Record-breaking Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2025 sets stage for 2026

*Update as of 11 November: Please note that finalised 2025 sales figures, inclusive of additional post-event acquisitions, have increased to $436,798.00 for the Art Fair Showcase and $281,603.00 for the Artisans’ Showcase (Art Market).

Guided by the powerful theme Pay Attention!, the 16th edition began with a sell-out Opening Night and culminated in a packed Closing Ceremony, generating $4.46 million in direct and incremental expenditure and a $6.19 million gross economic stimulus for the Cairns region.

After delivering his first CIAF in 2025, Artistic Director Teho Ropeyarn has enjoyed time to reflect.

“Pay Attention! elicited a deep and heartfelt response from the public, artists and community.

We asked people not just to look, but to listen with their hearts, minds and spirits—and the response was phenomenal. The return to Tanks brought that energy to life, underscoring CIAF’s role as a platform for connection, creativity and sovereignty.

“CIAF is not just a showcase, it is a platform with purpose—where creativity leads to self-determination, truth-telling and cultural pride,” Mr Ropeyarn said.

CIAF Chair Bianca Beetson said this year’s results are a testament to the power of Ropeyarn’s artistic vision.

 “With record attendance, robust sales, and wide-reaching engagement, CIAF continues to show how culture drives not only creativity and connection, but also tangible outcomes for artists, communities, and the wider economy. It demonstrates that when First Nations voices lead, the results speak for themselves,” Ms Beetson said.

Findings from the latest independent IER evaluation reinforce these achievements, confirming CIAF’s unique role in generating both cultural and economic impact. The report highlights that CIAF 2025 delivered more than 9,600 visitor nights and a $6.19 million gross economic stimulus to the Cairns region, while also strengthening civic pride, with 96 per cent of attendees rating the event as a great experience and 89 per cent affirming that Gimuy/Cairns should be proud to host it.

Sales and Artist Investment

Sales from the Art Fair Showcase reached $416,133*, while the Artisans Showcase recorded $281,602.88*, for a combined total of nearly $700,000. In addition, CIAF directed $240,228.72 back to artists and performers as part of its program, including art awards.

Indigenous businesses engaged through CIAF, including food vendors, received a further $71,912.35, underscoring CIAF’s role as a powerful economic driver and cultural gathering.
Artistic Excellence

Now in its ninth year, the CIAF Art Awards awarded $60,000 across six categories. The Premier’s Award for Excellence went to Bernard Singleton (Yakal Creatives) for his wood carving Offering (2025), while the People’s Choice Award went to Dylan Sarra for Native Police Spears.

Education & Engagement

CIAF’s Talks program added another dimension of engagement, with more than 20 scheduled and ad hoc artist talks and guided tours attracting close to 250 attendees across the weekend. From spontaneous booth conversations to curated guided tours led by prominent artists and curators, the program connected audiences with stories behind the works, reinforcing CIAF’s role as both marketplace and meeting place.

Digital Reach

CIAF’s digital presence soared in 2025, with more than 1.8 million views and 30,000 followers across platforms. The inaugural Ambassador Program, led by cultural content creator Talicia Minniecon (Mob Made Media), brought roving interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and community voices to a global audience.

CIAF 2025 at a Glance

• 30+ Art Fair exhibitors and 48 Artisan Showcase stallholders
• More than 400 visual and performing artists from across Queensland
• 4 Look & Listen fashion performances
• 250 participants in the Talks program, comprising 20 artist-led talks
• 1,000+ Opening Night visitors – a sell-out event
• 14,909 spectators across four days
• $697,735.88* in total art sales
• $240,228.72 invested back to artists and performers
• 1.8 million social media views; 30,000 followers
• $4.46 million in direct and incremental expenditure
• $6.19 million gross economic stimulus for the Cairns region

Looking Ahead: CIAF 2026

CIAF has unveiled its 2026 curatorial theme and dates, with the 17th anniversary to be staged from 9–12 July 2026 at the Tanks Arts Centre.

“Reclamation is a powerful act of cultural resurgence… regeneration breathes new life into it — a dynamic force rooted in ancestral knowledge yet reaching boldly into the future,” said Ropeyarn.

CIAF Chair, Bianca Beetson, added that the thematic wording honours the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their ability to not only reclaim what has been denied but to regenerate culture in ways that empower future generations.

Expressions of Interest are now open for artists, designers, curators, cultural practitioners and stallholders. Click here to apply.

CIAF 2026: What Festivalgoers Need to Know

Theme: Reclamation & Regeneration
Dates: 9 –12 July 2026
Location: Tanks Arts Centre, Gimuy/Cairns, Tropical North Queensland

Program: Art Fair Showcase, Artisans Showcase, Opening Night, Fashion Performance, Talks, Masterclasses, Cultural Practices and more.

Expressions of Interest: Artists, designers, curators, cultural practitioners, and market stall holders are invited to submit an EOI for the 2026 program. Art can be bold or quiet, traditional or new. To apply or find out more, click here.