Now in its seventh year, the National Indigenous Art Fair brings together over 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who will travel to Sydney to share their stories, culture and artistic practices, marking the inaugural cultural event to be hosted at The Cutaway following its major transformation.
The 2026 program has been shaped by a team of First Nations curators including Miah Madden (Bundjalung) who has curated The Living Room exhibition showcasing highlight works from the participating art centres; Matt Poll (South Sea and Torres Strait Island) who has curated the talks program; Kaleena Briggs (Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta) who has curated the music program; and Billie-Jean Hamlet (Walmajarri/Yamatji) who has curated the fashion parade.
In another first for the Fair, the 2026 edition is supported by a distinguished group of First Nations Ambassadors: Rachel Perkins (Arrernte/Kalkadoon), Dennis Golding (Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay), Alison Page (Dharawal/Yuin), Jazz Money (Wiradjuri), Sebastian Goldspink (Burramattagal) and Daniel Browning (Bundjalung/Kullilli).
ART MARKETS
The markets at the Fair offer visitors a unique opportunity to purchase artworks directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists at remote, community-owned art centres across the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia. A major drawcard for both new and seasoned collectors, price points range from $100 to $30,000. Guided by a mission to support economic development in remote Indigenous communities and strengthen the world’s oldest continuous living culture, NIAF charges no commission or stall fees, with 100% of profits going directly to the art centres.
This year’s Fair will showcase the breadth of Indigenous artmaking, with highlights including works by Kieren Karritpul from Merrepen Arts, Karen Rogers from Ngukurr Arts, Agnes Donnelly from Warnayaka Art & Cultural Aboriginal Corporation, Valerie Brumby from Walkatjara Art, Joseph Williams from Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Culture Centre, Mary Gibson from Tjarlirli & Kaltukarjara Art, Rachel Luckan from Durrmu Arts, Joey Nganjmirra from Injalak Arts and Culture Centre, Rekeshia Goodwin from Spinifex Hill Studio, and Stefan Smith from Ltyentye Apurte Traditional Craft Centre.
OPENING NIGHT
Building on the success of previous editions, this year marks the first time in the Fair’s history that the weekend will open with an Opening Night event on Friday 3 July, offering guests exclusive early access. The program will feature performances by rising Darumbal and Tongan R&B vocalist Mi-Kaisha, intergenerational Yuin choir Djinama Yilaga, a Wiradjuri and Dharug dance work by Mawambul, and a fashion parade curated by Billie-Jean Hamlet, celebrating the power of fashion as cultural expression.
THE LIVING ROOM EXHIBITION
The Living Room is a special exhibition curated by Miah Madden, presenting highlight artworks from the participating art centres, in a shared space at the heart of the Fair. Together the works celebrate the diversity, strength and collective presence of the art centres as living expressions of culture, community and creative continuity. Created in collaboration with Merrepen Arts, the exhibition features textiles with designs by artists Kieren Karritpul and Aaron McTaggart, upholstered onto furniture, inviting visitors to sit, gather and engage more deeply with the artworks.
INSTALLATION AND MOVING IMAGE ARTWORK
NIAF 2026 features an ambitious installation program showcasing the breadth and diversity of contemporary First Nations artistic practice. Highlights include works by artist Cheryl Davison, car bonnets by artists Fraser Peters and Myra Herbert from Warnayaka Art Centre, a Mun-Dirra (Fish Fence) from Maningrida Arts and Culture, and an Orca made from abandoned ghost nets from Arts Ceduna. There are also moving image artworks on large-scale screens from Jilamara Arts, Papulankutja Artists and Numbulwar Numburindi Arts.
INDIGENOUS COUTURE FASHION PARADE
Presented on Opening Night, the Indigenous Couture Fashion Parade is curated by Walmajarri and Yamatji model and creative Billie-Jean Hamlet. One of Australia’s leading fashion figures, Hamlet has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and RUSSH, and fronted campaigns for Country Road. Grounded in storytelling, cultural expression and connection, the parade will showcase pieces from Merrepen Arts and Bula’bula Arts, and designers including MAARA Collective, Mimmim Design, Miimi & Jiinda, Clair Helen, Lillardia Briggs-Houston and Jarawee.
TALKS
Djon Mundine: Champion of the Art Centre Movement
Saturday 4 July, 10.30am
Djon Mundine OAM reflects on how his work as a curator, writer and conceptual artist fundamentally reshaped how contemporary art institutions engage with First Nations culture.
VAULT In Conversation: Art as Fashion
Saturday 4 July, 12.30pm
VAULT Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Alison Kubler sits down with Billie-Jean Hamlet to unpack where contemporary art and First Nations fashion intersect. From the runway to the gallery wall, they will discuss cultural storytelling, representation and what “Art as Fashion” means on Country.
Matt Poll: The Reciprocal Museum
Saturday 4 July, 2pm
Art centres act as sovereign gateways and cultural embassies for remote communities, the social spaces where local custodians retain absolute control over how, when and to whom their stories and lore are shared. Poll explores 50 years of art centres as the backbone of the largest community-led art movement in Australian history, and a curatorial practice co-designed directly with elders and representatives from multiple language groups.
Kristy Dickinson: Haus of Dizzy in the House
Sunday 5 July, 10.30am
Dakota Dixon and Kristy Dickinson from Haus of Dizzy explore the rise of contemporary jewellery and adornment, tracing a lineage from the shell work of La Perouse to the fashion runways of Paris and New York.
Sebastian Goldspink: Collecting Contemporary Indigenous Art Today
Sunday 5 July, 2pm
Curator and Art Collector Editor-at-Large Sebastian Goldspink leads a wide-ranging conversation on First Nations art advocacy, grassroots space-making and how his new editorial role will amplify Indigenous creative authority nationally and globally.
PERFORMANCE
Curated by Kaleena Briggs, the NIAF music program opens on Friday 3 July with performances by rising Darumbal and Tongan R&B vocalist Mi-Kaisha, intergenerational Yuin choir Djinama Yilaga, and Mawambul, a Wiradjuri and Dharug dance work choreographed by Jo Clancy and Stuart McMinn.
On Saturday 4 July, the program continues with performances by Gawura Cultural Immersions and pop-folk-jazz duo Microwave Jenny, while Sunday 5 July features the Wagana Dancers and rising R&B singer-songwriter Riah.
National Indigenous Art Fair 2026
Saturday 4 July, 10am–5pm & Sunday 5 July, 10am–4pm
Opening Night: Friday 3 July, 5.30pm–8.30pm
The Cutaway Barangaroo
LIST OF ART CENTRES
Merrepen Arts, Culture and Language Aboriginal Corporation
Utopia Art Centre
Ngukurr Arts
Artists of Ampilatwatja
Warnayaka Art and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation
Warlukurlangu Artists
Engawala Art Centre
Walkatjara Art
Marrawuddi Arts and Culture Centre
Keringke Arts
Munupi Arts and Crafts Association
Ngaruwanajirri Inc
Papulankutja Artists
Ikuntji Artists
Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre
Tjarlirli and Kaltukarjara Art
Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts
Darrikardu Art Collective
Numbulwar Numburindi Arts
Durrmu Arts
Barkly Regional Arts
APY Art Centre Collective
Arlpawe Art and Culture Centre
Injalak Arts and Culture Centre
Jilamara Arts
Spinifex Hill Studio
Pormpuraaw Art and Culture Centre Inc
Ityentye Apurte Traditional Craft
Warlayirti Artists
Maningrida Arts and Culture
Arts Ceduna
Bula’bula
