If you’re looking for things to do on North Stradbroke Island this winter, the Straddie Arts Trail 2026 is shaping up as one of the island’s most rewarding weekends. Returning from 14 to 16 August, the much-loved event celebrates its fifth year with its biggest program yet, bringing together more than 70 creatives across 33 stops in Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout.
Among the most anticipated North Stradbroke Island events of the year, the trail offers three days of exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, design, film, photography, First Nations storytelling and plenty of opportunities to meet the people who draw inspiration from Minjerribah.
Add beaches, whale watching, local food and dramatic island scenery, and the event has all the ingredients for a memorable Straddie weekend getaway.
Straddie Arts Trail 2026 at a Glance
- When: 14–16 August 2026
- Where: Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), Queensland
- Townships: Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout
- Stops: 33
- Creatives: More than 70
- What to expect: Exhibitions, workshops, open studios, artist residencies, First Nations art and culture, design, photography, markets, film and food
- Good for: Art lovers, cultural travellers, couples, day-trippers and anyone planning a Straddie weekend getaway
- Add to your trip: Whale watching, beaches, coastal walks and other things to do on North Stradbroke Island
Straddie Arts Trail 2026 Brings Art Across Three Townships
The Straddie Arts Trail 2026 stretches across Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout, transforming studios, galleries, community spaces and unexpected corners of the island into creative destinations.
Rather than experiencing art within the walls of a single gallery, visitors can travel between venues and meet artists in the places where they live and work.
That connection between landscape and creativity is central to Minjerribah arts and culture, with many of the works on display shaped by the island’s history, community and natural environment.
Minjerribah Arts and Culture Take Centre Stage
Leading this year’s program is acclaimed Quandamooka artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, who will be artist-in-residence at the North Stradbroke Island Museum.
Her work draws on family histories and museum collections, and visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about her creative process throughout the weekend.
Celebrated Ngugi artist Elisa Jane Carmichael also features in the program through Held in Blue, an exhibition created with artist Renata Buziak. The work explores island stories through cyanotypes, biochromes and collaborative textile works.
Visitors interested in Minjerribah arts and culture should also make time for QUAMPI, the island’s First Nations-owned arts and cultural centre, with the Arts Trail coinciding with the final weekend of its current exhibition.
Meet the Artists Behind the Straddie Arts Trail 2026
One of the pleasures of the Arts Trail is the opportunity to meet artists and see how their surroundings influence their work.
Emerging artist Lauri Anderson, fresh from Regional Arts Australia’s Wild Clay program, will present new work from Seventeenth Door Studio alongside fellow artist Kieron Anderson.
At Amity Point’s Soul Lodge Gallery, long-time island painter Robyn Olsen will be artist-in-residence, sharing vibrant landscapes inspired by more than two decades of living on Minjerribah.
The Dunwich Apartments residency welcomes internationally awarded ceramic artist Michaela Kloeckner, while Michele Kordic brings her richly layered landscape paintings to the Taproom at Straddie Brewing Co.
Regular trail favourites also return, including Paula Boo Studios, Jess Scott of Starfish Studio, artist Chris Hooper and the Straddie Markets.
Things to Do on North Stradbroke Island for Design Lovers
Design lovers looking for things to do on North Stradbroke Island during the Arts Trail should add The Tidal Archive 2026 to their itinerary.
The collaborative exhibition brings together island designers Cath Carroll, Sarah Van Der Ryst of Sunfolk Swimwear and ceramicist Melany Cordier.
The collection celebrates island life through ceramics, textiles, swimwear and collected objects inspired by the sea and Minjerribah’s coastal environment.
It’s another example of how the Straddie Arts Trail 2026 moves beyond traditional painting and sculpture to embrace a broad mix of creative disciplines.
Add High Tea to Your Straddie Weekend Getaway
A Straddie weekend getaway should always leave room for something delicious, and this year the North Stradbroke Island Golf Club is adding food and creativity to the program.
Visitors can indulge in a quintessential Straddie Arts Trail High Tea while also discovering their own creative streak.
For something more substantial, the club will be serving lunch throughout the weekend, making it a convenient stop between Arts Trail venues.
The Golf Club will also host the 2026 Minjerribah Photography Awards, giving visitors another reason to linger.
North Stradbroke Island Events Include a Rooftop Film Night
Among the more unusual North Stradbroke Island events on the program is the Arts Trail opening night film screening at the Straddie Brewing Co rooftop.
The evening features Subdivision, a comedy set in Hervey Bay, along with special guests media presenter Ashley Bradnam and Aaron Fa’aoso, known for Black Comedy and Strait to the Plate.
Audience members will also have the chance to meet members of the film’s creative team, including screenwriters Jan Bradnam, Ashley Bradnam and Terry McCann, along with producers Trish Lake and Dan Lake.
A Q&A with members of the creative team will take place before the screening.
Find a $20 Hidden Treasure
One of the most intriguing stops on the Straddie Arts Trail 2026 is the Hidden Treasures Art Show.
Original artworks created by established artists, students, families and first-time creators are displayed anonymously and sold for just $20.
Buyers won’t know whose work they’ve chosen until after making their selection, adding an element of surprise to every purchase.
Proceeds support Dunwich State School, making this one of the most accessible and community-focused experiences on the trail.
Why Go?
The Straddie Arts Trail 2026 offers the chance to see Minjerribah through the eyes of the people who live and create there.
With First Nations art, island design, ceramics, photography, film, food and more than 70 creatives spread across three townships, it is one of the most distinctive North Stradbroke Island events on the calendar.
Combine the trail with beaches, wildlife, walking tracks and a relaxed island stay, and it becomes an easy choice for a culture-filled Straddie weekend getaway.
Start planning your visit today by heading to iamstraddie.com.au.
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