantly evolving in the Northern Territory. There are so many different cultural events to engage with while learning more about the diverse Aboriginal cultures on Northern Territory’s Top End.

5 quirky Northern Territory events you didn’t know existed

Territorians love a good festival! Here’s our pick of some of the Northern Territory’s quirkier events.

Red Centre: events & cultural festivals

There’s something special about the Red Centre of the Northern Territory that attracts people to its exciting events and festivals

Darwin: local guide to art & culture

Darwin's identity as hub for arts and creativity is written on the wall, literally. A brightly coloured turtle glides along the side of a building, a giant crocodile watches over a supermarket and a stunning portrait of the late musician Dr G Yunupingu overlooks a laneway.