Cairns Indigenous Art Fair to stage fashion show at historic timber mill
The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) in Australia has unveiled a major evolution of its fashion program, announcing that the 2026 CIAF Fashion Performances will be staged at a historic timber mill on Yirrganydji Country in Stratford, Gimuy/Cairns.
Rebranded as CIAF Fashion Performances at The Mill, the showcase will feature 25 designers—the largest line-up in the event’s history. The expanded program also marks a first for CIAF, welcoming three Indigenous Taiwanese designers alongside a guest from Indigenous Fashion Week New York, broadening its international reach.
The big events go down on July 9 and 10.
The two immersive runway presentations will respond to the theme Reclamation & Regeneration, blending fashion with movement, storytelling, music, and digital projection. Organisers say the performances highlight the growing global influence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander design.
Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the event reflects increasing demand for First Nations fashion in national and international markets, while supporting cultural and economic opportunities for Indigenous creatives.
CIAF Fashion Curator Lynelle Flinders described the 2026 program as a powerful platform for storytelling through design. “Designers are exploring themes from climate resilience to identity and healing, using fashion to express lived experience and cultural knowledge,” she said in a release.
The program will also introduce the inaugural CIAF Fashion: Textile & Design Awards, offering $20,000 in prize money across three categories recognising innovation, sustainability, and cultural storytelling.
Events will include daytime community shows and a premiere evening program featuring red-carpet arrivals, exhibitions, and a fashion pop-up shop where attendees can purchase garments directly from designers.
A behind-the-scenes documentary produced by Pandamonium Films will follow participating designers as they prepare their collections.
Tickets for all performances are now on sale, with prices starting at $40 for community shows.
