SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Powerhouse and Indigenous social enterprise We Are Warriors (WAW), in partnership with creative innovation company R/GA, are once again flipping the script. Marking the fifth birthday of We Are Warriors, the annual Blak Powerhouse event returns to Manning House at the University of Sydney to transform a difficult day into a day of power, pride, and positivity.
The free, all-ages event will showcase a night of Blak pride and joy with an unmissable lineup of First Nations artists taking to the stage. ARIA Award winners BARKAA and rap collective 3% will headline the night and be joined by rapper Ziggy Ramo, R&B soul vocalist Mi-Kaisha, and hip-hop rap duo Birdz & Fred Leone. The inclusive celebration will also include dance performances, panel discussions, weaving workshops, art installations, First Nations market stalls, and more.
Creative innovation company R/GA is supporting Blak Powerhouse for its fourth year by developing the 2026 visual identity alongside We Are Warriors Founder Nooky, and under the guidance of Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa artist Matthew Brettschneider. The design, spanning posters, signage, and social media, is rooted in the ancestral visual language of Matthew’s Country and built upon a specific curvature derived from symbols representing a person sitting and a collective gathering.
The use of these symbols holds significant meaning within Matthew’s cultural community and with First Nations people across the Country. This inspired a redesign of the “Welcome” wordmark to emulate a wry smile—intentionally layered with meaning: to some, a gesture of invitation; to others, a knowing signifier of survival, resistance, and refusal to be co-opted.
“This narrative extended beyond the screen and into the physical space,” said Ben Miles, Chief Design Officer APAC at R/GA and Co-Founder of We Are Warriors. “Through the curation of immersive zones like ‘Nooky’s Backyard’ and the ‘Aretha Brown Tattoo Parlour Zone’, we’ve used positive placards and flags to ensure the ‘Welcome’ is something attendees truly feel and experience throughout the venue.”
The design functions as a visual manifestation of a safe passage—deeply rooted in First Nations culture—reflecting the duality of the day: fierce protection of Blak culture and celebration of community. This year’s theme centres on Welcome, returning to the heart of what Country truly means amid recent negativity and misconceptions.
“This is a Welcome. It’s spiritual, it’s protective, and it’s about safe passage into a space of truth and strength,” said Nooky, Founder of We Are Warriors. “‘Welcome to Country’ has been misinterpreted, tokenised, or misread as a ‘Welcome to Australia.’ But Country doesn’t mean Australia. Country means your land, your mob, your spirit, and your ancestors.”
The space will feel fierce, optimistic, and unapologetically Blak. From 6:00 PM, the yard-party atmosphere will feature slushies, workshops, and positive energy, alongside a dedicated Birthday Room celebrating five years of We Are Warriors through Power, Pride, and Positivity.
The event will be hosted by Nooky and Indigenous Australian DJ and multidisciplinary artist Soju Gang, beginning with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Aunty Nadeena Dixon. Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said Blak Powerhouse continues to be shaped by community and grounded in deep cultural practice.
Event details
• When: January 26, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• Where: Manning House, Sydney University
• Entry: Free (registration required)
• Register: powerhouse.com.au/program/blak-powerhouse
