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Beanie Makers
Become a Beanie Maker for the Alice Springs Beanie Festival!
Welcome to the 2026 Beanie Festival. Our last one ever in this format. If you would like to make beanies for the Festival there are 2 exhibitions - Beanie Central for the excting but more wearable beanies where you can enter 10 items (or up to 50 if you volunteer at the Festival) and there if the National Exhibition and Competition for the best of the best. Read on if you are keen and download the entry forms and letter which has everthing you need to know.
National Beanie Exhibition and Competition - Thank-you
Thank-you Thank-you Beanies of Gratitude.
Each year a theme is chosen and we encourage beanie makers to be inspired by the theme. These beanies must be original pieces and artistically presented. These beanies are formally exhibited in one of Araluen Art Centre’s major Galleries and are hung on individual stands or plinths to highlight each work. Everyone is encouraged to have a go and let their imagination go wild, explore different textiles and techniques.
All the beanies entered are judged in the competition, according to category. The winners receive a cash prize and handmade trophy.
Beanie Makers may enter 1 or 2 beanies (at least 1 of the beanies must be for sale). We also accept teacosies.
There is an entry fee per beanie and a 50% commission taken from the sale price if the beanie sells.
Beanies must have individual swing tags and entry forms and must be received by the end of May. Winners are announced on this website and on Facebook.
Beanie Central
Beanie Central is where over 6500 handmade beanies come together in one outrageous informal display in 2026. They hang from the ceilings and pile up on the tables. All beanies here must be for sale. The general public arrive en masse to see your works, try them on, fight each other for their favourite and walk away with armfuls of fabulous headgear! Beanies here range from the ‘boring bloke’s beanie’, children’s beanies to glamorous embroidered or felted sculptural pieces. You can also enter teacosies and hanks of handspun yarn.
Prices range from $5-$120 (you price your own work) You may enter up to 10 beanies (or a combination of beanies, teacosies and handspun yarn up to 10 in total) per person (unless you volunteer 10 hours of your time then you can enter 50 beanies or combos of teacisies, beanies and handspun yarn).
If you can make it to the festival and Volunteer you may enter up to 50 beanies.
There is no entry fee, but we do take a 30% commission from the price you put on your beanie. You need to fill out an entry form, and place individual Beanie Central swing-tags (which we will post to you) on each beanie. Beanies need to be in Alice Springs by 29 May 2026.
Please read the entry forms closely.
Please note the last day to order swingtags for the festival is the 1st of May.
If you were sent swingtags after the 2025 Festival you will not be sent anymore unless you are volunteering. To order swingtags please email your full postal details and what swingtags you require to Jo and
beaniefestival@gmail.com We need enough time to process your orders and mail can take up to three weeks each way, so don't wait until the last minute!
