Powerhouse and Indigenous social enterprise We Are Warriors (WAW) is returning the annual Blak Powerhouse event to Manning House at the University of Sydney in a campaign via R/GA.
ARIA award winners BARKAA and rap collective 3% will headline the free, all-ages event and be joined by rapper Ziggy Ramo, R&B soul vocalist Mi-Kaisha and hip-hop rap duo Birdz & Fred Leone.
“This narrative extended beyond the screen and into the physical space,” said We Are Warriors co-founder and R/GA chief design officer APAC Ben Miles.
“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 event 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 “Melnunnie” Brettschneider.
The design, spanning posters, signage, and social media, is rooted in the ancestral visual language of Matthew’s Country.
“This is a Welcome. It’s spiritual, it’s protective, and it’s about safe passage into a space of truth and strength,” said We Are Warriors founder Nooky.
“‘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. It is a connection and a responsibility that is not yours to take, and no matter how polarised the world becomes it is not yours to discuss.
“There’s a duality here. It’s Mob first. We have passed through each other's lands with respect for thousands of years, and we are inviting everyone to gather and share in that on our terms. On the other side, it’s a line in the sand: a refusal to let our culture, ceremony, or stories be erased.”
The event will be held on January 26, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
“Blak Powerhouse continues to be shaped by community, led by First Nations voices and grounded in deep cultural practice,” said Powerhouse chief executive Lisa Havilah.
“We are honoured to partner with We Are Warriors to present this extraordinary event that celebrates the strength and beauty of First Nations culture in Sydney.”
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