RISING 2026: The Naarm festival launches inaugural Australian Dance Biennale

This morning, Naarm/Melbourne-based RISING Festival shares its incredibly dance-focused 2026 lineup, in quite the literal sense.

The festival, now in its fifth year, has existed for only about a quarter of Vivid’s lifetime, but has had a similarly massive impact on its city. This year, that impact is evident in its invitation of all manner of globally renowned acts, commissioned works, and local community events from May 27 to June 8.

Alongside its usual offering, RISING now includes the inaugural Australian Dance Biennale. Set to be presented by RISING every two years, the new event aims to be a home for choreography and movement in many forms, taking place as dance classes, club nights, in theatres and throughout public spaces.

That sees everything from Aotearoa/New Zealand’s renowned Royal Family Dance Crew, Sydney Dance Company, Sissy Ball, and many more dance-oriented performances, touching on stories from Australia’s pastoral myths to the tensions of contemporary Belfast.

Musically, RISING also sees an invitation extended to rapper Lil’ Kim for her first Australian show in 15 years, Daniel Avery, anaiis, as presented by Day Tripper, Saint Levant, Gil Scott-Heron by Brian Jackson & Yasiin Bey and many more.

RISING regulars may assume, in comparing this year’s lineup with those before, that RISING 2026 is slightly more streamlined than previous years.

As reported by Arts Hub in February, “eight successful (Victorian) arts organisations have suddenly been defunded, while others have only been funded for two years instead of four, with an uncertain future ahead.” This has, in all likelihood, impacted RISING, too.

In a statement, RISING’s Artistic Director and CEO, Hannah Fox, addressed this, saying:

“I think it’s a pretty tough time across the sector in general, and we’re no different. We are working in a tighter financial environment. But we also feel very lucky to be able to put on this festival.

I’m very conscious that, as we’re working with a whole lot of cultural partners, that the kind of tone of these relationships has to shift, where we’re really thinking through playing to each other’s strengths … and trying to share resources wherever possible. And I have noticed a real necessity to do that, but also a greater will to do that. So that’s a small silver lining in tough times.”

Pre-sale registration for RISING’s 2026 events is now open via its website.