Lighting the Sound: How a World-First Albany Light Show Will Illuminate Albany's Future
March 2026 will mark a watershed moment for Albany lights and the events that will put Albany, Western Australia on the global stage. As Western Australia’s oldest settlement celebrates its bicentenary, the world’s eyes will turn to our spectacular coastline for an event unlike anything Australia has ever witnessed. Lighting the Sound isn’t just another tourism attraction – it’s a transformative celebration that will showcase Albany whilst honouring the deep cultural connections that make this place so extraordinary.
Kinjarling: The Place of Rain, The Place of Stories
Before we talk about lights and installations, before we discuss artists and events, we need to talk about this land. We need to speak the name it has carried for more than 60,000 years: Kinjarling.
This is Menang Country. The Menang Noongar people are the Traditional Custodians of this coastal region, and their connection to this place isn’t measured in decades or centuries—it’s measured in millennia. Archaeological evidence confirms human occupation here for at least 18,000 years, but oral histories and cultural knowledge suggest the connection runs far deeper, into a time before the sea levels rose and drowned the coastal plains that once extended far to the south.
Kinjarling translates to “place of rain,” and anyone who’s lived through an Albany winter knows the accuracy of this name. But like many Aboriginal place names, the translation captures only part of the meaning. Rain here isn’t just weather – it’s life itself. Rain fills the waterholes, swells the rivers, brings forth the wildflowers, sustains the bloodroot plant, enables the abundance that makes this a “place of plenty” – a second meaning equally held by Menang people.
The Menang people developed sophisticated systems for living in harmony with this abundance. They knew which plants provided medicine for which ailments, which seasons brought which foods, which stars signalled which changes in the natural world. They established laws for ensuring that taking from Country never became taking more than Country could give. They created songlines—pathways of story and song that connected this place to others, that held knowledge in memory, that taught each generation how to read the land.
This living culture didn’t end with European arrival in 1826. Despite the immense challenges of colonisation, Menang people have maintained their connection to Country
A World-Class Artist Brings Albany Lighting to Kinjarling
When renowned Finnish light artist Kari Kola first visited Albany, he was captivated. This is a man who has transformed iconic landmarks across the globe—from the ancient stones of Stonehenge to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, from the UNESCO World Heritage sites to the Colosseum in Rome. Yet Albany’s raw, untamed beauty and rich cultural tapestry inspired something entirely new in his artistic vision.
But Kola didn’t arrive alone in his understanding of this place. He came with humility, sitting with Menang Elders, listening to stories that have been passed down for more than 60,000 years. The Menang Noongar people have called this coastline home since time immemorial, knowing it as Kinjarling—a name often translated as “place of rain,” though its meaning runs deeper, speaking to abundance, nourishment, and the life-giving relationship between land, sea, and sky.
Kola’s “Lighting the Sound” installation will span an incredible 1,000 hectares across King George Sound, making it one of the largest outdoor light installations ever constructed anywhere in the world. But size alone doesn’t capture what makes this event special. The installation draws its inspiration from a concept Kola calls “Roots of the Sky”—a vision born from the Menang plant, known by botanists as Haemodorum spicatum and commonly called bloodroot.
This is no arbitrary choice. The bloodroot is central to Menang identity—so much so that the people take their name from it. In Noongar language, “Menang” translates to “of the Bloodroot.” For thousands of generations, this plant has sustained Menang people. Its bright red roots, when crushed, yield both food and medicine. The vibrant crimson colour was used in ceremonies, for body decoration, and to dye tools and weapons. But beyond its practical uses, the plant represents something profound: the deep, nourishing roots that connect people to Country.
When Kola spoke with Menang Elders about this plant, about its roots that run deep into the earth while its flowers reach toward the sky, he found his artistic metaphor. Light, like the bloodroot, connects earth and sky. Stories, like roots, run deep and invisible beneath the surface, nourishing everything above. The installation honours this—as light dances across King George Sound, it’s creating a visible manifestation of connections that have always been there, waiting to be seen in new ways.
This isn’t art imposed upon the landscape. It’s art that emerges from listening—to Country, to Elders, to the stories embedded in every granite outcrop and coastal breeze. It celebrates Albany’s bicentenary not by erasing what came before, but by illuminating the much longer story of human connection to this place. Two hundred years of European settlement sits within a timeline of more than 60,000 years of continuous Menang presence. Lighting the Sound honours both narratives, showing how they can exist together, each illuminating the other.
What This Means for Our Albany Community
As local tour operators who live and breathe this region every day, we at Albany Tours understand what an extraordinary opportunity this represents for our town. The WA Government’s support through Tourism Western Australia signals their recognition of Albany’s unique position in the state’s tourism landscape—and Lighting the Sound will cement that position for years to come.
The event is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors to the Great Southern region over just three weekends in March 2026. This influx will provide a significant economic boost to our local businesses—from accommodation providers and restaurants to cafes, galleries, and tour operators. But beyond the immediate financial impact, this event positions Albany as a must-visit cultural destination, not just for Western Australians, but for travellers from across Australia and around the world.
For our local community, this bicentenary celebration offers something even more valuable: a chance to share our stories—all of them. Albany has always been a place where history lives and breathes—from the ANZAC legacy at the National ANZAC Centre to our whaling heritage at the Historic Whaling Station, from the First Nations connections that stretch back millennia to the colonial architecture lining Stirling Terrace.
But for too long, some stories have been told louder than others. Lighting the Sound, developed in genuine collaboration with Menang Elders and knowledge-holders, offers a different approach. It centres Indigenous voices not as an afterthought or acknowledgement, but as the foundation. Before any lights were designed, there were conversations. There was listening. There was the patient work of building relationships and ensuring that what would be created on Menang Country honoured the protocols, stories, and living culture of its Traditional Custodians.
This matters deeply. Cultural tourism that genuinely respects and includes First Nations perspectives creates richer experiences for everyone whilst providing economic opportunities for Aboriginal people and communities. It’s tourism that gives back rather than just taking.
The Twilight Hike Experience: Your Front-Row Seat to Magic
Here’s where Albany Tours comes in. Whilst the main Albany light show will be free and accessible to the public from multiple vantage points along the coastline, we’re offering something truly special – an exclusive twilight hiking experience that provides the absolute best views of Kari Kola’s masterpiece.
Our Lighting the Sound Twilight Hike departs from the picturesque Whalers Cove at 4:30 PM, taking a carefully chosen route through coastal bushland, along pristine beaches, and across granite formations to Uredale Point. This isn’t just a walk to see lights; it’s an immersive journey that connects you to the landscape, the stories, and the natural beauty that inspired the artwork itself.
Throughout the approximately two-hour walk, our expert local guides share the story of Uredale, a respected Menang elder whose connection to this land runs deep. You’ll learn about the bloodroot plant and its deep significance to the Menang people – as explored earlier, it is both identity and connection to Country.
Walking this path, you’ll begin to see the landscape differently. These aren’t just “pretty views”—they’re storied places. The granite beneath your feet is ancient beyond human comprehension, shaped by forces that were already old when the first people walked here. The coastal bushland isn’t just scenery; it’s a living pantry, a pharmacy, a library of knowledge held in leaves, roots, bark, and seeds. The Menang people have read this landscape for millennia, understanding its rhythms, respecting its power, and receiving its abundance.
Our guides walk with respect for this knowledge. We acknowledge that we are visitors on Menang Country, privileged to share these trails, these stories, this extraordinary evening. The gourmet bush food grazing we provide isn’t just about offering something unique—it’s about honouring the sophisticated food systems that have sustained people here for so long. Ingredients like wattle seed, bush tomato, native pepper, and saltbush appear in your grazing selection, connecting your palate to the deep food traditions of this place.
The timing is everything. As the sun dips towards the horizon, you’ll arrive at Uredale Point—the premier vantage point for Kola’s installation. From this elevated granite perch, with King George Sound spread before you, Princess Royal Harbour calm and serene, and the foamy waves of Bramble Beach providing nature’s soundtrack, you’ll witness the transformation as twilight descends and the lights begin their ethereal dance across the landscape.
We provide gourmet bush food grazing—a nod to the native ingredients that have sustained people in this region for millennia—along with warm beverages to keep you comfortable as you absorb the spectacle. This is the moment you’ll remember for a lifetime: perched on ancient granite, surrounded by fellow adventurers, watching as light and landscape merge in ways that honour both the timeless and the contemporary.
The Journey Back: Stars, Stories, and Songlines
The experience doesn’t end when the installation fades. In fact, some of our guests tell us the return journey is equally magical. Donning your headtorch, you’ll retrace your steps across the granite, through the shadowy bushland alive with nocturnal sounds, along the beach where phosphorescence might catch your eye, and back through the dunes to Whalers Cove.
But here’s the thing: take a moment to look up. Albany’s night sky, free from the light pollution of major cities, reveals itself in all its glory. The stars you’ll see on this walk are the same constellations that have guided Menang people for thousands of generations. Aboriginal astronomy is among the world’s oldest continuous scientific traditions—these aren’t just pretty lights in the sky, but a sophisticated navigational system, a seasonal calendar, a story book written in stars.
The Milky Way, which Noongar people call Maaman, is understood as a river in the sky. The dark spaces between stars—what Western astronomy often overlooks—are seen as shapes and beings with their own stories and significance. The Emu in the Sky, visible in the dark patches of the Milky Way, tells Noongar people when it’s time to collect emu eggs. The Seven Sisters constellation, known across Aboriginal Australia with slight regional variations, carries stories of pursuit, protection, and the importance of family bonds.
These celestial songlines connect Noongar Country to other Aboriginal nations across the continent. The same stars that guide you back to Whalers Cove tonight have guided countless journeys across this land for more than 60,000 years—the longest continuous cultural connection to place anywhere on Earth. When Kari Kola titled his concept “Roots of the Sky,” he was tapping into something the Menang people have always understood: that the connections between earth and sky, between past and present, between people and place, are real and profound.
This is what makes your return walk so special. The lights of the installation may have faded, but you’re walking through an even older illumination—one written in stars, held in stories, and lived through continuous connection to Country.
Why This Albany Events WA Moment Matters Beyond the Lights
Lighting the Sound is part of a broader initiative called Balgang Albany—a year-long cultural and arts programme developed in collaboration with the City of Albany and Menang Elders. The programme includes seven flagship events throughout 2026, each designed to explore different facets of Albany’s identity and history.
Before Lighting the Sound illuminates our coastline in mid-March, “First Lights – Kinjarling” will offer immersive experiences along ancestral pathways, led by Menang knowledge-holders and artists. Spectacular drone light shows will transform the sky over three nights in early March (6-8), but these aren’t just displays of technology. They’re acts of storytelling that connect story, constellations, and place in ways that centre Indigenous voices and perspectives.
This sequencing matters. First Lights comes first—literally and symbolically. It establishes the foundation, the context, the deeper story into which everything else fits. It’s Menang people saying: “This is our Country. These are our stories. This is how we understand the relationship between land, sky, and spirit. Everything that follows needs to honour this foundation.”
When you experience First Lights – Kinjarling before our twilight hike, you’ll arrive at Uredale Point with different eyes. You’ll understand why certain places are significant. You’ll hear echoes of traditional stories in the landscape features. You’ll recognise that the “Roots of the Sky” concept Kola developed isn’t his invention—it’s his interpretation of knowledge that Menang people have held and shared across countless generations.
This thoughtful programming ensures that Albany’s bicentenary isn’t just about celebrating 200 years of European settlement—it’s about acknowledging and honouring the much longer story of human connection to this land. Two hundred years becomes a single chapter in a book that began more than 60,000 years ago and continues being written today. It’s about looking forward whilst respecting the past. And it’s about positioning Albany as a place where culture, nature, and community converge in meaningful ways, where genuine reconciliation is more than words, where listening and learning happen alongside celebration.
The Ripple Effect: Tourism and Legacy
Tourism Western Australia recognises Albany’s potential as a cultural tourism destination. The state’s investment in Lighting the Sound represents a strategic commitment to regional tourism development, economic diversification, and community vibrancy. For Albany, this means more than just one spectacular event – it means positioning Albany Western Australia events for sustained tourism growth.
Visitors who come for this Albany lighting event will discover everything else Albany has to offer: the dramatic coastline of Torndirrup National Park with its Gap and Natural Bridge, the pristine beaches that Tourism Australia has recognised as among the nation’s best, the award-winning wines of the Great Southern appellation, adventure hikes through the Porongurup ranges, the moving history at the National ANZAC Centre, and the warm hospitality of our local businesses.
Many will return. Some might even decide to call Albany home. That’s the legacy potential of events like this—they change perceptions, create memories, and build connections that endure long after the lights have faded.
Book Your Place in History
Our Lighting the Sound Twilight Hike is limited to just 11 guests per tour, ensuring an intimate, personal experience that large group tours simply cannot provide. We’re offering tours across the three weekends of the main installation: March 13-15, March 20-22, and March 27-29, 2026.
At $169 per person, you receive a fully guided experience with expert local knowledge, gourmet bush food grazing, warm beverages, and what we confidently say will be the best vantage point for witnessing this world-class art installation. You’ll need comfortable walking shoes, warm layers (March evenings can be cool), a headtorch for the return journey, and a reusable water bottle and keep cup.
Most importantly, you’ll need an open heart and a sense of adventure.
Why Choose Albany Tours?
As members of the exclusive Dream Collective and Albany’s premier land-based tour operator, we’ve spent years perfecting the art of sharing our region’s stories. We’re not just guides—we’re locals who are deeply connected to this place. We’ve walked these trails countless times, but we never tire of the magic that unfolds when the light is just right, when the Southern Ocean performs its eternal dance with the granite coastline, when a guest sees something in our landscape that takes their breath away.
The Lighting the Sound Twilight Hike represents everything we value: connection to Country, respect for First Nations culture, sustainable and thoughtful tourism, small-group intimacy, and the kind of authentic experiences that create lasting memories.
This event is truly once-in-a-lifetime. Kari Kola’s first Australian installation. Albany’s bicentenary. The convergence of international artistry, Indigenous knowledge, and natural beauty. It’s all happening here, in our remarkable corner of Western Australia, in March 2026.
Join Us for One of the Best Albany Events of 2026
Whether you’re a local wanting to see your home through new eyes, a West Australian planning a regional escape, or a visitor from further afield exploring Australia’s South West, Lighting the Sound offers an opportunity to be part of something genuinely special. This is how Albany will be remembered in 2026—not just for reaching a milestone, but for celebrating it in a way that honours the past whilst illuminating the future.
The coastline that has witnessed so much history—from millennia of Menang connection to early European exploration, from the departure of ANZAC troops to the transformation into a thriving cultural hub—will once again play host to a moment that defines us.
We invite you to walk with us into that twilight. To stand on Uredale Point as the lights begin their dance. To share food, stories, and wonder with fellow travellers. To experience Albany at its most magical.
Book your exclusive Lighting the Sound Twilight Hike directly through the Albany Tours website, and secure your place in this remarkable celebration of light, land, and legacy. For enquiries, contact us at or call 0418 414 425.
Because some journeys aren’t just about where you go—they’re about the moments that stay with you forever. This is one of those moments.
We’ll see you on the trail.
