News edition for 9 September 2026. Added to Nungya on 22 October 2026 as part of our retrospective news archive. Reporting reflects information available by the edition date.

Mparntwe/Alice Springs is preparing for a concentrated burst of desert creativity. Desert Mob opens at the Araluen Cultural Precinct on Thursday 10 September, bringing work from Aboriginal artists across the Central Desert into one shared program.

The 9 September announcement from the Central Land Council and Desart describes an exhibition of hundreds of new works, accompanied by artist talks, an Art Market, workshops and satellite events. After Dark adds an evening of art, food and music.

Desart, the peak body for Central Australian Aboriginal art centres, presents the event. Its art-centre connections give the gathering a particular character: visitors encounter work emerging from many places, languages and ongoing relationships with Country.

This year’s opening also includes the announcement of the Vincent Lingiari Art Award. The award exhibition marks 50 years since the Aboriginal Land Rights Act in the Northern Territory, linking contemporary artistic expression with a major anniversary.

The opening program is scheduled to begin at 5pm ACST and includes a live performance by Eleanor Jawurlngali Dixon. There is plenty to anticipate, from the first exhibition preview to conversations led by the artists whose work makes this gathering possible.