Each year the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre fills with the voices, instruments and movement of thousands of local performers competing at the highest community level. The Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod is one of the region's most anticipated annual events, and 2026 promises its most extensive program yet.
The Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod has been a cornerstone of performing arts in Gippsland for decades, organised by LVE and coordinated by dedicated volunteers including event contact Sjaala Harbridge. It exists to nurture talent, celebrate artistic discipline and give performers of all ages a respected competitive platform within their own community.
Across five weeks, audiences can experience six distinct disciplines: Choral and Vocal from 20 to 22 August, Speech and Drama from 24 to 25 August, Piano from 29 August to 1 September, Instrumental from 3 to 5 September, Brass and Bands from 12 to 13 September, and Theatrical Dance from 18 to 27 September. Performances take place across the Main Theatre, Little Theatre and Town Hall, giving spectators the choice to follow a single discipline or sample the full range of the festival.
With more than 4,000 participants drawn from communities across Gippsland, the Eisteddfod reflects the remarkable depth of performing arts culture in the Latrobe Valley. It provides young and emerging artists with measurable goals, experienced adjudication and the experience of performing before a live audience, strengthening the creative fabric of the region year after year.
The festival opens on Thursday 20 August 2026 at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, 32 Kay Street, Traralgon, with sessions running from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. Entry costs $8. Season tickets and programs can be pre-purchased at lve.org.au or at the door. For enquiries, contact the organiser at [email protected] or call (03) 5174 2335.
Eden of the East