WOW Cairns Festival 2026

WOW - Women of the World is an international movement for action and change driven by cultural and creative dialogue, debate and celebration.

Returning to Cairns for the second time, WOW is a three-day, all-ages, inclusive event held in multiple venues through Cairns (main hub at Bulmba-ja), celebrating the women of the region with a jam-packed program including: 

Cranky Woman’s Comedy Course - REGISTRATION CLOSING SOON

Full Day Workshop - Saturday 5 September

Mandy Nolan is the accidental cult leader of angry funny women and the Cranky Women’s Comedy Club is her cult! Join her for a full day course on how to turn your frown into a grin, with the Cranky Women's Comedy Course, with follow-up mentoring to get you ready for your very own comedy slot as part of the WOW Cairns Festival on Thursday 10 September!

$100pp (limit 12 people)

WOW CAIRNS FESTIVAL - BUNDLE YOUR TICKETS AND SAVE!

Bundle includes WOW Cairns Saturday Day Pass + In Conversation with Dame Quentin + WOW Comedy Gala + special bonus ticket to Thursday's Cranky Woman's Comedy Show with Mandy Nolan!!

WOW Festival Day Pass

Saturday 12 September, Bulmba-ja Arts Centre

9am - 5pm

This ticket includes the full Saturday day program, including: Panel conversations, Live music, visual arts, comedy, and workshops, WOW Bites: where you get to hear from everyday heroes, WOW Marketplace, featuring local performers & artisans, WOW Healing Space where you can chill out and do some weavingall talks, conversations, workshops and more!

Join us in Cairns as we celebrate the women of the region with a jam packed program of all your WOW favourites.

$45pp

In Conversation with Dame Quentin Bryce & Juliet Rieden

Friday 11 September, Bulmba-ja Arts Centre

7.00pm

Quentin Bryce: The Authorised Biography traces the triumphs and the barriers as Quentin shattered glass ceilings and reveals the woman behind the high offices she held. Mother of five and grandmother to twelve, it is her partnership with soulmate Michael Bryce and the love of family, enduring friendships and belief in community that have sustained her. Her passion for the arts and elemental connection to Australia’s ancient landscape feeds her soul. Join Patron of WOW in Australia the Hon. Quentin Bryce for the Cairns launch of her biography and a timely conversation about her life and work as a trailblazer, with biographer, journalist and Royal Correspondant Juliet Riedon, CEO of Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership Kirsty Davies and facilitated by the CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency Christine Castley.

$25pp

WOW Comedy Gala

Saturday 12 September, Bulmba-ja Arts Centre

7.00pm

The brightest, boldest and baddest babes of comedy come together to present a knockout show of satirical mirth and systemic change, breakdowns and breastmilk, love, laughter and lament!

$35pp

Cranky Woman's Comedy Show

Thursday 10 September,

Bulmba-ja Arts centre

7.00pm

Comedian Mandy Nolan is the accidental cult leader of angry funny women. Join her as she hosts Cairn's Crankiest women delivering their first stand up comedy download!

$15pp

WOW Men’s Breakfast

Thursday 10 September, Novotel Oasis Cairns

6.30am – 8.30am

Breakfast for the men and boys of Cairns, where we will celebrate leadership and allyship and hear more from those who have seen for themselves the benefits of working together to create kinder workplaces and communities for all.

$40pp

Women Investing In Women

Friday 11 September, Bulmba-ja Arts Centre

5.30pm

Join WOW Founder in Australia, Cathy Hunt AM and WOW supporters for this change making conversation including Founder of the Ubuntu Foundation Carolyn Vincent, Investor and Founder of Impact Queensland and the Women Owned Enterprise Loan Fund, Lisa Siganto and President of Sharing With Friends, Susan Davies, providing housing solutions for older women. This conversation will be part of a reception to give our thanks to all supporters that have worked so hard with us to bring together the WOW Women of the World Festival Cairns 2026!

$20pp

SEEN the Film

Thursday 10 September, Bulmba-ja Arts Centre

12.30pm

Join us for a special WOW Cairns Festival screening of SEEN, presented as part of Child Protection Week, including a live Q&A with producer Sam Jockel exploring how adults can help children feel safe, supported and seen; and a marketplace of information for parents and those working with children. 

Free, registrations required