Bangarra Dance Theatre awarded Biennale Danza Gold Lion 2026

The Bangarra Dance Theatre, an Australian company composed entirely of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers, received the Leone d'Oro (Gold Lion) at the Biennale Danza 2026 in Venice. The award ceremony took place in the Sala delle Colonne of Ca’ Giustinian and was presented by Biennale director Wayne McGregor and president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco.

Founded in 1989, Bangarra has built a repertoire that blends movement, music, poetry and visual arts to convey the 65,000‑year history of Indigenous Australian cultures. Stephen Page, artistic director from 1991 to 2022, accepted the prize on behalf of the company, and the newly appointed artistic director Frances Rings, herself a Mirning community member, highlighted the troupe’s mission to preserve memory, promote cultural identity and confront the legacy of colonisation through dance.

The jury praised Bangarra for creating a unique contemporary language that honors tradition while reaching global audiences, solidifying its status as one of Australia’s leading artistic ensembles.