The Sunshine Coast arts scene is soaring, with more people travelling to the region for world-class events and creative experiences.
In a sign of the times, Sunshine Coast Airport has linked with the rapidly growing Australian Wearable Art Festival.
Airport CEO Chris Mills welcomed the affiliation and said the region had much more to offer than sand and surf.
“We’re proud to support an event that showcases the extraordinary creativity thriving here on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“With over 80 flights a week connecting us to Melbourne and Sydney, we’re seeing a growing number of visitors seeking arts and culture experiences in the region.”
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The Australian Wearable Art Festival, to be held on August 8-9, has been described as a fusion of fashion, sculpture and performance. It features a 27m long catwalk.
Festival co-director Wendy Roe said the event had quickly gained traction as one of Australia’s most exciting regional arts festivals.
“This year has seen us receive a 25 per cent increase of entries from 2024, with artists hailing from Romania, United States, Western Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand – to name just a few,” she said.
“This increase in applicants speaks to the calibre and reputation the Australian Wearable Art Festival has on the global stage.
“Wearable artists and designers know that this year will be bigger, bolder and more prestigious than ever.
“Audiences know it too: tickets are already 20 per cent sold out for our four shows which are still four months away.”
Audience data reflected the rising interest, with 55 per cent of attendees travelling from outside the Sunshine Coast, including 20 per cent from interstate.
Attendance has almost doubled year-on-year, with the festival celebrating its fifth event in 2025, mirroring global trends in cultural tourism and immersive art experiences.
The festival draws inspiration from trailblazers like New Zealand’s famed World of WearableArt in Wellington, which annually attracts more than 60,000 visitors to the small city.
Organisers of the Sunshine Coast event say they are on a similar trajectory, bringing bold, boundary-pushing design into the spotlight and boosting the local economy.
