June 26 - 28, 2026
Murwillumbah and Tweed Shire villages.
June 26 - 28, 2026
Murwillumbah and the
Tweed Shire Towns.
LAVA is a three-day multidisciplinary arts festival in Murwillumbah and surrounding villages in Tweed Shire, northern New South Wales. The festival is an exciting biennial event serving as a platform for artistic expression, collaboration, and cultural exchange, bringing the Tweed community together to explore and celebrate our vibrant arts scene and unique identity.
Lava Arts Festival is produced and presented by Creative Caldera Incorporated, a dedicated group of local artists and art professionals.
MURWILLUMBAH ARTS TRAIL LEGACY
Creative Caldera Inc. emerged from the Murwillumbah Arts Trail (MAT), a much-loved annual visual arts festival that ran from 2015 to 2024. MAT showcased the work of local artists in Murwillumbah and nearby villages, becoming a key event in the local cultural calendar. Creative Caldera is focused on building upon the legacy of MAT while expanding the organisation’s impact.
This renewal includes a reimagining of MAT. Under a new name and direction, LAVA Arts Festival will launch its inaugural edition in Winter 2026 as a biennial (or annual, pending funding) event. LAVA will retain the legacy of MAT while introducing new presentation formats, curatorial approaches and programming that reflects the evolving arts community of the Tweed and Northern Rivers.
COMISSIONED ARTISTS PROJECT
Tweed Shire-based artists and collectives were invited to express their interest in presenting new work at this year’s festival. LAVA is supporting three local professional artists to deliver new and experimental work for the inaugural festival. It’s the first of its kind and we are excited to present these new works to the community.
The Commission Artists Project is supported by Regional Arts Australia.
Explore comissioned artist projects here.
TICKETS & EVENTS
LAVA Arts Festival events are free and open to everyone, with most events accessible across the entire weekend. A small number of experiences require tickets due to limited capacity or venue constraints. To explore the full program and see which events require booking, visit our Program page. Here you’ll find detailed information on each event, including times, locations, and any ticketing requirements.
Whether you’re planning your weekend or discovering something unexpected, the program is designed to be explored. Move through the town, follow your curiosity, and experience LAVA as it unfolds.
MURWILLUMBAH AND SURROUNDING TOWNS
Set within the caldera of an ancient volcano, Murwillumbah sits at the centre of a network of towns shaped by landscape, community, and creativity. From the river that runs through town to the foothills of Wollumbin, the region offers a mix of natural beauty and a strong, independent arts culture.
LAVA extends beyond Murwillumbah, with events and experiences unfolding across the Tweed Shire. Nearby villages like Uki, Tumbulgum, Pottsville and Burringbar each bring their own character, from small studios and galleries to music, food, and local gatherings.
The festival invites you to move between these places, taking in the broader rhythm of the region. Whether you’re exploring the main streets or heading further out, LAVA is an opportunity to experience the Tweed as a connected and evolving creative landscape.
