The Australian Wearable Art Festival (AWAF) is celebrating its most successful year yet — recognised nationally and regionally for excellence, drawing record crowds, and now announcing a major new chapter that will see the event step onto Australia’s longest catwalk at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre at Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort, on 11 July 2026.
The 2025 festival not only welcomed its largest audience yet – more than 1,500 people across four shows – but also earned finalist recognition in the recently announced Sunshine Coast Business Awards (winners to be announced 8 November 2025) and one of five national regional finalists at the Australian Event Awards (winners announced 15 October 2025 in Coffs Harbour).
Co-Founder and Co-Director Helen Perry, who was also named a finalist in both the Micro/Small Business and Sustainability categories of the recent Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Awards, said the growth experienced by the event in the past five years had confirmed its place on Australia’s regional destination event calendar.
“It has been humbling to receive the national and local award recognition, and gives us a lovely validation to all the hard work we have contributed to get to this point,” Ms Perry said.
From its humble grassroots beginnings in Eumundi with just 100 attendees in 2017, AWAF is now recognised as a nationally significant cultural tourism event, attracting international artists, boosting the Sunshine Coast economy, and inspiring audiences with its unique fusion of fashion, sculpture, performance and storytelling.
Looking ahead to 2026, the move to the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort will allow the event to expand to two shows of 1,200 guests each, creating the capacity for more than double the current audience. Guests will step into a world of captivating creativity where more than 40 national and international entries will take to a 40-metre catwalk — the longest of its kind in the country.
Ms Perry said the growth reflected a clear vision for the festival’s future.
“Our dream has always been to create a platform that provides Australia’s preeminent showcase of wearable art, and truly transports people into the heart of creativity. With our new expanded space at the Convention Centre, we not only accommodate a larger audience but can deliver a fully an immersive art experience which is far greater than just a runway show,” Ms Perry said.
“From the moment people arrive, they will be taken to a world brimming with innovation, story-telling and WOW-factor moments.”
Michael Daviss, General Manager Accor – Shakespeare Property Group and General Manager of Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort and Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, said the venue was thrilled to be the official host partner for the festival’s next evolution.
“AWAF has become one of Australia’s most exciting cultural events, and we’re thrilled to be its home for the next stage of its journey. The Sunshine Coast Convention Centre provides the perfect backdrop for an event of this scale, and our Resort setting allows guests to immerse themselves in art and creativity while enjoying everything our region has to offer,” said Mr Daviss.
“From the runway to the Resort, we want visitors to experience a weekend that is as memorable and inspiring as the art itself.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli congratulated the festival for its success and highlighted the importance of supporting grass-roots regional events.
“The Australian Wearable Art Festival is a unique event that has turned heads for a reason,” Mayor Natoli said.
“The event showcases the innovation, sustainability and creative spirit of our region.
“In 2025, the festival generated more than half a million dollars in local economic return, with half of
the audience members coming from outside the region.
“AWAF enriches the diversity of our events calendar, strengthens our cultural identity, and demonstrates why the Sunshine Coast is a premier destination for both creativity and tourism.”
With flights and accommodation already being booked once dates were announced at this year’s show, the release of tickets in October are highly anticipated and set to sell fast. To register for Early Bird Ticket specials, visit website https://australianwearableart.com.au/exhibition/#signup
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Event Details
Australian Wearable Art Festival
Date: 11 July 2026
Venue: Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
Website: https://australianwearableart.com.au
Media Contact:
Helen Perry, Co-Director 0431 065 964 | helen@freshprm.com.au
