RISING, Victoria’s flagship festival of new art, music and performance, has been officially selected by Creative Australia as the national delivery partner for the Australian Dance Biennial (ADB).
Launching in June 2026, the Australian Dance Biennial will be a nationally representative celebration of Australian dance, held biennially in Melbourne alongside RISING. The appointment marks a significant step in elevating the status of dance within Australia’s cultural landscape, bringing together artists, audiences and industry leaders from across the country.
“We are honoured to deliver this ambitious new platform for Australian dance,” said Gideon Obarzanek, Co-Artistic Director and CEO of RISING. “The Australian Dance Biennial will amplify voices from every state and territory, showcase exceptional work, and foster national and international touring opportunities.”
Each edition of the Biennial will feature a curated program of Australian dance works with representation from every state and territory. It will also host a National Dance Gathering, an inclusive industry event supporting independent artists and fostering dialogue at both national and international levels. A dedicated BlakFutures gathering, led by BlakDance, will spotlight First Nations perspectives in the dance sector.
An international delegate program will enhance global touring potential and visibility for Australian dance. The Biennial’s mix of ticketed, free and participatory events, along with the presence of national dance presenters, aims to support new audience development and increase engagement across diverse communities.
To ensure a dynamic and truly representative program, RISING will collaborate with a national network of advisors including major festivals, independent presenters and dance organisations. Further details, including an upcoming online information session, will be released in the coming months.
About RISING
Held each winter in the heart of Naarm/Melbourne, RISING is Victoria’s premier festival of new art, music and performance. The establishment of the Australian Dance Biennial builds on RISING’s strong record of championing contemporary dance, with past programming highlights including works by Force Majeure, Stephanie Lake Company, Australian Dance Theatre, Marrugeku, Dancenorth, Lucy Guerin Inc, Restless Dance Company, Chunky Move and more.