Cairns Festival has wrapped up for another year, with nearly 20,000 people turning out for Carnival on Collins and a packed final weekend of music, art, culture and family entertainment across the city.
The Father's Day festival finale once again transformed Collins Avenue, Tanks Arts Centre and the Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct into a vibrant community celebration featuring more than 200 market stalls, live performances, local food and hands-on activities for all ages.
Family fun fills the Botanic Gardens
The Cairns Botanic Gardens was a hive of activity throughout the day, with festival-goers trying their hand at circus skills including juggling, plate spinning and stilt walking with CYCAS Circus.
Visitors also enjoyed basket weaving workshops with Rosie Omudsen, watercolour painting sessions led by Marian Wolfs, roaming entertainment and face painting for younger attendees.
Music and entertainment across multiple stages
The Flecker Gardens Stage showcased a diverse line-up of local performers, including the Cairns Choral Society, Cairns Taiko and Lontana, before acclaimed Indigenous musician and storyteller Dr David 'Bindi' Hudson closed the day's program with a selection of new original songs.
At Tanks Arts Centre, the interactive Catch of the Day! exhibition concluded its festival run, while the SwingRays hosted swing dance sessions and the FNQ Big Band entertained crowds with jazz, swing and contemporary favourites.
Casey Barnes draws a crowd
ARIA Award-winning country music star Casey Barnes was a standout attraction during the festival's final weekend, performing to a large crowd at Tanks Arts Centre on Friday night.
"It's always so good to be back in Cairns. We've played up here many times over the years and it's genuinely one of my favourite places to perform," Barnes said. "The crowd on Friday night was incredible and Tanks is such a unique venue with an amazing atmosphere."
Emerging artists shine
The Esplanade Main Stage closed out the festival with a strong weekend of live music, featuring performances from VOiiiD Collective, Blusher, Empress and Zipporah.
The festival's final night also highlighted the region's next generation of original music talent through The Next Wave, with performances from Yindali Sharp, Desirée Hobbins, Owen Jacob Band, MC Pyrit and Aurelle & The Jams.
The Miss Tee Ketu Band delivered the final performance of the 2026 festival, bringing the 10-day celebration to a memorable close.
