The National Indigenous Art Fair (NIAF) has revealed the full program for its most ambitious edition to date, transforming The Cutaway at Barangaroo into a vibrant celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, culture and community during NAIDOC Week, from 3–5 July 2026.

Now in its seventh year, the National Indigenous Art Fair presents more than 30 Indigenous art centres from across Australia and 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, NIAF is the largest presentation of First Nations art and culture within the venue.

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, Culture and Language Aboriginal Corporation, 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

Curated by Matt Poll, the NIAF talks program runs across the full weekend and includes:

  • Djon Mundine: Champion of the Art Centre Movement Saturday 4 July, 10.30am. Djon Mundine OAM (born 1951) is a proud Bandjalung man whose 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, the two 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. Dickinson is a proud Wiradjuri woman and the self-taught creative force behind the powerhouse fashion accessory label.
  • Sebastian Goldspink: Collecting Contemporary Indigenous Art Today Sunday 5 July, 2pm. Curator and Art Collector Editor-at-Large Sebastian Goldspink, a proud Burramattagal man, joins 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. Goldspink has spent over 15 years redefining how contemporary art is seen, funded and celebrated in Australia.

Performance

Curated by Kaleena Briggs, the 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.

First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation CEO Peter Cooley said: “The National Indigenous Art Fair feels privileged to host artists from some of Australia’s most isolated communities in Sydney and to provide a platform for them to promote and sell their artworks, and host workshops, talks and installations demonstrating their unique arts and cultural practices.

“The Art Fair and festival program is designed to welcome, educate and engage visitors. It’s an occasion to meet remote community artists and hear their stories.

“It's also an opportunity to experience incredible performances and immerse yourself in the world's oldest continuous living cultures. We make sure there’s something there for everyone to enjoy.

“We are proud that the National Indigenous Art Fair is the inaugural cultural event at The Cutaway and is the largest presentation of First Nations art and culture within the venue.”

Placemaking NSW Chief Executive Susan Lee said: “We are looking forward to partnering with the National Indigenous Art Fair to host the first Indigenous event at The Cutaway.

“This iconic Art Fair showcases the latest award-winning ideas and innovations from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, designers, and makers from around the country. It is the first of many major events to be held at The Cutaway including Sydney Festival and VIVID Sydney along with art exhibitions, festivals, performances and other community gatherings—securing Barangaroo as a cultural powerhouse.”

National Indigenous Art Fair is presented by Sydney-based First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation, in proud partnership with Destination NSW, University of Technology Sydney, City of Sydney, Macquarie Group Foundation, Gilbert + Tobin, Barangaroo and the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program.

More than 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.

Tickets to National Indigenous Art Fair 2026 are available here.