Set against a tropical rainforest backdrop, the evening marks the beginning of CIAF 2026 and the 17th season under the theme Reclamation & Regeneration, bringing together performance, visual art, music and a collective gathering on Country.
Guests will move through the precinct as the CIAF Art Fair Showcase and Artisans Showcase open concurrently, presenting works by more than 90 Aboriginal and Zenadth Kes artists, collectives and art centres from across Queensland, alongside over 130 First Nations businesses offering fashion, design, jewellery and cultural artefacts.
Opening Night features a headline performance by award-winning Zenadth Kes dance troupe Naygayiw Gigi (Northern Thunder), alongside a dynamic line-up of First Nations performers spanning rainforest, Cape York and Zenadth Kes cultural traditions. Live music, contemporary performance, large-scale installations and digital projections animate the Tanks throughout the evening.
The night includes a Welcome to Country, curated feeds, activated spaces, and immersive cultural experiences across the site. Opening Night is the only ticketed evening event of the Fair and traditionally sells out.
