Hosted by sharp-shooting Ellen Briggs, the brightest, boldest and baddest babes of comedy come together for a night you won’t forget!

Featuring Jenny Wynter, Kat Davidson, Urvi Majumdar, Alexandra Hudson, Grace Hogan and Steve (Sophia Hutchence).

Finish the day with an opportunity to meet new friends and mentors and exchange ideas and stories by joining us for a session of the popular WOW speed mentoring, followed by some free music and a chance to grab a glass and wind down after the 3 days of Festival activities!

What does safety really mean for women and girls — at home, at work, online, culturally, and in the places we move through every day?

Join Natalie Stokell and Kate Tomsett from Women’s Health and Equality Queensland for an informative, practical, and fun session on looking after yourself in everyday life. Explore mental health and mental wellbeing, meaningful ways to care for yourself, and how to support community wellbeing. If you’ve been feeling stretched or overwhelmed, this is a space to pause and refocus.

WOW Bites Session 2

An audience favourite, WOW Bites are short talks, readings and soapbox moments on a wide range of subjects designed to inspire, engage and introduce new ideas from local women and festival guests.

We have been talking about workplace gender equality for decades. What will it take to take the next leap forward?  

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer joins WGEA CEO Christine Castley OAM for a candid conversation about where Australia has made progress, where the biggest opportunities now lie and why advancing gender equality may require all of us to challenge some of our own assumption

What does Cairns mean to you—and what should its future become? 

Help shape the places—and futures our young people will inherit, by responding to guided prompts about home, place, wellbeing, belonging and opportunity.

Led by Pauline Lampton, Artistic Director of Miriki Performing Arts, this immersive workshop invites participants to explore the connection between identity, culture and movement through the inspiration of totem animals.

A conversation held amid The Ghosts of Lani Mulgrave Blair exhibition to explore the importance of history as we look toward the region's future, through the eyes of Yidinji women.

What would change if women and girls were believed the first time? Facilitated by Balveen Ajimal, Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Health and Equality Queensland, this conversation explores what women and girls deserve to know about their bodies, and why so many are still forced to fight for answers.

WOW Bites Session 1

An audience favourite, WOW Bites are short talks, readings and soapbox moments on a wide range of subjects designed to inspire, engage and introduce new ideas from local women and festival guests.

More details to come

Join proud Gimuy Walubara Yidinji woman Evie Evernden for a unique workshop that combines the grounding practice of traditional weaving with mindful breathing and connection.

What does Cairns mean to you—and what should its future become? 

Help shape the places—and futures our young people will inherit, by responding to guided prompts about home, place, wellbeing, belonging and opportunity.

Money is about more than numbers. How we think, feel and behave around money can influence the choices we make every day and the future we create.  Join Alaina Woolcock and Jacinta Tim So, founders of The Money & Mindset Circle with LainaJaye, for an interactive workshop exploring the connection between money, mindset and financial confidence.

Join Guugu Yimithirr and Butchulla artist, educator and cultural facilitator Susan Reys for a reflective and engaging WOW Healing Space exploring the ways we show up in our relationships, communities and everyday lives

The year is 2046, twenty years since the great societal, environmental and financial crash, known today as the ‘Great Cock Up’ in 2026; resulting in countries across the globe electing women-led governments to re-build and re-frame their societies, putting citizens back at the heart of decision-making and power-broking. Hear from four leading Cairns based change makers on what FNQ looks like in 2046 as a consequence, facilitated by host of ABC Big Ideas Natasha Mitchell.

Through the program, WOW MCs are dressed by designers from the communities in which our events take place, creating a visible platform for local talent while bringing fashion, identity and storytelling into the WOW experience.

The WOW Cairns Festival Marketplace is free for all to attend!  Featuring local artisans, women-led enterprises, community groups and service providers, performances and free workshops.  Come along and grab something to eat, be serenaded by a diverse range of Cairns creative talent, learn a few new dance moves and definitely do some shopping!  

We’ll kick off festivities with a welcome address by Traditional Custodian, Henrietta Marrie AM and performance by the Yidinji Women's Dance Troupe, representing the Traditional Owners of Gimuy/Cairns.

Join Tanya Smith from Queensland Walks and Zonta Club of Brisbane for She Walks Here, a walking conversation exploring how women and girls experience local streets, parks and public spaces as part of the Safe Cities for Women and Girls project in Cairns. Share your insights, learn and discuss practical ways to create safer, more inclusive and walkable communities, that benefit women, girls and everyone else.

Our full day Saturday Day Pass Program featuring:  Panel discussions, lots of WOW Bites – inspirational short stories of hope, workshop on a range of subjects and free WOW Marketplace, dedicated Healing Space and community concerts, followed by the hilarious WOW Comedy Gala!

Join Patron of WOW in Australia the Hon. Quentin Bryce for the Cairns launch of her biography and a timely conversation about her life and work as a trailblazer, with biographer, journalist and Royal Correspondent Juliet Rieden, CEO of Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership Kirsty Davies and facilitated by the CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency Christine Castley.

Too often we tend to put things in the ‘too hard’ basket when it comes to finding new solutions to problems that we face in the world today. Sometimes it is easier to leave it to someone else to ‘fix’. This is an opportunity to hear from some remarkable change makers, women who have taken it upon themselves to break down barriers for women through investing their time, ideas and financial resources in building a better world.

An interactive workshop discussing ideas for sustainable business growth for FNQ women entrepreneurs and business leaders in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic Games, including special guests with expertise in business investment and enterprise development.

What does Cairns mean to you—and what should its future become? 

Help shape the places—and futures our young people will inherit, by responding to guided prompts about home, place, wellbeing, belonging and opportunity.

WOW Schools Day is a full-day experience bringing together Years 10 & 11 students from across Cairns and Far North Queensland for a dynamic program of interactive workshops, live performances and creative storytelling, speed mentoring with women from a range of sectors and life experiences and Inspiring speakers and young change-makers.

Comedian Mandy Nolan is the accidental cult leader of angry funny women. Join her as she hosts Cairn's Crankiest women delivering their first stand up comedy download!

Join us for a special WOW Cairns Festival screening of SEEN, including a live Q&A hosted by Co-Founder of WOW in Australia, Cathy Hunt AM with producer Sam Jockel exploring how adults can help children feel safe, supported and seen; and a marketplace of information for parents and those working with children. 

Join us for the inaugural WOW Cairns Festival Men's Breakfast, a thought-provoking and engaging event bringing together leaders from business, government and the community to explore the role men play in building stronger families, workplaces and communities.