The North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) has closed its 2026 season with the highest box office in its history, surpassing $1 million in ticket sales with more than 20,000 tickets sold, alongside over 110,000 attendances and cultural encounters across 17 extraordinary days of arts and culture in Townsville.
Running from 25 September to 11 October, the Festival brought together more than 400 artists who delivered over 300 performances, with artists and visitors travelling from across Australia and around the world to take part, reinforcing NAFA’s position as a major cultural drawcard for Townsville and North Queensland.
Demand was strong across the program, with Swamplesque, DRIFT, SPLASH and Yabu Gugay among the many highlights, while Macy Gray, Jalen Sutcliffe and Deadly Funny playing to sold-out audiences.
Festival Artistic Director Kyle Page said the record results reflected both the community’s enthusiasm for the arts and the growing cultural ambition of North Queensland.
“To see more than 110,000 attendances and cultural encounters across just 17 days is extraordinary, particularly in a city of just over 200,000 people. What excites me most about NAFA is seeing our city come alive through art, with thousands of people gathering, discovering something unexpected, sharing experiences and connecting with one another.”
“NAFA is a cultural beacon for the North. We have the world’s best artists, remarkable landscapes and a community with an enormous appetite for cultural encounters. Our ambition is to continue creating extraordinary art in extraordinary places – experiences that could only happen here in North Queensland.”
“None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of our artists, audiences, partners, volunteers and crew. We’re enormously grateful to everyone who helped bring this year’s festival to life. 2026 will be remembered as a truly extraordinary year for NAFA.”
Townsville City Council is NAFA’s principal funding partner, and Mayor Nick Dametto said the Festival’s success showed exactly why that investment matters.
“NAFA is a Festival for the whole community, and after getting along to a number of shows this year, I’ve seen firsthand the impact it has on our city,” Cr Dametto said.
“The crowds, the atmosphere, the calibre of artists and the boost to local businesses all prove there’s real value in backing arts and cultural events that bring people together.
“Congratulations to the NAFA team, the artists, volunteers and everyone who supported this year’s festival. We’re already looking forward to seeing what’s in store for 2027.”
Dates for NAFA 2027 will be announced soon.
Townsville City Council, Arts Queensland, and Tourism and Events Queensland are major funding partners of the North Australian Festival of Arts.