NITV and SBS to celebrate the significance and spectacle of the 25th Garma Festival
24 July, 2025
Media releases
Comprehensive coverage across the network will connect all Australians with the culture, ceremony, and critical conversations from the landmark event.
*WATCH PROMO HERE*
As the Garma Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this year from 1-4 August, NITV and SBS will deliver comprehensive, multiplatform, and multilingual coverage across the four-day event, giving all Australians a front row seat for all the agenda-setting conversations and an iconic celebration of Yol u culture.
Taking place in Gulkula, northeast Arnhem Land, the Garma Festival is one of Australia's largest Indigenous gatherings and most significant Indigenous affairs forum. Hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, the event brings together political leaders, policy makers, corporate leaders, and community representatives. It provides a globally recognised platform for debate about issues affecting First Nations people, while also celebrating the culture, ceremony, visual art, dance, music, and storytelling of the Yol u people.
In 2025, NITV returns to Gulkula as Media Supporter for the tenth year, to provide its unique First Nations focussed coverage of the festival. Together with SBS, it will be sharing all the key forums, major announcements, and highlights like the Opening Ceremony and the daily bu gul (traditional dance), with a national audience across the network. The event will also be shared with global audiences through the World Indigenous Broadcasting Network.
Each year, the Yol u people open their arms and their hearts to more than 2,500 people at Gulkula, and we're honoured to extend that invitation to all Australians through our coverage of this significant event, said Tanya Denning-Orman, SBS Director of First Nations.
This year we will deliver more of the key moments and ceremonial spectacle of the Garma Festival across our platforms than ever before, as we continue to grow and expand our coverage across the entire SBS network, led by NITV as the official Media Supporter. We will ensure you don't miss a moment and are proud to be delivering unparalleled access for every Australian, and around the world.
This 25-year milestone for the Garma Festival is also an opportunity to reflect on the event's significance, legacy, and impact. We'll also highlight this history and celebrate the many achievements of Yol u leaders and the strengths of the region.
Natalie Ahmat and John Paul Janke will present coverage at the 2025 Garma Festival
Daily live coverage, updates, and highlights - including a two-hour live special on Sunday 3 August from 10am will be presented by NITV's Indigenous News and Current Affairs team including Head of Indigenous News and Current Affairs, Natalie Ahmat; SBS National Indigenous Affairs Editor and host of The Point, John Paul Janke; NITV News Presenter and Senior Producer, Michael Rennie; and more.
In addition to NITV and SBS's live simulcast of key events, SBS News will report from Garma, providing updates on SBS World News and its platforms, with Chief Political Correspondent, Anna Henderson, on the ground. SBS will also provide unique multilingual coverage with representatives from SBS's Chinese and Arabic teams also reporting from Gulkula, with news and insights to feature across the SBS Audio network in more than 60 languages, in addition to NITV Radio.
NITV Muy Ngulayg on SBS On Demand will be the home for all Garma Festival content, with audiences able to tune into live streams, as well as catch up on all the forums and speeches, bu gul, and NITV News' programs.
The network's comprehensive coverage includes*:
NITV News: Nula
3-3.30pm, Friday 1 August
Simulcast live on NITV, SBS and SBS On Demand
Join Natalie Ahmat and the NITV News team for a special edition of Nula, broadcast live from the 25th Garma Festival at Gulkula, in northeast Arnhem Land. Nula will provide a preview of events and insights into the issues and ideas to be discussed across the following days of the festival, with interviews, explainers, profiles, and stories from the local region.
Garma Opening Ceremony
4-5.30pm, Friday 1 August
Simulcast live on NITV, SBS, SBS On Demand
Join hosts Natalie Ahmat and John Paul Janke for the official opening ceremony launching a special 25th anniversary Garma Festival, rich in spirit, truth-telling, and the unbreakable connection to land and culture. The ceremony brings together Yol u leaders, community members, and special guests to mark this milestone moment. This year's Garma theme, Law of the Land: Standing Firm', reflects the strength, resilience, and cultural authority of the Yol u people. The opening ceremony features heartfelt speeches and reflections, followed by a vibrant bu gul, where miny'tji (art), manikay (song), dance, and story come together in a moving expression of identity and law. It's also an important gathering for clans and families from across the region.
Garma Bu gul
9-10am, Saturday 2 August, Sunday 3 August, and Monday 4 August
Simulcast on NITV, SBS and SBS On Demand
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of northeast Arnhem Land, this daily program captures the spirit of Yol u ceremony through miny'tji (art), manikay (song), dance and storytelling, which takes place as the sun sets at the festival each afternoon. The bu gul is a powerful cultural expression, where ancient knowledge, deep connection to Country, and ancestral stories are shared through rhythm, movement, and song. Filmed on Yol u Country with cultural authority, this program offers audiences a rare and respectful window into the world's oldest living culture. Each episode takes viewers on a journey, showcasing the rich traditions of Yol u clans as they share ceremonial dances
Most recent headlines
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
07/08/2025
July 8 2025, 22:30 (PDT) Tata Motors & Dolby Bring Dolby Atmos to Harrier.ev, R...
26/07/2025
IABM, the International Trade Association for Broadcast and Media Technology, has confirmed the appointment of its Members' Board for 2025, following the co...
26/07/2025
BALTIMORE In another sign that dealmaking for U.S. TV stations may be heating up amid hopes that regulators will eliminate or loosen broadcast ownership caps, S...
26/07/2025
LISBON wTVision, a provider of real-time graphics and broadcast services, has established a strategic alliance with Adistec that will see Adistec will distribut...
26/07/2025
WASHINGTON While most broadcasters remain united behind the NAB's proposal to cut off ATSC signals in 2028 and 2030, some broadcasters and LPTV owners conti...
26/07/2025
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) has announced that it worked with the U.S. Soccer Federation during the recent U.S. Men's National ...
26/07/2025
Witbe has announced that it will unveil its Agentic AI solution and highlight a number of new innovations and partnerships during IBC2025, which will be held in...
26/07/2025
Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association Celebrate First-Ever Concert at Br...
25/07/2025
By Lucy Spicer
At Sundance Institute, we're always in awe of the power independent film has to bring people together. That's why we love asking filmmak...
25/07/2025
Southeast Asia's music scene is one of the most culturally diverse and it's not just growing, it's exploding. Here, listeners actively champion home...
25/07/2025
Just in time for the release of Happy Gilmore 2, Netflix is turning to Spotify t...
25/07/2025
That Great Gretsch Sound: The Iconic Gear that Made Music History From the Beatles on Ed Sullivan to jazz drumming evolution, Gretsch has been there. Listen t...
25/07/2025
NEW YORK VideoAmp said it has expanded its longstanding work with Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal that will see WBD leverage the ad-tech firm's advanced da...
25/07/2025
LONDON Global entertainment and media industry revenue edged towards $3 trillion in revenue in 2024 and is forecast to hit $3.5 trillion in 2029 as advertising ...
25/07/2025
RASTATT, Germany Lawo today released HOME 4.0, the latest version of its IP-native management platform with major updates, including architectural improvements,...
25/07/2025
WASHINGTON After months of delays and controversy, the Federal Communications Commission has finally issued an Order approving the $8 billion Skydance merger wi...
25/07/2025
Atomos is proud to announce the all-new Ninja TX, a completely re-engineered and advanced addition to the acclaimed Ninja monitor-recorder family. While other N...
25/07/2025
OOONA, a global leader in professional management and production tools for the media localization industry, announced today that ITV has adopted its flagship pl...
25/07/2025
Custom Consoles will promote its full range of broadcast control room and production suite furniture at IBC 2025, Amsterdam, 12-15 September. Exhibiting on stan...
25/07/2025
Witbe (Euronext Growth FR0013143872 ALWIT), the global leader in post-device video testing and real-time monitoring, today announced the launch of Witbe Age...
25/07/2025
Witbe
IBC 2025 Exhibitor Preview
September 10-15
Amsterdam
Stand 5.F84
As the broadcast and streaming landscape evolves, providers are under pressure to de...
25/07/2025
IBC2025 Exhibitor Preview
September 12-15
Amsterdam
Stand 10.A31 & 10.A38
At the 2025 IBC Show, Riedel Communications will showcase its latest innovations i...
25/07/2025
Zero Density today announced the release of Reality 5.6, the latest update to its comprehensive solution for virtual studio production and on-air graphics. This...
25/07/2025
Professional Wireless Systems (PWS), a leading provider of wireless audio solutions, proudly supported the U.S. Soccer Federation during the recent U.S. Men'...
25/07/2025
European technology developer Profuz Digital is delighted to confirm that Proximus Media House has selected the SubtitleNEXT subtitling software platform.
Prox...
25/07/2025
Mediagenix, a global leader in smart content solutions to profitably connect the right content to the right audience, will spotlight the full integration of Spi...
25/07/2025
Appear, the global leader in live production technology, will use IBC2025 (Stand 1.C61) to showcase how the combined power of its award-winning X Platform hardw...
25/07/2025
MediaKind today announced that MK.IO, its self-serve cloud video streaming platform, has surpassed 500 active customers worldwide within two years of launch. Th...
25/07/2025
At IBC2025, VisualOn will showcase its latest AI-driven video solutions, helping providers improve quality, cut bandwidth costs, and unlock new revenue. With ma...
25/07/2025
With these two satellites, the O3b mPOWER constellation continues to set the standard for global connectivity
Cape Canaveral, 22 July 2025 - The latest pair of...
25/07/2025
Berklee Partners with Playing for Legacy for 2025 Summer Program Students from around the world gain real-world music industry experience through hands-on art...
25/07/2025
Junji Ito Inducted Into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame at San Diego C...
25/07/2025
Live from UEFA Women's Euro 2025: RTVE executive producer of sport Moira Gar...
25/07/2025
Live from UEFA Women's Euro 2025: RTVE executive producer of sport Moira Gar...
25/07/2025
Live from UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Inside the production nuts and bolts at IT...
25/07/2025
Live from UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Broadcast facts and camera plan for the En...
25/07/2025
PMY Group's Logan Meier on the Unique Pop Up Nassau County International C...
25/07/2025
Friday 25 July 2025
To view this content, please enable our use of cookies. To ...
25/07/2025
Back to All News
Physical 100: Italy: Who Will Endure Until the End? Coming Soo...
24/07/2025
Diane Quon speaks with an advisor at Sundance Institute's 2019 Creative Producing Lab. (Photo by Jen Fairchild)...
24/07/2025
(L-R) Heidi Ewing, Iselin Breivold, Hege Birch Wik, Thor-Atle Svortevik, and Rachel Grady attend the 2025 Sundance Film Festival FOLKTALES premiere at Library...
24/07/2025
NITV and SBS to celebrate the significance and spectacle of the 25th Garma Festi...
24/07/2025
Pure Drama continues with the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift hot on the wheels...
24/07/2025
Wacom just launched the next generation of display tablets, the Cintiq pen & tou...
24/07/2025
L3Harris Technologies Integrated Mission Systems President Jon Rambeau and ELT Group CEO and COO Domitilla Benigni take part in a ceremonial signing to formaliz...
24/07/2025
Highlights*
Orders of $8.3 billion; book-to-bill of 1.5x
Revenue of $5.4 bill...
24/07/2025
BALTIMORE Sinclair will make the first public showing of a NextGen TV-enabled Android media tablet with integrated ATSC 3.0 receiver and antenna during the publ...
NITV and SBS to celebrate the significance and spectacle of the 25th Garma Festival 
