Rachel Burke x NAFA 2026, Photograph: Amber Haines
Various Locations
Including:
NAFA Festival Hub, Strand Park
37-43 The Strand
North Ward, QLD, 4810
Venue AccessibilityWheelchair-friendly entrance and venues with accessible toilets inside the festival hub. Some shows are Auslan-interpreted. Please contact NAFA directly with your accessibility needs and we’d be happy to accommodate.
PricingFree and ticketed programs
To view the 2026 program, please visit NAFA’s website.
Friday 25 September - Sunday 11 October Various Times
North Australian Festival of Arts
PUNQ Festival Program Partner
The North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) presents 17 days of extraordinary arts and cultural experiences shaped by the landscapes, communities and distinctive spirit of North Queensland.
NAFA brings together internationally acclaimed artists, celebrated Australian productions and outstanding North Queensland creatives across music, theatre, cabaret, visual arts, family experiences and more. From spectacular waterfront performances and immersive art to intimate cultural experiences and family favourites, the Festival transforms parks, theatres, galleries, streets and outdoor spaces across Townsville into vibrant stages for creativity and connection.
Audiences can experience world-class cabaret, live music and theatre, discover emerging and established local artists, share in First Nations culture and storytelling, and enjoy free and ticketed experiences for all ages. Highlights include the sunrise gathering Yabu Gugay, Hermitude headlining the waterfront celebration Drift, acclaimed productions La Ronde and Swamplesque, Grammy Award-winning artist Macy Gray, and a packed Townsville Shopping Centre Kids & Family Program featuring Bluey and Teeny Tiny Stevies.
More than an arts festival, NAFA is a celebration of place inviting audiences and visitors to experience the creativity, culture and natural beauty that make North Queensland unique. It is a festival where extraordinary artists, audiences and communities come together to celebrate what is possible when art and place meet.
To view the 2026 program, please visit NAFA’s website.
About The ArtistThe North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) is an annual celebration of arts, culture, inclusion and community, bringing bold, innovative and world-class artistic experiences to North Queensland. Established in 2019, NAFA has grown from a local festival into one of the region’s most significant cultural events, welcoming more than 60,000 visitors each year and presenting more than 400 performances and experiences.
Based in Townsville, NAFA creates opportunities for local, emerging and First Nations artists alongside leading Australian and international artists. The organisation is committed to amplifying diverse voices, nurturing creativity and fostering meaningful connections between people, art and place.
Since 2025, NAFA has operated as an independent not-for-profit organisation under Northern Arts, enabling greater agility, stronger partnerships and a sustainable future for the Festival. Its work contributes significantly to the local economy while strengthening Townsville’s reputation as a destination for artistic excellence.
NAFA’s mission is to celebrate the heart and soul of North Queensland by bringing communities together through brave, inclusive and innovative artistic experiences. Guided by values of bravery, justice, entanglement, acknowledgment and pride, NAFA is committed to showcasing the best of regional Queensland to the world while supporting a vibrant and inclusive future for the arts in the North.
NAFA is proudly supported by Townsville City Council, Arts Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland.The North Australian Festival of Arts is made possible through the generous support of our partners. Their commitment to arts, culture and community helps us deliver a world-class festival experience for all. We proudly acknowledge and thank our sponsors, collaborators, and supporters who share our vision and help bring NAFA to life each year.Please visit NAFA’s website for a full list of partners.
Various Locations
Including:
NAFA Festival Hub, Strand Park
37-43 The Strand
North Ward, QLD, 4810
Venue AccessibilityWheelchair-friendly entrance and venues with accessible toilets inside the festival hub. Some shows are Auslan-interpreted. Please contact NAFA directly with your accessibility needs and we’d be happy to accommodate.
PricingFree and ticketed programs
To view the 2026 program, please visit NAFA’s website.
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PUNQ respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region; Bindal, Gugu Badhun, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
PUNQ respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region; Bindal, Gugu Badhun, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
PUNQ is produced by Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts. The festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. Townsville City Council is a funding partner of PUNQ.