Posted on 03 December 2025

Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster 2026: East Kimberley at its best

Words Editorial Team Pics Supplied

Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster: 25 years of music, country and Kimberley magic

Stories, Stars and Serenity sunset (Credit: Kimberley Dreaming)

If you’ve ever stood in the East Kimberley at sunset and thought, “How is this place even real?”, then you’ll understand why the Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster has become such a cherished event. In 2026, the festival hits its 25-year milestone, celebrating a quarter century of community, creativity and classic outback magic.

From 15–24 May 2026, Kununurra flicks the switch from laid-back to full-throttle celebration. Ten days of music, art, culture and adventure beneath those big Kimberley skies.

Kicking off with colour and community

The festivities launch with the Horizon Power Party in the Park, a free night where the whole town seems to gather. Kids chase each other between picnic rugs, musicians take over the stage and the warm evening air hums with that unmistakable Kimberley energy.

And that’s only the start. Through the week you’ll find yourself drifting from Colours of Country — an evocative mix of performance and storytelling — to the thundering action of the Muster Rodeo, where northern riders test their grit in front of a roaring crowd. Dust, noise, skill and spectacle … it doesn’t get more ‘Kimberley’ than that.

Check out the program here.

Colours of Country (Credit: DNjegich)

Culture woven through every day

The Ord Valley Muster also opens the door to experiences that speak directly to Country.

At Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, visitors can join textile workshops led by local artists. Come nightfall, Corroboree Under the Stars takes over — a blend of song, movement and firelight that shares stories older than any road or river cutting through the region today.

Corroboree Under The Stars (Credit: DNjegich)

A chance to slow down and explore deeply

Of course, for many travellers, it’s the land itself that calls them north. And the Muster delivers with experiences that let you find the rhythm of the Kimberley at your own pace:

Stories, Stars and Serenity — two-day tour departing from Doon Doon Station
Eco-noeing Ultimate Day Trip — guided canoeing in the Upper Ord River
Muster Afloat — a unique collection of boating experiences, yoga and art
Bush Botanicals Women’s 4WD Overnight Journey — an overnight safari into UNESCO World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park

Muster Afloat (Credit: Base Imagery)

These adventures take you well beyond the town limits, into gorges, waterways and bush tracks that are as raw as they are peaceful. No deadlines. No rush. Just the Kimberley doing what the Kimberley does.

Eco-noeing Ultimate Day Trip (Credit: maka@gowild.com)

The legendary Kimberley Moon Experience

All roads lead to the festival’s crown jewel: the Kimberley Moon Experience on Saturday 23 May. Held beside the Ord River, this outdoor concert has become one of WA’s most-loved events.

Over the years the stage has welcomed Jessica Mauboy, Amy Shark, Birds of Tokyo, Jimmy Barnes, Kate Ceberano and many more. The 2026 lineup is tipped to be every bit as impressive.

Those wanting something extra special can book the Kimberley Fine Diamonds Dinner — a black-tie affair beneath the stars, complete with premium wines, multiple courses and a spectacular view of the evening’s entertainment.

Prefer something more casual? The Bishop’s Transport Muster Bar offers an 18+ zone, while the General Admission area is the perfect place for families to roll out a blanket and settle in for the night.

Kimberley Moon Experience (Credit: TimbeePhotography)

A celebration shaped by the people who love this place

“The Muster captures everything the Kimberley stands for: community, creativity and that sense of freedom you can only feel here,” said Ord Valley Events chairperson, Sophie Cooke.

“It’s where the outback meets the arts and the desert meets the river — 10 days that capture the heart of the Kimberley.”

And she’s spot on. This is a festival that invites you to take a breath, wander slowly and let the Kimberley wash over you. Start the morning at a waterfall. End it dancing in the dust under a field of stars. That’s the Ord Valley Muster.

Party in the Park (Credit: Sarah Duguid Photography)

Thinking of going? Plan ahead

Accommodation in Kununurra books out quickly during Muster season, so it pays to lock something in early. The town has a mix of riverside resorts, boutique stays, self-contained accommodation and caravan parks.

Discovery Parks - Lake Kununurra

Kimberleyland Waterfront Holiday Park

Lily Lagoon Resort – Kununurra

Hidden Valley Kununurra Caravan Park

Daily flights with Virgin Australia and Airnorth make getting to Kununurra easy. Tickets for the Kimberley Moon Experience went on sale 28 November 2025, with the full artist announcement to come in late January.

Proudly run by Ord Valley Events Inc., a volunteer board passionate about showcasing the East Kimberley, the Ord Valley Muster continues to shine a light on its landscapes, people and stories. The WA Government supports the festival through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program, funded by Royalties for Regions.

A wild, sweeping corner of Western Australia that still carries the feel of true frontier country — where red earth meets mirror-calm turquoise shallows, gorges carve through ancient stone and your 4WD stops being a vehicle and starts being a lifeline — the Kimberley is utterly its own world.

If you want blue skies, dry tracks, quieter river crossings and easy nights, it’s pretty hard to beat May or September for your Kimberley 4WD adventure since the offroad crowds peak in June–July. And if that’s not enough to convince you to explore the Kimberley in May, then the Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster 15–24 May 2026 certainly should.