National Indigenous Art Fair

The National Indigenous Art Fair (NIAF) has unveiled the details for its most ambitious edition to date, including an expanded program of art, large-scale installations, live music, dance, talks, fashion, moving image artwork, weaving workshops and more. Supported by NSW Government, NIAF will be presented from 3 – 5 July 2026 at The Cutaway Barangaroo. The 2026 edition marks the inaugural cultural event to be hosted in the new space following a major transformation, and is the largest presentation of First Nations art and culture within the venue.

Now in its seventh year, and coinciding with NAIDOC Week, the program celebrates Blak excellence in one of Sydney's newest cultural spaces. Presenting more than 30 Indigenous Art Centres from across Australia, including Merrepen, Durrmu Arts, Jilamara Arts and Craft, and Artists of Ampilatwatja, NIAF connects artists from some of the country's most remote regions with wider Australian audiences.

In the lead-up to the Fair, over 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will travel to Sydney, thanks to support from First Hand Solutions' Heart in Art program, which provides economic and professional development opportunities to Aboriginal artists working in remote communities.

The 2026 program is shaped by a team of First Nations curators comprising Matt Poll ( South Sea and Torres Strait Island) who has curated the talks program, Miah Madden (Bundjalung) who has curated the Living Room exhibition, Rebecca Ray (Meriam) who has curated a range of large-scale installations, Kaleena Briggs (Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta) who has curated the music program, and Billie-Jean Hamlet (Walmajarri/Yamatji) who has curated the fashion parade.

In a first for the Fair, the 2026 edition is also supported by a group of leading 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).

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, Mawambul, choreographed and directed by collaborators Jo Clancy and Stuart McMinn, and a fashion parade curated by Billie-Jean Hamlet, celebrating the power of fashion as cultural expression.The Fair offers 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 drawcard for new and seasoned collectors alike, price points range from $100 to $30,000. Guided by a mission to support economic development in remote Indigenous communities and preserve the world's oldest continuous living culture, NIAF charges no commission or stall fees, with 100% of profits going directly to the art centres.

Tickets to National Indigenous Art Fair 2026 are available here: https://www.niaf.com.au/buy-tickets