Cairns Regional Council is calling on creatives to help shape the Cairns Festival 2026 program, a signature C150 event celebrating the region's cultural vibrancy, diversity and creative excellence.
Each year, Cairns Festival showcases vibrant, original and progressive arts and cultural experiences from across the region and the nation.
Council is seeking bold, imaginative and high-quality proposals that speak to who we are as a community, reflect the environment that shapes us, or offer audiences dynamic and transformative new encounters.
Expressions of Interest are invited across all artforms, including music, dance, visual arts, comedy, circus, cabaret, theatre, puppetry, projection, film, literature, workshops, roving performance and more.
Applicants are encouraged to treat their submission as a pitch, providing clear and relevant details about what they are proposing, why it matters, and how it will elevate the Cairns Festival experience during this milestone year.
EOIs are open until Sunday 1 March 2026.
Key Dates:
- EOIs open: Now open
- EOIs close: Sunday 1 March 2026 (11.59pm)
- Successful applicants notified: May-June 2026
- Unsuccessful applicants notified: Early July 2026
- Cairns Festival 2026: Friday 28 August- Sunday 6 September
