Balgang Albany

2026
Cultural Tourism
Balgang Albany is a trio of major events in 2026 to mark 200 years since the first European presence in the area, which is on Menang Noongar Country. The events include Lighting the Sound (a large-scale outdoor light installation by Finnish artist Kari Kola in March 2026), Albany Is (an audio app with community stories, starting mid-year), and Carrying the Fire (a community procession with lamps in November 2026). The project is a major component of the Albany 2026 program, celebrating local culture, history, and landscapes.

Lighting the Sound is set to transform the natural coastline and landmarks of the portside city of Albany/Kinjarling, into an immersive and meditative light experience over nine magical nights.Presented by FORM and produced in collaboration with world-renowned Finnish light artist Kari Kola, and co-designed and led by Menang Elders and the Albany community, the lighting spectacular will be visible from key locations around the city of Albany.The dramatic illumination of the landforms in and around King George Sound, will divert eyes and attention outward from the coast towards the life-giving source of the Southern Ocean, the focus of so much ancestral, cultural, ecological and historical meaning.Lighting the Sound embodies the Menang-first approach and principles of reconciliation central to the Albany 2026 vision. Rooted in the wisdom of the Menang (or Bloodroot) plant, from which the region’s First Nations people take their name, this community-owned initiative celebrates tensof thousands of years of unbroken connection, creating the opportunity for Menang people to tell their story.

“Light is a really powerful tool and I believe that we can draw focus to any site, city, or value using light art. I plan to work on an unseen scale with unique sites and push the limits of light art into new dimensions. This will create a new level of impact in raising awareness on many topics.” - Kari Kola
testing
3
Major Events
750
LED Lights
12km²
Area lit up

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