2026 National Indigenous Fashion Awards Darwin
Hello, it is exciting to be here on this beautiful dry season evening. A big hello to everyone here on Larrakia Country. Beautiful always to hear from you Nicole and your lovely welcome to all of us on behalf of the Larrakia people.
Thankyou. And a massive hello to all of our viewers right across Australia who are joining us on this very special night, on this seventh anniversary of the NIFAs and an incredible 20 years of DAAF. Thank you to the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation Board and your staff for putting on such a wonderful event yet again.
These awards are always a significant event in the calendar. And I do want to acknowledge every one of you who have travelled from across the Northern Territory and indeed Australia to be here. Not just for tonight but for this week.
That includes artists, designers, industry representatives, community leaders, art centre staff, models, photographers and everyone who has travelled here from across the country to celebrate First Nations fashion. It is absolutely worth the trip! We know that this week, Darwin becomes a meeting place for some of the most talented and innovative creatives in the country.
Country to Couture earlier this week, tonight we celebrate excellence across Australia’s Indigenous fashion sector. Since their launch in 2020, these Awards have shone a spotlight on remarkable creativity that continues to grow in confidence, influence and recognition. First Nations fashion is storytelling.
It is culture. It is innovation. It is an expression of identity, community and connection to Country.
Through textiles, adornment, wearable art and contemporary design, First Nations creatives are sharing stories that have been carried across generations, while engaging new audiences right here in Australia and around the world. Today, we are seeing Indigenous fashion featured on national and international runways, in leading galleries and institutions. Fashion is both an artistic practice and a powerful economic force.
First Nations designers, artists and entrepreneurs are creating opportunities for employment, business development and community prosperity across Australia. The work being recognised tonight demonstrates how creativity can open pathways to sustainable careers, strengthen local economies and support greater self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Equally important is the contribution that First Nations fashion makes to cultural understanding. It provides opportunities to engage with the world’s oldest continuing cultures through contemporary expressions of art and design. Tonight’s awards recognise excellence across the breadth of the Indigenous fashion sector.
To all nominees and finalists, congratulations. Being recognised on this national stage is an extraordinary achievement. You should be immensely proud of your contribution to a sector that continues to grow in visibility, influence and impact.
Tonight, we celebrate each and every one of you, and we thank you for sharing your stories, your talent, your cultures with the world. This year is also particularly significant, as we know, with the 20th anniversary of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair. Over two decades, the fair has become one of Australia’s most important cultural events, bringing together artists, art centres, designers, collectors and audiences from across the country and beyond.
I remember the first one, the second one, the third one, and now we’re here on the 20th. Its success reflects the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creativity and the enduring value of First Nations-led platforms that support artists and communities to tell their own stories on their own terms. To everyone involved in making tonight possible, thank you for your commitment to supporting and growing Australia’s Indigenous fashion sector.
I encourage everyone to enjoy the many events taking place as part of this year’s Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair program and to continue championing the extraordinary talent showcased throughout this week. Congratulations once again to all finalists and best wishes to tonight’s award recipients. Enjoy the evening and celebrate this remarkable sector and the people who continue to inspire it.
Enjoy your wear and wear it every day, from now until the 21st anniversary! Yo, Bauji Barra. Subscribe and stay up to date Connect with us PM&C acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community.
We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.