The clang of steel, the flash of armour, and the spirit of creativity are set to echo through Portland once again — Ironfest is back!
The much-loved festival of art, metal, and imagination will return to The Foundations, Portland NSW, in April 2026, under the theme “Wlonk.” The event will run over the weekend of Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, from 10 am – 6 pm Saturday and 10 am – 4 pm Sunday. Entry will be by $10 donation per person, with a special invitation to all attendees to come “wlonk” — that is, dressed in their finest costumes, creative gear, or festival flair.
After a triumphant return in 2024 that drew crowds from across the state, organisers expect the 2026 edition to be even bigger.
“We know we have a great following out there,” said Festival Director and Founder Macgregor Ross. “With The Foundations as such a stunning backdrop, we expect our supporters to roll in from all around the country.”
The 2026 festival will once again bring together makers, artists, performers, and historical reenactors, blending history, fantasy, and craftsmanship in the unique Ironfest way. For decades, Ironfest has been a celebration of creativity and the art of making — from medieval swordsmiths and cosplayers to contemporary metal artists and musicians — and its move to Portland in 2024 marked a new chapter in that story.
Hosting the festival at The Foundations has helped cement Portland’s place as one of regional NSW’s emerging creative hubs. With its towering silos, historic kilns, and industrial heritage, the site provides a dramatic and fitting stage for a festival that honours both the past and the future of making.
Rich Evans, The Foundations’ Re-activation Manager, said Ironfest will now form part of a long-term cultural calendar for the town.
“This festival highlights the heritage of Portland’s making culture, building on our recent Makers Month,” he said. “With a multi-year agreement in place, we’re looking forward to seeing it grow over time — giving us two cornerstone festivals each year, one in April and one in October. Over time we can see both of these festivals creating immersive experiences right throughout our town.”
Beyond the spectacle, Ironfest has long been recognised for its ability to bring people together — uniting artists, tradespeople, and visitors in a celebration of creativity and community spirit. The return of the festival in 2026 continues that mission, while reinforcing Portland’s growing reputation as a destination for makers, dreamers, and doers.
More details about the 2026 program, performers, and attractions will be released in the coming weeks, but one thing is certain — it’s time to dust off your costume, polish your armour, and prepare to get wlonk once more.
What does “Wlonk” mean?
The festival’s 2026 theme takes inspiration from a Middle English word — “wlonk” — which means noble, proud, splendid, or beautiful. It could describe a person, an animal, a landscape, or even an object. The word fell out of use around the 1500s, but Ironfest aims to make it shine again — quite literally making “wlonk” great again.
Photo Credit: Photos from last year’s Ironfest in the Annex at the The Foundations, Portland NSW with wlonky Lee & Raine Doyle. Photo by Macgregor Ross.
