With a $25,500 prize pool and a new National Student Wearable Art Showcase, the Australian Wearable Art Festival is well and truly making its mark on the national cultural calendar.
The Sunshine Coast might be best known for its beaches and natural beauty, but the Australian Wearable Art Festival (AWAF) has put the region on Australia’s cultural map – attracting artists from across the country and internationally with artworks that challenge the conventions of sculpture, design and performance.
AWAF is a ‘living gallery’ where the human body becomes a moving canvas. Sculptural forms, intricate constructions and unexpected materials are transformed into original artworks that come alive on a 40-metre runway. Some are monumental in scale, others extraordinary in their detail. Each carries the imagination, skill and story of the artist who created it.
About to enter its seventh year, AWAF has just launched its 2027 competition and is inviting artists, designers and creatives from across Australia and beyond to enter by end of January 2027, with the overarching Supreme Award doubling to $10,000 and a total prize pool of $25,500.
For the first time, the Festival has removed competition categories and prescribed themes, allowing artists to let their imagination run wild.
Festival Co-Director Wendy Roe said the changes reflected AWAF’s growing maturity and the extraordinary range of creative disciplines represented in the competition.
“Wearable art sits at the intersection of so many different art forms. We see artists working with sculpture, textiles, architecture, technology and materials that most people wouldn’t give a second thought to,” Ms Roe said.
“Sustainability has become an important part of AWAF’s creative identity. At our 2026 Festival, more than 80% of the artworks incorporated recycled, reclaimed or repurposed materials, with artists transforming things that might otherwise be discarded into extraordinary works of art,” Ms Roe said.
“What I love is that there’s no formula for how these materials are used. Every artist brings their own imagination, skills and perspective, and the results can be completely unexpected. It’s a wonderful demonstration of how creativity can change the way we see the value in things.”
The increased prize money is another significant step in the Festival’s evolution, recognising the time, skill and commitment involved in creating original wearable artworks.
“Some of these works take thousands of hours to create, and the technical and creative problem-solving involved can be extraordinary,” Ms Roe said.
“We want to attract artists who are prepared to challenge themselves and explore what is possible. Increasing the prize money is one way of recognising that commitment and attracting exceptional creative talent.
“But there is much more to AWAF than the competition itself. Artists have the opportunity to present their work to thousands of people, connect with other like-minded creatives and become part of a community that genuinely understands the process of bringing an idea to life.”
The Festival’s growing reputation is reflected in its national and international artist participation, with the 2026 competition attracting finalists from across Australia and countries including the United States, Romania, Indonesia, New Zealand and Poland.
Kym Cunningham, whose artwork Artificial Intelligence (AI): The New God… or a Monster in Disguise? was thrilled to receive the Festival’s highest honour this year.
“Winning the 2026 AWAF Supreme Award was an incredible recognition of my work, but what makes AWAF truly special is the experience of being part of it,” Ms Cunningham said.
“There’s an enormous amount of work that happens long before an artwork reaches the runway. To see that work presented in such a professional and creative environment, and to share the experience with other artists, is incredibly rewarding.”
In 2027, AWAF also introduces a National Student Wearable Art Showcase (NSWAS), inviting students in Years 9–12 from across Australia to explore wearable art and present their creations on a national stage.
Presented in partnership with St Andrew’s Anglican College, the Showcase will take place on Thursday 12 August, ahead of the main Festival performances on Saturday 14 August.
“The National Student Wearable Art Showcase is about nurturing the next generation of creative talent, encouraging young people to experiment, develop new skills and explore ideas beyond traditional creative disciplines. We want to give students the opportunity to take an idea from concept to creation and experience the confidence and pride that comes from seeing their work brought to life in front of an audience,” Ms Roe said.
The 2027 Festival will run from 12–14 August at the Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort, with an expanded program expected to attract approximately 3,000 participants and audience members.
“Whilst tickets are not on sale until 1 November 2026, we have already started seeing incredible entries already,” Ms Roe said.
“There’s something quite exciting about seeing a nationally recognised cultural event grow from the Sunshine Coast and attract creative talent from around the world.”
For entry information and competition guidelines, visit www.australianwearableart.com.au.
ENDS
Event Details
Australian Wearable Art Festival
Date: 12-14 August 2027
Venue: Sunshine Coast Convention Centre, Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort
Website: https://australianwearableart.com.au
AWAF 2027 artist entries are now open and close 31 January 2027.
National Student Showcase entries are now open and close 26 February 2027.
