Hive Festival and Hands-on Art: What’s On in Wollongong Today

Wollongong Comes Alive with the Hive Festival

The city is buzzing today, Tuesday, 20 January 2026, as the Wollongong Art Gallery launches the highly anticipated Hive Festival. This free, family-focused event turns the gallery into a massive playground of creativity, inviting residents of all ages to engage with contemporary art in a fun and accessible way. Developed by artist Kate Mitchell in partnership with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the festival’s theme for the year is "Play is serious business!"

From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, visitors can participate in a variety of activities centered around the Set States exhibition. Highlights include:

• Plushie Pals Workshop: A drop-in session where you can sew your own fabric friend, choosing colors and shapes that represent qualities like courage or comfort.
• Postcards for the Future: A chance to design and write messages about your hopes and dreams for 2026.
• Circus Magic: Professional performers will be providing entertainment throughout the gallery with juggling and stilt-walking.

Exhibitions and Community Discoveries

If you are heading to the city center, the Wollongong Library is also hosting the Voices of Insight photographic exhibition. This exhibition presents powerful images and stories regarding the lived experiences of those impacted by domestic and family violence, providing a space for reflection and awareness within our community. It is open for viewing throughout the library’s operating hours today.

Bargain hunters should also take note of the Summer Book Sale, which continues today across all seven library locations in the Wollongong City Council area. This is a rare chance to browse hundreds of pre-loved books and find a great read for the remainder of the summer holidays.

Skill Building and Youth Adventures

Local libraries are also hosting specific events for those looking to learn something new or keep the kids entertained during the school break:

• New Year, New Skills: A focused session at Wollongong Library from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, introducing residents to LinkedIn Learning for career and personal development.
• Dungeons & Dragons Crawl: For teens aged 12-18, the Helensburgh Library is hosting an immersive tabletop gaming session starting at 10:00 am.
• Pet Rock Creations: A craft workshop for younger children at the central library at 2:00 pm, focusing on designing and decorating unique stone "pets."

International Innovation in the Gong

Finally, for the professionals and tech enthusiasts, Wollongong is currently playing host to the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (ICAIR). This gathering of global experts explores the latest breakthroughs in mathematics and robotics, further cementing the city's role as a leading Australian hub for academic and technological research.