Hive Festival 2026

Hive Festival Returns to the Art Gallery of NSW for a Free Weekend of Family Fun

Winter weekends with kids can become a logistical obstacle course of cold weather, cabin fever and snack negotiations. Thankfully, Hive Festival is returning to the Art Gallery of New South Wales with two full days of free, creative family fun.

Taking place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July 2026, the festival will fill the gallery’s Sydney Modern and historic South Building with art-making, music, storytelling and interactive tours designed especially for children and families.

Better still, it is completely indoors, making it an easy wet-weather option if Sydney’s winter skies refuse to cooperate.

This year’s festival celebrates the living world, from furry and feathered creatures to the lands and waterways that shape Sydney. Families can expect hands-on workshops, gallery adventures and plenty of opportunities to make, explore and look at art a little differently.

Best of all, entry to the Art Gallery, Hive Festival activities and most exhibitions is completely free.

Hive Festival. Image courtesy of Art Gallery of NSW

🎨 Get creative with free drop-in workshops

At the heart of the program is Frame Your World, a drop-in workshop created by Dharug artist Billy Bain. Running daily from 10am to 5pm throughout the school holidays, the activity invites children to respond creatively to the world around them.

Families can also take part in Sou Sou, an ongoing drop-in workshop by artist Mechelle Bounpraseuth, or create their own works inspired by Indian illustration.

No bookings are required for the drop-in activities, making them ideal for families who prefer to keep their school holiday plans flexible.

Yiribana Gallery. Image courtesy of Art Gallery of NSW.

🪎 Join an art adventure through the gallery

Children can discover the collection through free guided tours created with younger visitors in mind.

The Pet Portraits tour combines gallery exploration with roving art-making through the Naala Nura building. It runs at 11am on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July.

At 1pm, families can join a guided tour of the Yiribana Gallery, home to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from across Australia.

Both tours are free and require no advance booking.

Indoor playground. Image courtesy of Art Gallery of NSW.

🫟 Climb, splash and play in an underground art park

For children who have ever been told not to run, climb or touch anything in an art gallery, Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat turns the usual rules upside down.

The underground art park encourages visitors to climb, swing, splash, eat, explore and interact with the space. It is part exhibition, part playground and likely to be one of the weekend’s biggest hits with energetic kids.

Interested? Read our full review here.

Winner: 9-12 year olds. Hugo Hui. My family’s driver (Dad). Image courtesy Hugo Hui.

🖼️ See the Young Archie finalists

Families can also visit Young Archie 2026, the Art Gallery’s annual portrait competition for children and teenagers aged five to 18.

The exhibition showcases portraits created by young artists from across Australia and is a brilliant way to inspire children who love drawing, painting or seeing what other kids can create.

Mother and toddler in workshop. Image courtesy of the Art Gallery of NSW.

🥘 Explore stories of home, food and Country

Other family-friendly exhibitions include Mechelle Bounpraseuth’s Sou Sou, a colourful and heartfelt celebration of the foods that connect us to home and one another.

Billy Bain’s By the River traces connections between freshwater and sea Country through painting and sculpture, offering another entry point for conversations about land, water and belonging.

Discounted family tickets to Avatar

Families visiting during Hive Festival can also access discounted tickets to Avatar: Forms of Vishnu on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July only.

The exhibition explores the many forms of Vishnu through art, storytelling and mythology. A free children’s trail will be available at the exhibition entrance to help younger visitors engage with the works.

Plan your visit

What: Hive Festival
Where: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery Road, Sydney
When: Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July 2026
Cost: Free, with discounted family tickets available for Avatar: Forms of Vishnu
Bookings: Most activities are drop-in and do not require bookings

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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Hive Festival 2026