Cairns Festival shines in 2025

• 144,000-plus attendees and strong economic returns, confirming the festival’s major cultural and financial impact.
• Huge crowds at key events like the Grand Parade, Canvas of Cairns, and Carnival on Collins.
• Strong community ownership and cultural identity, with high local participation and rich First Nations storytelling.

Cairns Festival 2025 has delivered another highly successful year, drawing more than 144,000 attendees, strengthening community pride, and generating $2.23 million in direct economic benefit for the Cairns region.

Now in its 63rd year, the festival continues to grow its reputation as one of Far North Queensland’s largest cultural events, offering a diverse program that celebrates local artists, First Nations storytelling, live music, interactive installations, and family-friendly entertainment.

A comprehensive post-event survey of 772 respondents showed more than 75% of attendees were local residents, demonstrating the festival’s strong community ownership, while 4,078 visitors generated 7,898 visitor nights in Cairns.

The 2025 program delivered several standout moments, led by the Grand Parade and fireworks, which drew more than 30,000 attendees in a vibrant celebration of community and culture.

Canvas of Cairns at the Esplanade lagoon attracted a further 17,250 people, immersing audiences in a contemporary light, sound, and First Nations storytelling experience, while Carnival on Collins brought 20,000 attendees together for a relaxed, family-friendly finale.

The Main Stage Program Extension drew 10,700 festivalgoers across eight days of performances, and The Whale, an interactive large-scale puppet installation by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, captivated 8,550 attendees, becoming one of the festival’s most talked-about experiences.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the results highlight the festival’s growing cultural and economic significance.

“Cairns Festival continues to strengthen our city’s creative identity while driving visitation and supporting local businesses. These results show how deeply valued the festival is by our community,” Cr Eden said.

The festival also showcased four Regional Arts Development Fund-supported local creative projects and benefited from 435 volunteer hours valued at over $22,000.

Independent economic analysis revealed:

• $8.15M total visitor expenditure
• $1.74M overnight visitor spend
• $365,000 day-trip visitor expenditure
• $2.23M direct economic benefit to Cairns
• $2.50M total economic benefit to Queensland

Mayor Amy Eden said accessibility and diversity were key to this year’s success.

“From large-scale spectacles to intimate creative experiences, the 2025 program reflected our commitment to inclusion, local talent, and celebrating a shared sense of Cairns-ness,” Cr Eden said.

The Cairns Festival advances Council’s Corporate Plan 2025-2030 by promoting economic growth and positioning Cairns as a vibrant cultural hub of North Australia.