About the 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 Binalup/Middleton Beach. 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.
Get involved
Make your lantern, come to the foreshore, and be part of something extraordinary.
Schools, community groups, and individuals can download the Creative Learning Pack or register to participate in a workshop with a Teaching Artist. Workshops run from May to October and are adaptable to all ages and abilities.
Everyone is welcome to engage with this project. Register and find out more at southernedge.org.au/carryingthefire
About the project
Deeply rooted in place, this 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 biyarra/banksia, the sheltering kwornt, the regenerative sea star, and the spiritual moodjar/WA Christmas Tree.
