Ushering in a bold new era for Blak fashion, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) has announced that its inaugural CIAF Textile & Design Awards will launch in 2026, offering $20,000 in prizes for Queensland’s First Nations artists and designers.
In its first year, the CIAF Textile & Design Awards will comprise three categories: the Textile Innovation Award ($10,000), the Sustainable Adornment Award ($5,000), and the Cultural Couture Award ($5,000).
CIAF’s Textile & Design Awards are open exclusively to Queensland’s First Nations artists and designers selected through the current Expression of Interest (EOI) process to produce a collection for the 2026 CIAF Fashion Performance.
With the EOI deadline now extended until midnight – Sunday 7 December, emerging and established creatives have a final opportunity to be considered for next year’s performance and to vie for one of CIAF’s first fashion award titles.
Showcasing Blak excellence across cultural storytelling, textile innovation, craftsmanship, sustainability and design integrity, selected designers will create a collection of 8–10 looks aligned with CIAF’s 2026 theme, Reclamation & Regeneration.
CIAF Artistic Director Teho Ropeyarn said the introduction of the CIAF Textile & Design Awards reflects organisation’s commitment to elevating and celebrating designers who push creative boundaries while remaining grounded in culture.
“Fashion is one of CIAF’s most powerful platforms for cultural storytelling. These new awards recognise the innovation and artistic intelligence our First Nations designers bring to the runway each year,” said Teho Ropeyarn. “It is an exciting next step in supporting the growth of Queensland’s First Nations fashion movement.”
The inaugural prizes will be presented during CIAF in July 2026, bringing fashion into the organisation’s broader framework of artistic recognition and professional development.
CIAF 2026 will take place at the Tanks Arts Centre, Gimuy (Cairns) from 9 – 12 July. For more information and eligibility requirements, visit: www.ciaf.com.au for details.
Image: Fashion at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair – photo by Brian Cassey