Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea
Goroka Show, Goroka Festival, Eastern Highlands Cultural Show – whatever you call it, there’s no getting around the fact that this knees-up is the most anticipated event in Papua New Guinea. For one weekend in September the usually snoozing highlands town of Goroka erupts into a celebration of song and dance.
And it’s not just for fun. This is a chance for up to 100 wide-ranging tribes to get together. It’s also a battle of the dances. While not technically a competition, there’s definitely a livewire of rivalry as communities dress up in their finest for a sing-sing that showcases their community’s finest dances and songs.
“Each year I attend I am equally excited and blown away by how powerful the Goroka Show is,” says Konrad Borowiecki, who designs our Goroka Show holiday in Papua New Guinea. “Our travellers love it because it’s not a staged performance, it’s a real cultural event. The colours, the energy, the pride the groups bring. It’s something you feel as much as you see.”
And it’s not just for fun. This is a chance for up to 100 wide-ranging tribes to get together. It’s also a battle of the dances. While not technically a competition, there’s definitely a livewire of rivalry as communities dress up in their finest for a sing-sing that showcases their community’s finest dances and songs.
“Each year I attend I am equally excited and blown away by how powerful the Goroka Show is,” says Konrad Borowiecki, who designs our Goroka Show holiday in Papua New Guinea. “Our travellers love it because it’s not a staged performance, it’s a real cultural event. The colours, the energy, the pride the groups bring. It’s something you feel as much as you see.”
The dances reveal battle victories, songs of healing and feasting, and a candid love for their community. Never has wearing your heart on your sleeve been so energetic.![]()
What you’ll see depends on which tribes decide to visit that year. Storytelling dances and songs are performed. Woven rainbow headdresses are family heirlooms; bird-of-paradise feathers decorate skirts. The enthusiasm of the participants and attendees is earth-shaking.
What’s more, performers are often more than willing to interact with visitors. “People are always surprised by how welcoming everyone is and how easy it is to connect with performers on a personal level,” says Konrad. “They want to share their culture with the world.”
But which dialect is that? Why do the Asaro people coat themselves in mud? And is that a prayer or a victory song? To get a true understanding of what’s going on, you’ll need to travel with a Papua New Guinea holiday specialist who works with expert local guides. “We work directly with local guides and operators as well as village partners so the benefits stay in the community,” says Konrad. “We try to keep our groups small and focus on genuine, long-term relationships. It’s about making sure everyone benefits from the overall experience.”
What’s more, performers are often more than willing to interact with visitors. “People are always surprised by how welcoming everyone is and how easy it is to connect with performers on a personal level,” says Konrad. “They want to share their culture with the world.”
But which dialect is that? Why do the Asaro people coat themselves in mud? And is that a prayer or a victory song? To get a true understanding of what’s going on, you’ll need to travel with a Papua New Guinea holiday specialist who works with expert local guides. “We work directly with local guides and operators as well as village partners so the benefits stay in the community,” says Konrad. “We try to keep our groups small and focus on genuine, long-term relationships. It’s about making sure everyone benefits from the overall experience.”
Things to see at the Goroka Show
The sing-sing is a crescendo of kundu drumming, drone singing and dancing. The atmosphere is electric.![]()
The Goroka Show lasts for three days straight, peaking at the sing-sing: a get-together where tribes share songs and dances. Some only meet once a year, so it’s real privilege to witness the shared stories and friendly rivalries. The sing-sing represents communication and community building, all at once – a shared language in a country where there are over 400 dialects.
When you consider how many centuries islanders spent battling culture-crushing colonialism, you’ll realise that it’s a real privilege to be amongst so many disparate tribes standing shoulder to shoulder. And they don’t do it by halves. Attendees spend hours getting dressed for the occasion, and there are stories behind every outfit.
When you consider how many centuries islanders spent battling culture-crushing colonialism, you’ll realise that it’s a real privilege to be amongst so many disparate tribes standing shoulder to shoulder. And they don’t do it by halves. Attendees spend hours getting dressed for the occasion, and there are stories behind every outfit.
The seemingly ancient tradition of a sing-sing was in fact a construct from the 1950s, invented to diffuse intertribal tensions.![]()
A marketplace pops up, too. Some tribes arrive loaded with their island’s wares: banana, breadfruit, yam, taro, sugar cane. Food stalls then proceed to get busy cooking it, so you could wind up munching on barbecued pork or bamboo-steamed vegetables. Elsewhere, craftspeople peddle geometric palm-woven baskets and bright string bags.
Konrad has been to Papua New Guinea dozens of times over the last 15 years. In that time the Goroka Show has attracted more visitors, but not many. “It’s far from what we think of as mainstream,” he says. “But for Papua New Guinea, it’s become a little bit mainstream. You do see tour buses there now. Ten years ago if you saw 20 or 30 people you’d think, ‘Wow, it’s busy,’ but now visitors are probably in the hundreds. There are a lot of people who travel to the town for the festival now – and with good reason: it’s amazing.”
Whilst many people come to Papua New Guinea for the Goroka Show, there are other festivals in the country to enjoy too. Our holidays combine the Goroka Show with a smaller festival that follows shortly after, so visitors can compare and contrast a large show with a more intimate gathering.
Despite the influx of visitors, the Goroka Show’s format endures. “In the last few years I don’t think the Goroka Show has changed too much,” says Konrad. “It is still all about culture and community. I’ve noticed better organisation, more local stalls and a somewhat smoother experience for visitors. But the core of the event is still as it should be.”
Konrad has been to Papua New Guinea dozens of times over the last 15 years. In that time the Goroka Show has attracted more visitors, but not many. “It’s far from what we think of as mainstream,” he says. “But for Papua New Guinea, it’s become a little bit mainstream. You do see tour buses there now. Ten years ago if you saw 20 or 30 people you’d think, ‘Wow, it’s busy,’ but now visitors are probably in the hundreds. There are a lot of people who travel to the town for the festival now – and with good reason: it’s amazing.”
Whilst many people come to Papua New Guinea for the Goroka Show, there are other festivals in the country to enjoy too. Our holidays combine the Goroka Show with a smaller festival that follows shortly after, so visitors can compare and contrast a large show with a more intimate gathering.
Despite the influx of visitors, the Goroka Show’s format endures. “In the last few years I don’t think the Goroka Show has changed too much,” says Konrad. “It is still all about culture and community. I’ve noticed better organisation, more local stalls and a somewhat smoother experience for visitors. But the core of the event is still as it should be.”
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Papua New Guinea small group tour
Stay with tribes and visit a festival in Papua New Guinea
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2027: 3 Aug
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Tips for visiting the Goroka Show
While it’s true that the purpose of the Goroka Show is for tribes to share their costumes and customs, it’s also vital that visitors don’t treat it purely as entertainment. Every swirl of body paint and skywards jump holds deep meaning. However, many tribespeople do enjoy posing for a photo – just remember to ask permission first and share the photo too. Respect the people behind the costume; it shouldn’t need to be said, but touching generations-old headdresses is an absolute no.
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