The New Ireland Provincial Government has officially launched the 2026 Shark Calling Festival, framing the ancient ritual as a cornerstone for provincial healing and social unity.
Announcing the event on behalf of Governor Honorable Byron Chan, the Chairman of the New Ireland Provincial Events Committee, Daniel Tomarai, confirmed the festival will be held from July 16th to 18th, 2026. The gathering will take place at Kono Village, the traditional home of the Shark Callers in the West Coast Barok area of Namatanai District. Under the theme “One Sound, One People – Harnessing Tradition to Unite New Ireland,” the provincial government has committed K100,000 to the event.
While the practice of shark calling is indigenous to the West Coast Barok people, officials emphasize that the festival’s significance extends far beyond local borders. “We are utilizing the sacred traditions of the West Coast as a platform to bridge gaps uniting our people,” Chairman Tomarai stated. “The West Coast Barok area will serve as the foundation upon which we rebuild our provincial friendship and cooperation.”
Governor Byron Chan’s vision for the 2026 festival centers on ending “social distance” and missed opportunities for partnership within the province. By elevating the festival to a global stage, the administration seeks to use cultural pride as a tool to mend historical divisions. “Just as our ancestors relied on harmony to call the shark, we are calling on all communities—from the islands to the mainland—to find common ground,” Governor Chan said in a statement. He noted that the “sound of the coconut rattles” should be heard by every New Irelander as a summons to stand together.
The Shark Calling Festival is a sanctioned event on Papua New Guinea’s national calendar. It continues to be a major draw for international tourists, who travel to Kono Village to witness the unique, spiritual connection between the callers and the ocean—a practice maintained through generations of rituals and customary laws. The Provincial Events Committee has issued a formal invitation to leaders, elders, and families from across the province to gather at Kono Village this July.
The administration views this year’s festival not only as a display of resilience and unique identity but as a “formal invitation to revitalize partnerships” and sail toward a unified future.