Make a long weekend of it!

About the event

Mud Trail 2026 is a 4-day, ceramics experience across the Northern Rivers of NSW, presented by North Coast Ceramics. Discover working studios, meet local artists, attend artist-led workshops and explore the region through clay.

Register to receive event updates, workshop bookings, the official trail map and artist listings — everything you need to plan your Mud Trail weekend.

What’s New in 2026

For the first time, Mud Trail expands to include dedicated workshop days—giving you the chance to learn directly from participating artists.

Event Schedule

Open Studios (Free) - Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 August

The Mud Trail weekend: visit studios at your own pace, enjoy artist talks, live demonstrations, and experience ceramics in action across the region.

Artist-led Workshops - Friday 21 & Monday 24 August
Enjoy a range of hands-on workshops hosted by Mud Trail artists. These small-group sessions offer a unique opportunity to learn directly from participating artists in their studios.

Workshops are a paid optional add-on to the Mud Trail experience. Bookings are essential and places are limited. Each session is hosted by participating Mud Trail artists and booked separately.

See the timetable below and follow the workshop links for booking details.

WORKSHOP	TIME	ARTIST(S)	WORKSHOP LINK
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2026
Raku Glazing & Firing	9.00 am - 1.00 pm	Elaine Ritcher	https://events.humanitix.com/raku-fundamentals-surface-and-fire-ballina
Surfacing Ceramics	9.00 am - 3.00 pm	Lorraine Dean & Victoria Keesing	https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-wild-textures-articulating-nature-on-clay
Wild Textures: Articulating Nature on Clay	9.30 am - 1.00 pm	Jay Richardson	https://events.humanitix.com/articulating-nature-on-clay
Learn the fundamentals of slab building	10.00 am - 12.30 pm	Jenn Johnston	https://events.humanitix.com/learn-the-fundamentals-of-slab-building
Keramika Glaze Lab (parts 1 & 2)	10.00 am - 1.00 pm (Fri) / 5.00 pm - 7.00 pm (Mon)	Tali Cohen Flantz	https://events.humanitix.com/keramika-glaze-lab
Anagama Opening	10.00 am - 2.00 pm	Venessa Skye	https://events.humanitix.com/anagama-opening
Wild Clay Harvest Processing	10.00 am - 2.00 pm	Ben Ruble	https://events.humanitix.com/wild-clay-harvest-processing
Alternative Firing - Obvara & Naked Raku	10.00 am - 3.00 pm	Jacqui Sosnowski	https://events.humanitix.com/alternative-firing-obvara-and-naked-raku
MONDAY 24 AUGUST 2026
Raku Glazing & Firing	9.00 am - 1.00 pm	Elaine Ritcher	https://events.humanitix.com/raku-fundamentals-surface-and-fire
Assembling Vessels with Slabs	9.00 am - 1.00 pm	Suvira McDonald	https://events.humanitix.com/assembling-vessels-with-slabs
Surfacing Ceramics	9.00 am - 3.00 pm	Lorraine Dean & Victoria Keesing	https://events.humanitix.com/surfacing-ceramics
Sculptural Coil Building	9.30 am 2.00 pm	Carly Pascoe	https://events.humanitix.com/sculptural-coil-building
Flowers in Bloom: Vase Making & Flower Arranging	9.30 am - 12.30 pm	Samantha Robinson	https://events.humanitix.com/flowers-in-bloom-e6cxwzr3
The Layered Surface: Surface Design and Hand-Building	9.30 am - 1.00 pm	Jay Richardson	https://events.humanitix.com/the-layered-surface-surface
Throwing Narrow Forms on the Wheel: Oil Bottle	10.00 am - 12.00 pm	Grace Chaplin	https://events.humanitix.com/throwing-narrow-forms-on-the-wheel-oil-bottle
Hand-building: VASE	10.00 am - 3.00 pm	Sasa Scheiner	https://events.humanitix.com/hand-building-vase
Learn the fundamentals of slab building	1.00 pm – 3.30 pm	Jenn Johnston	https://events.humanitix.com/learn-the-fundamentals-of-slab-building-r6fxe6j4
Flowers in Bloom: Vase Making & Flower Arranging	1.30 pm - 4.30 pm	Samantha Robinson	https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-flowers-in-bloom
ADDITIONAL MUD TRAIL ACTIVITIES
Mug Decoration	Sat 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm	Tali Cohen Flatz	https://events.humanitix.com/mug-decoration
Decorate mini dishes	Sun 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm	Tali Cohen Flatz	https://events.humanitix.com/decorate-mini-dishes
EXHIBITIONS
Marked Earth, Black Fig Gallery - Alstonville	Thurs 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm	Susan Fraser & Suvira McDonald	https://events.humanitix.com/marked-earth
Long Story Short - Bangalow	Fri 5.00 pm - 7.00 pm	Jenn Johnston	https://events.humanitix.com/long-story-short
Earth and Form, Ninbella - Bangalow	Fri 4.30 pm - 7.30 pm	Lorraine Dean & Victoria Keesing	https://events.humanitix.com/earth_and_form
Connections, Byron Clay Workers Gallery - Clunes	Fri 4.30 pm - 6.30 pm	Lisa Mattas, Mel Robson, Steve Sheridan & John Stewart	https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-marked-earth-exhibition-opening

Contact the host of North Coast Ceramics Mud Trail 2026