As Newcastle Fringe Festival rolls into its second decade, something has quietly shifted. This is no longer a homegrown, determined start-up proving its worth. Nor is it a novelty on the cultural calendar. Newcastle Fringe has grown up, and in doing so, it has become something rarer and more powerful: a festival the city can genuinely claim as its own.

Entering its fourth year, the Lake Macquarie One Act Play Festival has evolved into a vibrant celebration of fresh storytelling, with playwrights contributing new work from across Lake Macquarie and the wider Hunter region, as well as America, New Zealand and beyond - all competing for a share of the $1,900 prize pool.

Hunter Drama is set to start its 2026 season with a bang and a whole lot of glitter. Once Upon A One More Time brings together rebellious princesses, girl-power storytelling, and the irresistible hits of pop superstar Britney Spears for a night of theatrical fun at the Playhouse, Civic Theatre Newcastle, from 9–19 April.

Hunter Ice Skating Stadium is more than just a rink. It's a community hub where families, friends, and sports fans come together. From the heart-pounding excitement of Australian Ice Hockey League games to the joy of birthday celebrations and the fun of public skating activities, there's something for everyone at HISS!

There’s something energising about listening to young people talk about the stories that shape them. In the latest episode of The Placed to Speak podcast, produced through the Place Based Abilities Program, a group of passionate participants explore where “good writing meets great fantasy and visual media”. What unfolds is thoughtful, funny and surprisingly insightful.

A long time ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, the Hunter Valley was a land of volcanoes and untamed wilderness. Every Easter school holidays, Hunter Valley Gardens brings that ancient world back to life with its annual Mega Creatures event. And in 2026, the adventure takes a whole new level.

The iconic Coates Newcastle Show returns to the Newcastle Showground from Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2026, and this year it arrives with a powerful new hero attraction set to redefine opening night.

Newcastle's boldest arts festival is back – and it's bigger, more daring and more brilliantly unfiltered than ever.

Newcastle Art Gallery will officially reopen to the public on Saturday, 28 February, following its estimated $47 million expansion. The landmark reopening will be celebrated with a three-day festival and the debut of the major exhibition Iconic Loved Unexpected.

I don’t know about you, but I felt like I limped to the end of 2025. If it needs a visual, it's like one of those marathon runners who can see the finish line, but whose legs are going out from under them; they end up needing physical assistance, and when they take one step over the threshold, they pass out face-first on the road.