Alice Springs
Beanie Festival
19-22 June 2026 LAst EVER
Araluen Arts Centre
Larapinta drive
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Well that's a wrap for 2025. We sold over 6000 beanies for 1/4 million dollars...a world record! And 6000 visitors through the doors. Now plans are under way for 2026 our last Beanie Fest in this current form EVER! See you there.
The prgram will be up in March 2026, but you can see what might be happening from the 2025 program HERE
To book the free bus to pick up/drop off from hotels/hostels only call: 0410 806 825
Araluen Arts Centre: 61 Larapinta Drive
And yes it's true folks this will be the second last Beanie Festival with 2026 our biggest and most final one.
If you would to volunteer find out how HERE.
Sporting Headgear
Celebrating 29 years of the Alice Springs Beanie Festival.
How to participate
Become a beanie maker
We love our beanie makers. Anyone is welcome to make beanies for the Beanie Festival. There are 2 sections to enter, Beanie Central and the National Beanie Competition. Read on to find out what you need to do!!
Volunteer
To be a volunteer at the Alice Springs Beanie Festival is to be part of the team that produces the world’s finest beanie celebration and (arguably) Australia’s favourite craft festival.
Ticketing
- Entry into Beanie Central is by gold coin donation -no tickets required.
- Entry into The National Beanie Exhibition is FREE for the Festival weekend.
- Children's Corner Workshops are free and you can drop in anytime.
- Entry into workshops have varying prices prices and booking sites - check out the program
The Alice Springs Beanie Festival is a community- based event that began in 1997 with a ‘beanie party’, organised by Adi Dunlop.
In the early years, the festival was run by a group of friends including Pamela Bladon, Merran Hughes and Jo Nixon on a volunteer basis. The core group has slowly grown into a committed band of beanie-ologists.
We know our beanies!
The festival was organised to sell beanies crocheted by Aboriginal women in remote communities. It has grown into a fun event where Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal artists share their culture and exhibit together. The festival is unique because of the incredible amount of community participation and our unique ties with local Aboriginal organisations.
The festival’s aims have always been to develop Aboriginal women’s textiles, promote womens’ culture and the beanie as a regional art form, as well as promote handmade textile arts.
Our Major Partners
