CIAF 2026 FASHION PERFORMANCES
The CIAF Fashion Performance is one of Australia’s most distinctive fashion events, a powerful intersection of contemporary design, art, movement and music, led by Queensland First Nations creatives.
Thursday 9 & Friday 10 July 2026 | The Mill, Yirrganydji Country (60-70 Magazine St, Stratford QLD 4870)
Set against the raw beauty of The Mill, the CIAF 2026 Fashion Performance Premiere invites guests into an atmosphere that is as vibrant as it is relaxed. The historic timber surrounds come alive with energy on Friday 10 July, as red-carpet arrivals, roving interviews, and the buzz of anticipation create a sense of occasion from the moment you arrive. As the night unfolds, the space transforms into a social hub between runway shows, blending high fashion with a distinctly Tropical North Queensland warmth and ease.
Guests are encouraged to linger and make an evening of it. Between shows, explore the Fashion Pop-Up Shop, connect with artists and designers, and enjoy the welcoming ambience of the precinct. Be part of the Fashion Textile and Design Awards Ceremony and hear first-hand the announcement of the inaugural CIAF Fashion Award winners.
With food and drinks available from Nu Nu Restaurant on Thursday, and both Narrow Tracks and Nu Nu on Friday, settle in with something to eat, sip on a drink and soak up the atmosphere as you await the second show. This is an experience designed not just to be seen, but to be shared, where fashion, community and conversation come together in one unforgettable night.
Curatorial Synopsis from CIAF Fashion Curator, Lynelle Flinders
"This year’s fashion program brings together designers from across Queensland, each sharing stories of Reclamation and Regeneration — from climate resilience and connection to land to personal journeys of healing and identity. Their collections reflect the strength that comes from reconnecting with culture, Country, and community.
For the first time, we are also honoured to welcome three Indigenous Taiwanese designers, whose work adds a rich international perspective. Through their designs, they share personal and cultural narratives that highlight the intersections of tradition and contemporary practice, fostering meaningful dialogue among Indigenous cultures around the world.
Across the program, designers reclaim their voices through making — using fashion to honour cultural knowledge, challenge assumptions, and express lived experiences that have long been overlooked. Their work becomes a form of self‑determination, celebrating who they are and where they come from.
Together, these designers will shape a powerful collective story of transformation in two performances, where fashion becomes a space for reclaiming narratives, regenerating cultural knowledge, and imagining new futures guided by local and global Indigenous voices."
Show 1: Reclamation – Designers
1 pm Thursday 9 July & 5 pm Friday 10 July
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Simone Arnol (Celebration walk)
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Juan Chih Chun (Taiwan)
- Kerry Klimm
- Deadly Creative Sistas
- Trinity Bay HS
- Kuku Bulkaway Arts
- Irene Olive Adams
- Girringun Art Centre
- Pumicestone Indigenous Education & Employment Council (PIEEC)
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Yuma Taru (Taiwan)
- Badu Art Centre
- Delvene Cockatoo Collins
Show 2: Regeneration – Designers
3:30 pm Thursday 9 July & 8 pm Friday 10 July
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Samala Cronin (MumRed)
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Sandra & Shara Delaney
- Lisa Lui
- Felicity Chapman
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Magpie Goose
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Amy (Wudan) Neal
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Sigesile Kalidoai (Taiwan)
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TAFE Cultural Arts
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Relative Arts: Korina Emmerich and Liana Shewey (Indigenous New York Fashion Week)
- Nicole Chatfield
- Francoise Lane
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Yarrabah Art Centre
Community Preview (Matinee) - Thursday 9 July 2026
The Thursday Community Shows offer daytime access to the CIAF Fashion Performance, celebrating emerging and established First Nations designers in an accessible, family-friendly setting.
Ticket Prices
One Price — $40 + ticketing fees
SHOW SCHEDULE
Show 1
1:00pm performance
Doors open 12:00pm
Approx. finish 2:15pm (75 mins)
Show 2
3:30pm performance
Doors open 2:30pm
Approx. finish 4:45pm (75 mins)
*Guests who purchase double tickets to the fashion show will receive complimentary on-site parking for their convenience.
SOLD OUT: Fashion Performance (Premiere) - Friday 10 July 2026
The Friday 10 July Fashion Performance Premiere is the only night of the Fashion program to include a red-carpet arrival and roving interviews hosted by the CIAF 2026 Ambassador team. Between runway shows, the evening will also host the inaugural CIAF Fashion: Textile & Design Awards ceremony. Guests will have exclusive access to the CIAF Fashion Pop-Up Shop, offering the opportunity to purchase garments and apparel directly from participating designers.
Ticket Prices
One Price — $80 + ticketing fees
EVENING SCHEDULE
Show 1
5:00pm performance
Doors open 4:00pm
Approx. finish 6:15pm (75 mins)
Pop-Up Shop & CIAF Fashion: Textile & Design Awards Ceremony
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Show 2
8:00pm performance
Doors open 7:00pm
Approx. finish 9:15pm (75 mins)
Pop-Up Shop
9:15pm – 10:30pm
Stay for both shows and get the full experience.
People, Culture & Country
Wearable Art Exhibition
People, Culture & Country (PCC) is a North Queensland Department of Education initiative that brings together students, educators and First Nations artists in a powerful, collaborative exploration of identity, culture and creative expression.
Delivered across multiple schools, the program provides students with the opportunity to engage directly with artists and cultural mentors, exploring connection to Country through wearable art, textiles and contemporary design. Through this process, students develop confidence, cultural understanding and a strong sense of creative voice.
People, Culture & Country (PCC) is an initiative of the Department of Education, North Queensland Region, and is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Schools Plus, Townsville City Galleries – Townsville City Council, and Queensland Museum.
About CIAF Fashion
The Fashion Performance is a living story shaped by community, collaboration and cultural continuity. It honours the foundational leadership of Aunty Bronwyn Singleton and Aunty Maria Laxton, whose vision helped ignite Far North Queensland’s contemporary Aboriginal and Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait Islander fashion movement. Their work, beginning with the grassroots Regional Indigenous Fashion and Textile Showcase (RIFTS) in 2012, laid the groundwork for what has become a nationally recognised platform for First Nations fashion.
Since its launch by Grace Lillian-Lee (First Nations Fashion + Design) under CIAF in 2013, the Fashion Performance has evolved into a bold, future-focused program known for showcasing a breadth of First Nations designers - from emerging voices to established labels - working across textiles, wearable art, sustainable fashion and experimental form. Each year, designers collaborate with models, dancers, musicians and visual artists to create a dynamic, site-responsive performance that goes beyond the conventions of a traditional runway.
Celebrated for its innovation and cultural integrity, the CIAF Fashion Performance has attracted national and international attention, with features in publications including Peppermint Magazine, Vogue Japan and Vogue Australia. In 2026, the program reaches its biggest scale yet, presenting 24 designers across two immersive fashion performances - a testament to the strength, diversity and momentum of First Nations fashion in Queensland and beyond.
Image: 1. (video) CIAF 2021 Fashion Water is Sacred collections by Magpie Goose, Simone Arnol & Bernard Singleton. Curated by Simone Arnol, Bernard Singleton & Hans Ahwang with support from First Nations Fashion + Design, Arts Queensland and UTS Faculty of Design and Society, 2. (image) Riley Eggmollesse wearing collection by Felicity Chapman. CIAF 2025 Fashion Performance: Look & Listen. Photograph: Blueclick Photography. 3. Adina Donahue wearing collection by Wudan (Amy) Neal. CIAF 2025 Fashion Performance: Look & Listen. Photograph: Romy Photography. 3. Anton Schorpflin wearing collection by Felicity Chapman. CIAF 2025 Fashion Performance: Look & Listen. Photograph: Romy Photography.
