WOW CAIRNS FESTIVAL 2026
10 - 12 September 2026
WOW Cairns Festival 2026
Thursday 10 September 2026, 6:30am
Saturday 12 September 2026, 9:00pm
Bulmba-ja Arts Centre & other locations
96 Abbott Street, Cairns City, QLD, 4870, Australia
WOW Australia is heading to Cairns again in 2026 to celebrate 150(+000) years of the contribution of women and girls to the city and region, to hear their stories and celebrate changemakers in the community today; bringing a wave of inspiration, connection, and celebration to the region!
This isn't just an event for Cairns; it's an event designed by Cairns! Through local ‘Think Ins’ and community meetings, we are co-creating a program that reflects the heart and soul of the region, and the stories that Cairns wants to tell!
With a jam-packed program across 3 days, there is something for everyone, including a Men’s breakfast, screening of SEEN, opportunities for women in business and a special conversation with WOW Australia Patron and former Governor General of Australia, the Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO and royal correspondent and journalist, Juliet Rieden.
We will wrap the program up will the main highlight, 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!
Whats On
Other Opportunities
Get Involved Now
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Every WOW festival worldwide includes WOW Bites sessions. These are short talks and stories, and sometimes performances, on a very wide range of subjects from the serious to the frivolous, delivered by all sorts of people, occasionally famous, but often everyday heroes.
WOW Bites may have a feminist theme, but many will just be about amazing things women have done, fears conquered, lives changed. They are designed to engage and inspire audiences in all sorts of areas – new life insights, information, ideas, and ways of thinking.
Doing a WOW Bite can be a huge moment for some women and girls – the first time they have told their story in a public forum.
Nominate yourself, or someone else, deadline 12 June.
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Across the Festival will be a range of performance opportunities, including free entertainment in the WOW Marketplace and a spectacular free concert program from 5pm Saturday.
We are looking for expressions of interest from musicians, poets, and other cultural performers from the Cairns region to include in the program.
Deadline 12 June.
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The WOW Marketplace is a Festival highlight, free for all to attend, and featuring local artisans, women-led enterprises, community groups and service providers.
We welcome your participation in the Community Festival Day on Saturday 12 October from 8am – 3pm at Bulmba-ja.
The Marketplace will have its own stage, with a full program of performances and interactive workshops.
Let us know all about your enterprise and what you would like to share/showcase/sell as part of the program.
Deadline 12 June.
WOW Australia acknowledges and pays our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the Cairns region, the Djabugay; Yirrganydji; Buluwai, Gimuy Walubara Yidinji; Mandingalbay Yidinji; Gunggandji; Dulabed and Malanbara Yidinji; Bundabarra and Wadjanbarra Yidinji; Wanyurr Majay; Mamu and NgadjonJii peoples. We would like to extend a special thank you to the women of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji peoples on whose traditional lands the Festival will occur.