CIAF 2026 launches Reclamation & Regeneration with all-star Opening Night and tickets now on sale

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) today launches its 2026 campaign, unveiling a bold new program under the theme Reclamation & Regeneration for its 17th year in Gimuy/Cairns.

CIAF’s 2026 program will open on Thursday, 9 July at Tanks Arts Centre with a powerful Opening Night celebration headlined by award-winning Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait Islander dance troupe Naygayiw Gigi (Northern Thunder), alongside an all-star First Nations performance line-up spanning rainforest, Cape York and Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait cultural practices. Tickets go on sale today.

Today’s launch also confirms an extraordinary collective of approximately 350 Art Fair Showcase exhibitors and Artisans Showcase participants, signalling exciting growth in 2026.

The visual arts program represents more than 220 Aboriginal and Zenadth Kes artists across collectives, art centres and independent practices, including 21 independent artists, a marker of CIAF’s role in supporting artists to move into sustainable practice within the context of a major national art fair.

In 2026, the Art Fair Showcase will present 34 exhibitors representing more than 90 artists across Tanks 3 and 4, spanning art centres, commercial galleries and independent practitioners. The Artisans Showcase will reach a new scale (comprising 38 market stalls), showcasing the work of more than 130 artists, marking the largest Artisans program in CIAF’s history.

A further 65 performers will animate the program, including 21 fashion performers set to showcase the dynamism and innovation of First Nations fashion on the runway. 

A national platform with global reach

Founded in 2009, CIAF has grown into Australia’s leading First Nations-led art fair and cultural gathering, recognised for its ethical art marketplace, curatorial rigour and deep grassroots grounding. Returning to the iconic Tanks Arts Centre, CIAF 2026 will transform the botanical precinct from 9–12 July with an expansive program of visual art, performance, music, fashion, talks, masterclasses and large-scale cultural activations.

More than a festival moment, CIAF operates as cultural infrastructure, connecting artists to markets, collectors to communities, and Queensland’s Aboriginal and Zenadth Kes creativity to national and international audiences.

A Night of Power, Presence and Performance

The 2026 Opening Night will feature a dynamic convergence of contemporary performance and cultural storytelling, including:

• Naygayiw Gigi (Northern Thunder): The award-winning Zenadth Kes dance troupe based in Bamaga in Queensland’s Northern Peninsula Area
• Circa Cairns: Premiering a bold new First Nations-led physical theatre work
• Djawarray: Djabugay and Western Yalanji custodian and songman
• Yidinji Dancers: Cultural leaders with more than four decades of performance history
• Kaybee (Kirsty Burchill): Triple J Unearthed artist blending R’N’B, Soul and Hip Hop

The evening will also include a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, immersive installations, curated food experiences and the simultaneous opening of the CIAF Art Fair Showcase and Artisans Showcase across the precinct.

CIAF Artistic Director Teho Ropeyarn said Reclamation & Regeneration speaks to the powerful continuum and unique voices of First Nations cultures across Queensland.

“Reclamation & Regeneration is about finding new and innovative ways to transform truth-telling and using our platform for bold contemporary expression.”

“CIAF 2026 is a celebration of resurgence. We reclaim; we regenerate. Our artists are not just preserving cultures; they are propelling it forward.”

Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said CIAF offers extraordinary opportunities to engage with the diverse and exceptional work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in Queensland.

“The Crisafulli Government proudly invests in CIAF as an important platform for Indigenous artists from across the state to access new markets and for visitors to engage with unique arts and cultural experiences,” Minister Langbroek said.

“CIAF’s vibrant program attracts thousands of interstate and international visitors and delivers on Queensland’s Time to Shine, our 10-year strategy for arts and culture, including the priority to maximise economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives.”

Feature Performance: Naygayiw Gigi, Northern Thunder

Based in Bamaga in Queensland’s Northern Peninsula Area, Naygayiw Gigi is one of Australia’s most celebrated Zenadth Kes dance ensembles.

Established in 2015, the troupe is dedicated to maintaining and revitalising Saibailgal dancing traditions through performances that carry ceremony, clan histories and everyday cultural knowledge. Their work centres intergenerational transmission, nurturing emerging dancers while honouring Elders and cultural law.

Winners of the prestigious Dance Rites Indigenous Dance Competition in Gadigal/Sydney and prize recipients at the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival, Naygayiw Gigi’s appearance at CIAF Opening Night signals a thunderous start to the 2026 Fair.

Culture. Country. Contemporary. World-Class.

CIAF Chair Bianca Beetson said the 2026 program builds on the Fair’s growing national and international reputation.

“CIAF continues to centre Queensland’s First Nations artists as leaders in contemporary practice while remaining deeply grounded in Country. Reclamation & Regeneration reminds us that culture is living, is adaptive, resilient and future-focused,” Ms Beetson said.

In addition to Opening Night, CIAF 2026 will present:

• Art Fair Showcase featuring 35+ First Nations exhibitors from across Queensland
• Artisans Showcase highlighting ethical Aboriginal and Zenadth Kes design and craftsmanship
• Talks Program & Keynotes exploring art, policy, collecting and cultural leadership
• Masterclass Series with leading artists
• Fashion Performances
• Music & Dance Program
• Kids & Community Activations

This week’s launch marks the beginning of a staged program rollout, with groundbreaking artist, fashion and event announcements to follow between February and July.

CIAF 2026 – At a Glance

Theme: Reclamation & Regeneration
Dates: 9–12 July 2026
Opening Night: Thursday 9 July (ticketed)
Location: Tanks Arts Centre, Gimuy/Cairns
Tickets: On sale now at www.ciaf.com.au via Ticketlink