Civic Hall transforms into a dreamlike world of giant inflatables, colour and discovery as creative Ballarat launches this winter’s most delightfully weird micro festival.
Hidden 2026 is set to blow up (literally) in Ballarat from 10 to 12 July, turning the historic Civic Hall into a living, breathing playground of inflatable art.
This three-day micro festival brings together six local artists who have created large-scale, interactive inflatable works that invite visitors to touch, explore, wander and get lost in a soft, surreal landscape of air, light and imagination.
Hidden 2026
- 10 to 12 July 2026
- Civic Hall Ballarat
- Tickets are on sale now
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
View this post on Instagram
Curated with mentorship from Dr David Cross and produced by Mikael Abromowitch and Justin Weyers, Hidden moves beyond passive viewing. Instead, audiences are encouraged to physically engage with the installations, creating a playful and sensory experience suitable for all ages.
The event builds on the success of last year’s sold-out projection-focused debut, expanding into a full inflatable adventure across the venue.
The participating artists bring wonderfully diverse practices to the inflatable format. Jay Kulbardi explores cultural storytelling and identity, while Annelîse Belladonna crafts gothic-surreal worlds full of curious characters.
Ben Pennell celebrates making and process, Tom Bell brings motion and cinematic flair, Kathy Holowko examines ecology and human connection, and Meaghan Shelton reimagines domestic space through textiles and memory.
Timed entry sessions run every 15 minutes with limited capacity, ensuring an intimate and magical experience.
Hidden offers the perfect winter antidote — a joyful, colourful escape that blends contemporary art with pure wonder. Whether you’re an art lover or just after something delightfully different, this inflatable takeover of Civic Hall is set to be one of Ballarat’s most memorable cultural events of the year.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for young people (12–18) and free for kids under 12, and are on sale now. Get them here.
