Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2026 Fashion Performance (Premiere)

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.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.

Show 1 - Reclamation (Premiere)5pm Friday 10 July 2026Designers:

Simone Arnol (Celebration walk) Juan Chih Chin (Taiwan) Kerry Klimm Deadly Creative Sistas Trinity Bay HS Kuku Bulkaway Arts Irene Olive Adams Girringun Art Centre Pumicestone Indigenous Education & Employment Council (PIEEC) Yuma Taru (Taiwan) Badu Art Centre Delvene Cockatoo Collins

Show 2: Regeneration (Premiere)8pm Friday 10 July 2026 Designers:

Samala Cronin (MumRed) Sandra & Shara Delaney Lisa Lui Felicity Chapman Magpie Goose Amy (Wudan) Neal Sigesile Kalidoai (Taiwan) TAFE Cultural Arts Relative Arts: Korina Emmerich and Liana Shewey (Indigenous New York Fashion Week)  Nicole Chatfield Francoise Lane Yarrabah Art Centre

PREMIERE EVENING SCHEDULE

Show 1 - Reclamation

Pop-Up Shop6:30pm – 7:30pm

Show 2 - Regeneration8:00pm performanceDoors open 7:00pmApprox. finish 9:15pm (75 mins)

Pop-Up Shop9:15pm – 10:30pm

Curatorial Synopsis from CIAF Fashion Curator, Lynelle Flinders

Reclamation and Regeneration

"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, creating meaningful dialogue across Indigenous cultures from 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."

*Guests who purchase double tickets to the fashion show will receive complimentary on-site parking for their convenience.