From the Concert Hall to the Canopy:
Cairns winter gardens to share centrestage when the Australian Festival of Chamber Music arrives in July
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Heliconias, high notes and a hint of crocs: Inside AFCM's most unexpected experience
Held from 24 July to 1 August, the Festival's new home in Cairns–Gimuy offers a rare opportunity to enjoy chamber music, performed by the world's best musicians who fly in from around the world, in one of the most naturally beautiful environments in the world, where lush gardens, vibrant vines and crystal-clear winter days provide the perfect backdrop.
"Winter in Cairns is beautiful, it's absolutely the best time of year to be here," said AFCM Marketing and Partnerships Manager Colin Day. "You get blue skies, cooler nights and crystal-clear days, it's the tropics at their most comfortable, and while southern winters often mean dormant gardens, Cairns tells a different story."
For local horticulturalist and designer Matt Mitchley, who with Day has created a series of interviews for fans (LINKS HERE), winter is when the tropics truly shine.
"The vines in winter are spectacular; they are full of colour and absolutely stunning. Well-designed gardens act like a natural amphitheatre, allowing classical music to flow beautifully through the space," Mitchley said. "This is the perfect time to experience world-class music alongside world-class tropical gardens."
At the heart of the Festival precinct, Munro Martin Parklands becomes a natural extension of the concert experience, a lush, living amphitheatre where tropical planting enhances both atmosphere and acoustics.
The Cairns Botanic Gardens are in peak condition in winter, with flowering Gingers, Heliconias and an extraordinary Orchid-filled shade house. Visitors can expect vibrant displays of flowering vines: from the fiery reds of Flame of the Forest to the striking blues and purples of Jade Vine. Nearby, visitors can explore:
- Specialist nurseries such as Limberlost Nursery
- The tranquil Chinese Friendship Garden
- The lush rainforest landscapes of the Cairns hinterland and Tablelands
Further afield, destinations such as Paronella Park, Yungaburra and the Mamu Skywalk offer a completely different perspective on the region's natural beauty.
Mitchley recommends visitors immerse themselves fully:
- Day One: Munro Martin Parklands, Cairns Botanic Gardens and a local nursery
- Day Two: A full-day trip to the Tablelands for cooler-climate gardens, rainforest walks and scenic landscapes
Winter is also one of the best times to experience Far North Queensland's unique wildlife. "Reptiles are very active in winter; you'll often see crocodiles basking on riverbanks, particularly around the Daintree and Port Douglas," Mitchley said.
"With its unique blend of music, landscape and lifestyle, AFCM 2026 offers audiences a chance to experience the tropics in a completely new way. Come for the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, and discover a completely different side of the tropics," Mitchley said.
"Forget everything you think you know about classical music, because a whole new experience is taking place this year in Cairns," said Artistic Director and acclaimed British violinist Jack Liebeck. "The AFCM is built on surprise, storytelling and extraordinary musicianship," said Liebeck. "From comic tales of composers' untimely ends to deeply moving works of remembrance and environmental reflection, these concerts represent the breadth, imagination and emotional power at the heart of this year's Festival."
International artists include Berlin Philharmonic Principal Horn Stefan Dohr, French cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca, Irish tenor Robin Tritschler and world-renowned ensembles including the Sitkovetsky Piano Trio. They are joined by leading Australian musicians including Piers Lane, Karin Schaupp, Lloyd Van't Hoff, Charlotte Miles and many more, alongside emerging artists and new works from the AFCM Pathways Emerging Composer in Residence Sam Wu.
IF TROPICAL PLANTS HAD PLAYLISTS:
A playful pairing of Cairns' lush botanical world with the sounds of AFCM.
Bromeliad
Vibe: sculptural, bold, architectural, a little dramatic
Would love: The Four Seasons – Summer (Presto) Why: there's sharp contrasts, bursts of colour, and energy that feels almost geometric, just like the layered structure of a bromeliad.
Frangipani
Vibe: Soft, romantic, nostalgic, warm evenings
Would love: Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy Why: it's dreamy, slow and luminous, like a Cairns twilight heavy with scent and colour.
Jade Vine
Vibe: Rare, striking, otherworldly (that unreal blue-green colour!)
Would love: Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt Why: it's minimal, hypnotic, almost spiritual, a perfect match for something that looks like it belongs on another planet.
Heliconia
Vibe: Bold, tropical, sculptural, unapologetic
Would love: Carmen Suite by Georges Bizet Why: the colour, rhythm, drama, it's impossible to ignore, just like heliconias in full bloom.
Ginger Flower
Vibe: Exotic elegance, layered beauty, quietly complex
Would love: String Quartet No.14 Death and the Maiden by Franz Schubert Why: it's rich, intricate, emotional, revealing more the longer you sit with it.
Rainforest Canopy
Vibe: Immersive, alive, full of hidden movement
Would love: Metamorphosen by Richard Strauss Why: because there's layer upon layer of sound, like light filtering through leaves.
Bougainvillea
Vibe: Joyful, flamboyant, impossible to ignore
Would love: The Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Why: it's bright, playful and colourful, a full sensory hit.
Palm Trees at Sunset
Vibe: Relaxed, cinematic, golden-hour magic
Would love: Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber Why: it's slow, expansive, emotional — the soundtrack to a tropical sky fading into night.
WHERE TO STAY:
Festival fans stay at partner Crystalbrook Collection Hotels and Resorts in Cairns – there's special rates across its three locations, and all are in easy walking distance of the Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
MUSIC & MENUS:
At Crystalbrook Riley, Paper Crane Overture sets the stage with a chef-selected main course, paired with a house wine, beer, or soft drink for $35, available for pre-concert bookings between 5:30pm and 6:30pm. Crystalbrook Flynn has Flynn's Italian Intermezzo, a choice of three pastas, served with house wine, beer, or soft drink for $35, available for pre-concert bookings between 5:30pm and 6:30pm and at Crystalbrook Bailey, Arte offers The Sweet Serenade, a slice of cake and coffee for $12, or The Sonata Sandwich, paired with juice or coffee for $18. At CC's Bar & Grill, The Maestro's Table features a main course, served with house wine, beer, or soft drink for $55 for bookings between 5:30pm and 6:30pm.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music: 24 July – 1 August, 2026
Tickets on sale now at www.afcm.com.au | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | #afcm
AFCM is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland; Cairns Regional Council; the Ian Potter Foundation; and the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
