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It’s a place where cultural traditions meet pressing national conversations, and where the future is shaped in dialogue with the past.
A deeply cultural event
The festival is grounded in traditional ceremony, with daily bunggul (dance), manikay (song), and miny’tji (art) shared in the open air.
“Each year, the Yolŋu people open their arms and their hearts to more than 2,500 people at Gulkula, and we’re honoured to extend that invitation to all Australians through our coverage of this significant event,” she said.
How Garma began
It was conceived as a way to protect and promote Yolŋu cultural knowledge at a time when many Elders feared it was being lost. Gulkula, the festival site, was chosen for its cultural and ceremonial importance, the place where the Yolngu ancestor Ganbulabula brought the yidaki (didgeridoo or an Aboriginal wind instrument) into Yolŋu life.
His legacy continues to shape the event.
When is Garma?
Gulkula is a sacred site for the Gumatj clan and holds deep ceremonial and cultural significance. The festival is staged in bushland, with participants camping on site and following cultural protocols throughout the event.
A young child performs the bungul surrounded by family. Source: Supplied / yyf.com.au
Why 2025 is a milestone year
A space for conversation and change
The festival has played a pivotal role in amplifying Yolŋu voices and advocating for Indigenous-led solutions in areas such as governance, health and community empowerment.
Garma, the annual festival and celebration of Yolŋu life and culture, is marking 25 years. Credit: Melanie Faith Dove/Yothu Yindi Foundation
Conversations held at Garma often ripple outward into national policy circles.
Denise Bowden, CEO of Yothu Yindi Foundation, said: “Garma continues to play a really important educational role, helping Australians to better understand Yolngu culture, and ensuring that its practices remain strong and continue to be passed down from one generation to the next.”
