Entertainment
17 January, 2026
Cairns Festival admired by so many
CAIRNS Festival 2025 has attracted more than 144,000 attendees and delivered $2.23 million in direct economic benefit to the Cairns region, reinforcing its role as an important cultural and financial event for Far North Queensland.
Now in its 63rd year, the festival recorded substantial attendance at its key events, alongside high levels of local participation and community engagement.
Independent economic analysis found total visitor expenditure reached $8.15 million, including $1.74 million in overnight visitor spend and $365,000 from day-trip visitors, contributing to a total economic benefit of $2.50 million for Queensland.
A post-event survey of 772 respondents showed more than 75% of attendees were residents, highlighting strong community ownership of the event. The festival also attracted 4078 visitors to Cairns, generating 7898 visitor nights.
The grand parade and fireworks were the most enormous drawcard, attracting more than 30,000 people in a city-wide celebration of community and culture.
Canvas of Cairns at the Esplanade lagoon drew 17,250 attendees, combining contemporary light and sound with First Nations storytelling.
Carnival on Collins closed the program with a family-friendly event attended by 20,000 people.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the results reflected the festival’s growing cultural and economic importance.
“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.
She said accessibility and diversity were central to the 2025 program.
“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.
