To access images of our recent ‘runway’ shoot at the Sunshine Coast Airport and last year’s winning works to accompany this release CLICK HERE
A creative revolution is quietly gaining altitude on the Sunshine Coast. Once known solely for its beaches and laid-back lifestyle, this regional Queensland destination is now capturing national attention for a very different reason: a flourishing, world-class arts scene.
As more Australians trade city life for coastal living, the Sunshine Coast is experiencing a cultural renaissance. Arts and cultural tourism is on the rise in Queensland, with visitors increasingly drawn to the region for its vibrant creative pulse as much as its sun and surf.
In a strong sign of support for this cultural shift, the Australian Wearable Art Festival (8–9 August 2025) is set to showcase one of the country’s most striking and fast-growing regional events.
The Australian Wearable Art Festival — often described as where fashion meets sculpture and performance — transforms a 27-metre catwalk into a stage for boundary-pushing design over two unforgettable days.
The Festival celebrates its fifth year with a focus on sustainability, innovation and spectacle, with works made from live growing grass, handwoven natural fibres, robotic elements, and unexpected materials like old video tape, plastic bags — even dog hair.
Festival Co-Director Wendy Roe says the 2025 edition is shaping up to be the biggest yet.
“We saw a 25 per cent jump in entries compared to 2024, with artists from as far as Romania, the United States., New Zealand and across Australia entering,” said Ms Roe.
“That surge reflects the growing global reputation of the festival. Designers know this year will be bolder, more prestigious — and audiences are responding too with tickets are already well ahead of sales from this time last year.”
Audience numbers mirror the buzz with numbers doubling in the past five years, and with 55 per cent of attendees now travelling from outside the Sunshine Coast, including 20 per cent from interstate.
Cultural tourism is in fact one of Australia’s fastest-growing segments, with the sector expanding by 23 per cent over the past five years, compared to a 19 per cent growth in total tourism. This trend highlights a significant shift towards immersive, experience-led travel, particularly in regional areas like the Sunshine Coast. [1]
Inspired by global success stories like New Zealand’s World of WearableArt, which draws over 60,000 visitors annually to Wellington, the Sunshine Coast festival is carving out its own bold path — shining a spotlight on regional creativity while boosting the local economy.
As Australia’s major cities grow more crowded and expensive, the appeal of regional living — and regional festivals — is stronger than ever. Events like the Australian Wearable Art Festival are leading a national shift: regional Australia is no longer the cultural underdog, but a bold new frontier of artistic expression.
And now, with over 80 direct flights to Sunshine Coast Airport from Melbourne and Sydney every week, there is no excuse for curious creatives and culture-hungry travellers. The Sunshine Coast isn’t just catching the cultural wave — it’s flying it high.
Australian Wearable Art Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland. Sunshine Coast Council is the official destination partner for the Festival. The Festival would also not be possible without key partners including Visit Sunshine Coast, Argon Law, Sunshine Coast Airport, Hello Sunshine and In Noosa Magazines, My Weekly Preview, Frankie Magazine, Textile Fibre Forum, 92.7 Mix FM, Fresh PR & Marketing, Horse & Water and Converge Marketing.
Media contact: Helen Perry, Fresh PR & Marketing | P: 0431 065 964 | E: helen@freshprm.com.au
